What is it, and how does it help our students? Assistive Technology helps improve participation and understanding in the classroom for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are able to obtain success and build independence. Promotes personal achievement.

Who can benefit from Assistive Technology? Students with: Hearing impairments Visual impairments ADHD Physical impairments Learning difficulties

Speech to Text and Speech Recognition in the Classroom

Screen Readers for the Visually Impaired

How Can Skill Learning Games Help Students with ADHD? Improves concentration and keeps students engaged. Provides motivation and goal orientation. Students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.

AT for Students with Physical Impairments Alternative Keyboards provide ease of typing for students with mobility restrictions or missing extremities. Eye Tracking devices are great for students with limited to no mobility, they allow the user to control computers with eye movements.

AT for Students with Learning Difficulties Talking spell checkers and electronic dictionaries: Benefit poor spellers by identifying appropriate words and correct any spelling errors “Read aloud" and display the selected words onscreen, so the user can see and hear the words.

Talking Calculators Has a built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol, or operation key a user presses. Vocalizes the answer to the problem. Auditory feedback may help a student check the accuracy of the keys they press and verify the answer before they transfer it to paper.

Choosing the Right Assistive Technology for Your Students. Collect child and family information. Discuss the child’s strengths, abilities, and needs. Identify activities for participation. What is preventing the student from participating more? Observe the student. Has the AT been successful? Have they been participating more?

Resources Education World- Hearing Assistive Technology for Students (HATS) - technology-for-children/ technology-for-children/ South Carolina Assistive Technology Program Assistive Technology for Kids with LD - technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning- disabilities-an-overview.gs technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning- disabilities-an-overview.gs Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-