Using Text-to-Speech (TTS) narration has been found to be helpful for struggling readers in the areas of increased reading rate and improved reading comprehension. Although it has been around since the 1960s, it has become cheaper and more accessible to the general public in the past decade. Now, there are user-friendly technology tools to support reading… Read More Read Aloud Google Tools for Reading
Not Only Calculators
It may not seem like it is testing season but preparing students to access state assessments is very important throughout the school year. To use an accommodation in a state testing environment, a student must have that accommodation justified and documented in their IEP or 504 Plan. It should be included in their daily instruction… Read More Not Only Calculators
Giving Students a Choice
Students should be empowered to select their own assistive technology. Even at a basic level, students can learn to exercise choice. User input significantly affects abandonment of assistive technology (Phillips & Zhao, 1993). Develop activities that can help increase capacity of students to self-assess and select their personal assistive technology solutions. Include them in… Read More Giving Students a Choice
Achieving Positive Outcomes through Meaningful Instruction
Developing children’s interests during the preschool years is particularly important so that they learn to extend their ability to focus and maintain attention at an early age. Planning for children to spend sustained time with focused content and prioritizing the quality of learning experiences over the quantity of topics covered, is recognized as a developmentally… Read More Achieving Positive Outcomes through Meaningful Instruction
Google Tools for Reading
Although speech synthesis has been around since the 1960s, it has become cheaper and more accessible to the general public in the past decade. Now there are user-friendly technology tools to support reading available for free when using Google Chrome. Research Studies show that students who use Text-to-Speech (TTS) applications demonstrate an increase reading rate… Read More Google Tools for Reading
Making Books Accessible For All Children
It is important for children with disabilities to have equal opportunities to participate in these experiences and access books as independently as possible. Adapting books is one solution for supporting all children’s literacy development. Research Every child has the natural ability to respond to the language and pictures in books. Language encompasses the structure,… Read More Making Books Accessible For All Children
Switching Up Your Instruction
Visit a classroom for students with intellectual and physical disabilities, and you are likely to see a variety of switch activated toys and devices. The types of switches are as plentiful as their uses. This article explores a variety of switches, their uses, and offers several resources. Research Differentiating instruction to meet the wide… Read More Switching Up Your Instruction
