Assistive and Adaptive Technologies in Educational Settings By: Desiree Salyer EME2020 Professor M. Myers

What are Assistive Technologies? Technologies that assist individuals with disabilities and create effective learning opportunities for all students.

The Benefits of Assistive Technology Necessary to the development of the student with disabilities Allows increased participation in the classroom Promotes independence Makes academic and cooperative inclusion possible. 48% 29% 23% Students with disabilities spend more than 80% of the day in regular classrooms. Spend at least 40% of the day in regular classrooms Outside a regular education classroom more than 50% of the day

Examples of Assistive Technologies Screen Readers Described by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) as “software programs that allow blind or visually impaired users to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer.”

Examples of Assistive Technologies Word Talk A free add-in for Microsoft Word that can read aloud any document written in Word and create audio files that can be saved. It can be accessed by customizable keyboard shortcuts–for individuals with vision challenges, or those who cannot use a mouse effectively.

Examples of Assistive Technologies Face Mouse For students with limited mobility. It turns a standard webcam into a mouse operator, allowing students to use their head and facial gestures to perform a number of tasks, including pointing the cursor, clicking on sites, or typing on the keyboard.

Examples of Assistive Technologies Close Captioning and Subtitling Services such as those provided by the CPC company can be used on both Mac and Windows formats, and enable deaf students to watch the same online video material as their classmates. This makes it easier for them to participate in online courses that offer video lectures of their professors. They can also use the program to create their own videos with subtitles or close-captioning, which may come in handy for students with speech disorders. Using closed captioning in your classroom: A brief tutorial on how to use closed captioning with the Mac Book Pro DVD player and with YouTube videos.

Examples of Assistive Technologies Sip-and-Puff Systems A truly innovative tool that makes computer use easier for students with mobility challenges, including paralysis and fine motor skill difficulties. Sip-and-puff systems allow users to control a mouth stick, similar to a joystick, using their breath. Students can direct the mouth stick to click on web pages, type, and perform other functions.

Assistive technology can make an enormous difference for students with disabilities. Increase accessibility and academic performance Expand opportunities for a great variety of students Helps to create instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for every Student

References 8 Helpful Assistive Technology Tools For Your Classroom. (2013, May 15). Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.teachthought.com/technology/8-helpful-assistive- technology-tools-for-your-classroom Cortiella, C. (2006). NCLB and IDEA: What parents of students with disabilities need to know and do. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Educational Outcomes. Torreno, S. (2012). Why Is Assistive Technology Needed in Schools? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/special-ed-law/73643-the- benefits-of-assisstive-technology-in-schools