Ideas in Assistive Technology
- Students with learning disabilities benefit from using word processing programs.typing hands image by Tom Davison from Fotolia.com
Students with learning disabilities may write illegibly, mix up letters and numbers, have spelling difficulties, comprehend poorly and have problems with mathematics and organizational impairments. They have trouble keeping up with their peers and thus lack confidence at school. Now they have help. There are numerous assistive technology devices that help them learn, understand and succeed in the classroom and at home. The University of Washington and the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program recommend over 15 devices. - Students with learning disabilities often benefit from using computers and word processor programs, rather than a pen and paper, to complete written assignments. Students with dysgraphia, those who have trouble writing clearly and composing letters, can write more quickly on a computer.
Spelling and grammar checkers relieve the stress for students who normally struggle with language structure, allowing them to focus on the content and information of the assignment. Some processing programs have abbreviation expansion functions, where students only have to key in a few letters for frequently-used long words.
Portable word processors are rising in popularity and used by students with learning and other disabilities. They are lightweight and easy to carry around. They only show words and letters on the screen, meaning that they offer fewer distractions than a full-sized computer, which benefits students with attention difficulties. - Students with reading difficulties benefit from listening to books, newspapers and text books on tape or CD, when learning new material or doing research. These are often available from libraries or bookstores.
A student can also bring a tape recorder to class and record his teacher's instructions and lectures to help him remember homework assignments or important information when he gets home Reading systems are higher-tech audio options used on the computer. These programs use the computer's sound card to read out words on a website, in an e-mail or in any other written document. Reading systems can be programmed to highlight words on the screen, so that students can follow along as they listen. - Talking calculators help students with dyscalculia, those who have trouble with numbers and math concepts, and students with dyslexia, those who may reverse numbers or letters. The calculator sounds numbers out loud as they are punched in and voice outputs the final answer. This helps students realize if they have entered the wrong number and provides them with affirmation when writing the final answer.
