EDUC W200 Week 14

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

EDUC W200 Week 14

INTRODUCTION

• All of you will have classes in your program that will deal with special needs, and the purpose of this time is not to teach you everything about assistive technologies (AT), but to introduce them from a tech integration perspective

• Everyone of you will have to deal special needs as teachers, and will be legally mandated to do so

• Sometimes, there are tools that can make all of the difference in what and how we learn, and this week is about some of those tools

EDUC W200 Week 14

LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

• IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act o Provide appropriate public education, designed to meet individual

needs of students aged 3-21 to anyone, regardless of special needs

• Because of IDEA, all students with special needs, in order to receive support, are required to have an IEP: Individualized Education Plan.o Teachers, administrators, and school/district staff work as a team to

help student’s individual needs. o Selecting, justifying best technology can be part of the plan.

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of that provides support for learning modifications to some students who do not fall under IDEA (such as ADHD/ADD students

EDUC W200 Week 14

IDEA OVERVIEW

• According to IDEA an IEP (Individualized Education Program) must be developed by a TEAM:• Parent(s)/guardian of the child• 1 or more classroom teacher for that student• If appropriate, special education teacher/provider for the

student/child• Liaison representing a public agency (represents the child’s

needs and understands public resources), such as a social worker or social service provider

• An individual who can interpret evaluation results (1 of the people listed above can fulfill this role)

• Administrators representing the school or school corporation• The student/child (if appropriate)

EDUC W200 Week 14

LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

• Key Concept: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)o Minimize limitations by a special needo Promote inclusive classrooms/minimize separating

special needs students from the general population

• This is where technology can help students have the appropriate LRE

EDUC W200 Week 14

IDEA OVERVIEW

• Equal access and IDEA• The point is to accommodate everyone, to take

away emphasis on individual learning disabilities, need to provide everyone equal access.

• That’s where Universal Design for Learning comes in

EDUC W200 Week 14

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING (UDL)

• The role of Universal Design for Learning: A flexible curriculum for all types of learningo Link to 4min video.o Teachers and schools are being expected to apply a

UDL approach in their classrooms and school buildings/environments

• Here’s the basics:o What works for students with special needs could help

many otherso It is a more inclusive approacho It has a focus on improving the learning of everyone,

and not just a few

EDUC W200 Week 14

SO, WHAT CONSTITUTES A “SPECIAL NEED”

EDUC W200 Week 14

DISCUSSION: WHAT IS A SPECIAL NEED?

• Brainstorming session:o Discuss in groups what you think (specific) special

needs are (say them by name, if you can)o Create a list that you will share with the rest of

the class (as a group)

• Let’s list them on the board (or SMART Board)!

EDUC W200 Week 14

MATCH THE SPECIALNEEDS:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISABILITY

(a) One example is, rapid repetitions of vowels.

(b) Difficulty organizing thoughts, note taking.

(c) A foundation of genetic endowment, personality attributes to development, focuses on an area creativity.

(d) Externalizing behaviors: like yelling, walking out, destroying, stealing & lying.

(e) Neurological complications, malnourishment /typically low social economic background

(f) Leads to delays or deficits in motor development. Reduces a babies motivation to move.

(g) Disorder of voluntary movement and posture.

(h) Neurobehavioral syndrome, inability to relate to others, repetitive behavior, normal physical appearance

TYPE OF NEED

(1) Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

(2) Autism

(3) Communication Disorder

(4) Blindness

(5) Cerebral Palsy

(6) Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

(7) Gifted and Talented

(8) Dyslexia

EDUC W200 Week 14

SO, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE NEEDS?

ADHD: http://webaim.org/simulations/distractability

Low Vision : http://webaim.org/simulations/lowvision

Color Blind: http://www.vischeck.com/examples/

Dyslexia: http://webaim.org/simulations/dyslexia-sim.html

EDUC W200 Week 14

A DEFINITION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT)

“Any product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” (US Office of Special Education Programs)

Examples of Assistive Technology (AT):• Mobility devices (such as walker and

wheelchairs)• Hardware (physical technology devices)• Software (cds, working inside devices, online

programs)

EDUC W200 Week 14

HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR EACH STUDENT/CHILD?

1. INDIVIDUAL What are their

needs?

1. INDIVIDUAL What are their

needs?

2. TASKWhat is the task

they need to perform?

2. TASKWhat is the task

they need to perform?

4.TECHNOLOGYSelect which technology

available best fits situation?

4.TECHNOLOGYSelect which technology

available best fits situation?

3. CONTEXTIn what subject

area, when, where?

3. CONTEXTIn what subject

area, when, where?

Framework by Schwab AT Resources

EDUC W200 Week 14

HOW DOES “AT” SUPPORT LEARNERS?

For example:•Listening•Reading•Writing•Mathematics•Memory•Motivation•Social Skills•Time Management

EDUC W200 Week 14

REAL WORLD EXAMPLES OF “AT” IN ACTION

Interview with a K12 Special Ed Teacher

Interview with a family

Carly’s Story

EDUC W200 Week 14

MOBILITY NEEDS

• Adjustable-height tables and chairs• Special keyboards (e.g., keyless keyboards)• Special mouse and pointing devices • Touch screens and Tablet Computers

Touch Screen ExampleAlternative to IPAD

Touch Screen ExampleAlternative to IPAD

EDUC W200 Week 14

• Phonic ear (wear headset)• Speech to text systems• Pictures, photos, objects• FM amplification systems (e.g., auditory

trainer)• Electronic books Increasin

g soundsIncreasing sounds

HEARING NEEDS

EDUC W200 Week 14

• Computer screen magnifiers• Voice-output screen-reading software• Headsets • Word prediction software• Speech recognition• Large-print word processors

Zoom Tech Demonstration video 2min 55sec

Zoom Tech Demonstration video 2min 55sec

VISION NEEDS

EDUC W200 Week 14

DEVELOPMENTAL READING DISORDER (DYSLEXIA)

• Dyslexia is a disorder that interferes with an individual’s ability to read. It often runs in families.

• Symptoms: o Difficulty determining the meaning of a simple

sentenceo Difficulty learning to recognize written wordso Difficulty rhyming

• Fonts designed for dyslexia can help.o Video that demonstrates how the fonts worko Try the font outo Free font pack

EDUC W200 Week 14

GENERAL LEARNING DISABILITIES

• Graphic organizers (e.g., Inspiration)• Text readers

o Type-and-speak writing assistant (e.g., Co:Writer 4000)

o E-text readers (e.g., Universal Reader Plus)• Books on CD• Alarms• Organizers

o Calendars

Many other tools

EDUC W200 Week 14

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT DISABILITIES!

Gifted and Talented

EDUC W200 Week 14

DEFINITION OF NEEDS, REVISITED

• So, should AT and our concern about special needs be limited to just what we traditionally consider to be “special education?”o What about gifted students? How can AT assist

them?o What about all students? How can AT (and UDL)

assist them?

o Can AT be truly a universal tool to reach and teach all learners, with many, diverse needs?