What kind of technology can help me meet the needs of students who have disabilities?

Factual Information

Using assistive technology may be new to you and, although the special education teacher will be a valuable resource in using these technologies, you will want to have a broad understanding of assistive technologies. Such understanding will help you communicate better with the special education teacher and will help you understand what is being done to support the student who has disabilities in your classroom.

Classroom Activities

• Read through the article on Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities published by Schwab Learning. After learning about the possibilities that assistive technology has to offer, consider if assistive technology can help you meet the instructional needs of a student in your classroom.
• Download the Selecting Assistive Tech Tools to Meet Your Child's Needs worksheet published by Schwab Learning. Complete the worksheet for a student in your classroom about whom you have concerns about his/her learning.

Collaboration

• Ask your colleagues what types of assistive technologies they are using in their classrooms to help students who have disabilities.
• Consult with personnel from the special education department about the types of assistive technologies that are available.

Resources and Links

The following websites help teachers think about their students and how they learn within specific content areas.

• The Schwab Learning website has an article on how to match assistive technology to individual student needs.
• If you are a teacher of students at the secondary level, you may find the paper A Model of Assistive & Instructional Technologies for Secondary Inclusive Classrooms helpful.
• The National Center for Learning Disabilities website has an article that explains assistive technology along with examples.
• Schwab Learning has published a downloadable guide on assistive technology for parents.