Electronic books can be a part of the classroom library and are useful to support struggling readers. Accessibility features such as audio support with text-to-speech, enhanced resources, and study tools are important and often necessary features for students with disabilities. Electronic books can be a part of the classroom library and are useful to… Read More Electronic Books: Assisting Struggling Readers
Nonlinguistic Representations and Visual Literacy
Visual literacy is the ability to interpret and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. This ability is a pre-reading skill that is also needed for success with augmentative communication. Research Research demonstrates that presenting content in multi-modes will assist students with learning new information. According to Marzano, Pickering, &… Read More Nonlinguistic Representations and Visual Literacy
Visit the Math Playground
Computers and software programs afford students with disabilities opportunities to participate in math activities and manipulate objects for counting, sorting, combining, and completing math problems. Computers and software programs afford students with disabilities opportunities to participate in math activities and manipulate objects for counting, sorting, combining, and completing math problems. Such assistive technology options… Read More Visit the Math Playground
Behavior is Communicative
Challenging behavior, either from a student with significant disabilities or a mild learning disability, is frequently an inappropriate attempt to communicate a need or a feeling. Children do not always communicate their wants and needs accurately. Whether verbal or nonverbal, children do not always communicate their wants and needs accurately. Observe body language to… Read More Behavior is Communicative
Reading in the 21st Century
Most students are electronically engaged and therefore are more comfortable with e-reading tools than many adults. For this reason, all students can benefit from receiving written material in different formats. In this world of new electronic gadgets, assistive technology supporters deserve some of the credit! This is especially applicable when looking at what is… Read More Reading in the 21st Century
Evidence-based Practice and Assistive Technology
After implementation of accommodations and modifications, the ongoing collection of data and analysis is necessary to determine the suitability of the technology. Research Assistive Technology is a relatively new phrase first coined in 1982 by John Williams who wrote an article for the Washington Post describing a talking terminal (FCTD, 2008). Being in the infancy… Read More Evidence-based Practice and Assistive Technology
UDL or not UDL? That is the Question
The field of education has taken this concept of universal access and applied it to learning by creating the framework of UDL. As described by the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), “Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing curricula that enable all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning…. Read More UDL or not UDL? That is the Question