Why Do I Need Assistive Technology in My Classroom?

Students with learning disabilities mostly have difficulties in reading, writing, calculations, memorizing, planning organizing or completing a task. The constant struggle with schoolwork eventually results in poor performance, decreased self-confidence and increased frustration at their perceived failures. Assistive technology has been defined as any item, piece of equipment or system that helps people bypass, work around or compensate for learning difficulties. The technology can include “high-tech devices” like speech recognition systems, reading machines etc and “low-tech devices” like tape recorders, organizers, highlighters and more which aim to make learning easier and simpler for students.

Learning disabilities are best improved by stimulating, facilitating and strengthening a student’s positives to help them overcome their weaknesses. And assistive devices are tools which enable students’ to focus on their learning by working around challenges and assisting in achieving maximum potential, increased functional independence and better academic performance.

What deficits are addressed by assistive technology?

High and low tech devices that address deficits in most areas of learning difficulties are available in the market. For example calendars, organizers and schedule lists are suggested for a student having difficulty in organizing and planning his work. Post-it-stickers are a cost effective low tech device that can be used by a student having difficulty in remembering instructions. A student with visual perception deficit can make use of markers and highlighters to identify vital information. Audio books and publications are available for students with reading difficulties. Similarly abbreviation expanders and alternative keyboards can be used by students with writing difficulties. With the many devices available, the key is to identify a device that is tailor made to suit the needs of the student.

How does Assistive Technology help students with learning difficulties?

These devices can be used either as a compensatory or remedial approach. When a student with difficulty in reading but with good listening skills uses a reading machine to complete a reading assignment, the student may be compensating for a deficit by focusing on a strength. However, when a student uses a phonic software to learn phonics correctly, the student is benefiting from using the software as a remedial measure. In some cases, the tool may serve both purposes i.e. the student uses the reading machine while following the written text to learn unfamiliar words. Knowledge regarding the tool and its functioning are important to choosing the right resource and manner in which to incorporate it.

How to choose the right assistive device?

It is important to involve the student in the selection process of a device being chosen for its ability to “assist” the student in performing necessary tasks. Purchasing of a device should only be after the following factors are considered:

• The specific needs and challenges faced by the child can be met. Consider, the academic areas in which they struggle.
• The strengths, knowledge and interests of the student.
• The environment in which the device will be used (at school or home?).
• Skills, tasks or function the device needs to perform (is it to compensate for writing, reading, organizing etc).
• Device criteria including: cost, portability, reliability, ease of learning, operation and interoperability with other devices.
• Student comfort with the device.

Discuss here: What suggestions do you have regarding assistive technology aids that you have used in your classroom?

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