Inclusive education is a fundamental principle in today’s classrooms, striving to provide all students equal opportunities to learn and succeed. Technology has often been either a friend or a foe of teachers, but in the case of students with disabilities, it can play a crucial role by offering support and enhancements to pupils.
If you’re passionate about working with students with disabilities, the William Patterson University (WP) online Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education with a concentration in Teacher of Students with Disabilities program can teach you how to improve learning outcomes with assistive technologies.
What Is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology (AT) refers to devices, equipment or software that help individuals with disabilities perform tasks they might otherwise find difficult. In educational settings, AT enables students to participate more fully and independently in classroom activities.
An LD OnLine article emphasizes how, for kids and teens with learning disabilities, “AT can address many types of learning difficulties. A student with difficulty writing can compose a school report by dictating it and having it converted to text by special software … And a teenager with dyslexia may benefit from AT that will read aloud his employer’s online training manual.” The same applies to students with other disabilities, such as motor, hearing and speech impairments.
How Does Assistive Technology Support Students With Disabilities?
AT can generally bridge many gaps in verbal communication, writing, reading, organization and memory. AT tools, like screen readers and text-to-speech software, enable students with visual impairments or reading difficulties to access written content.
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices empower non-verbal students to express themselves effectively, promoting social interaction and learning. Adaptive hardware, such as specialized keyboards and mouse devices, assist students with motor impairments in navigating digital interfaces. Word prediction software and speech-to-text tools aid students with writing challenges, making it easier for them to convey their ideas.
Examples of Assistive Technology in the Classroom
Teachers have many options when choosing which technologies to implement in their classrooms. The following are just some examples of resources that make learning more accessible for students with disabilities:
- Text-to-speech/speech-to-text software: Tools like Read&Write and Kurzweil 3000 can read digital text aloud, helping students with reading disabilities or visual impairments access and comprehend content. Meanwhile, software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking converts spoken words into written text, assisting students with writing difficulties.
- Screen readers: Screen readers like JAWS and NVDA read aloud what’s displayed on a computer screen, allowing visually impaired students to navigate digital environments. Aimed for a similar target group, TactPlus, a Braille printer, is “[o]ften used by educational institutions, [and] the portable printer precision-heats a specialty foamed paper to create a page of Braille (or other 3D images) in one to two minutes,” according to Built In.
- Communication and note-taking apps: Apps like Evernote and OneNote offer digital platforms for organizing and taking notes, supporting students with organizational and memory challenges. Devices like Tobii Dynavox enable non-verbal students to communicate through symbols, pictures or synthesized speech.
- Alternative keyboards, mouse devices and trackpads: Adapted hardware, like ergonomic keyboards and touch-sensitive mice, aid students with motor impairments in using computers. A compelling example is MouthPad, which, according to EdTech, “attaches to users’ upper teeth like a retainer” and “functions somewhat like a trackpad. The Bluetooth-enabled device uses sensors to convey directional commands. Touching the left part of the device with your tongue, for example, moves the cursor to the left. Pressing up on the device equates to a left click.”
Learn Best Practices to Meet the Unique Needs of Students With Disabilities
While AT provides valuable support for students with disabilities, it is essential to acknowledge that there may be areas where it is insufficient. Some students may require personalized solutions beyond what standard assistive technology can offer. In such cases, individualized education plans and collaboration between educators, specialists and families are crucial to addressing unique needs.
Recognizing the needs of individual students and finding the correct support can be a bit of a puzzle and require a lot of creativity and a wide knowledge of all the available AT offerings. WP’s online MEd in Special Education – Teacher of Students with Disabilities program equips graduates to identify and apply AT, thanks to courses like Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology. By embracing AT, educators can ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online Med in Special Education with a Concentration in Teacher of Students with Disabilities program.
