How I Can Use Assistive Technology in My Classroom

Assistive technology is a necessity in the classroom for students with disabilities. Therefore, as a teacher it is my responsibility to educate myself about the different assistive technology tools that are available for students with disabilities. In this reflection I will discuss the advantages of assistive technology, and how I can apply it in my classroom. 

When I think of common difficulties for students with disabilities, writing and reading comes to mind. I believe that writing and reading are necessary for communicating, which in turn is also necessary for learning. This is shown in the Edutopia video "How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams" (2005), where students are given assistive technology to enable them to fulfill dreams such as being a soccer referee in a wheelchair, and playing the Euphonium horn with little physical functionality. In the video, George Rehmet, a teacher at Redwood Heights Elementary School said that " By introducing kids to technology early, it gets them better prepared and makes it easier down  the road and then they can spend the later years of their school years focusing on content material and the curriculum". His quote caught my attention because it is something I never thought of. I knew that assistive technology was helpful, but I did not realize the importance of introducing it at an early age. 

I did not have any students with physical disabilities this past school year, but I know that day will come, and I will have to be prepared. Hence, I researched assistive technologies for writing and reading, and I found one tool that I think I would use in my classroom. An article by Kristen Stanberry, and Marshall H. Raskind (2009) titled, "Assistive Technology Tools: Writing" discusses the different tools for teachers to use in their classroom. The one tool I picked from this article is, EZ Keys for Windows XP and Vista, and Gus! Access Keyboard (see image below), which can also be accessed in Microsoft (2009). I like EZ Keys because it has different modes of access, for example, a mouse, trackball, 1-5 switches, and Morse code. Thus, this tool would be great for a wide range of physical disabilities from mild to severe. I would have my student use this tool to do assignments, and to communicate if necessary. This tool would make it simple to assess for learning because I could use selective response questions, as well as constructed response questions.

Image from Technical Solutions: http://tecsol.com.au/wwweb/ComputerSoft.htm

In conclusion, I am glad that we were introduced to Edutopia's video, "How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams" (2005) because it opened my eyes to the possibilities that assistive technology offers. Now I feel more knowledgeable about what to do when I eventually get students with disabilities.

References:

Ellis, K. (Producer). (2005, February 2). How assistive technology enables dreams. The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video

Stanberry, K., and Raskind, M. H., (2009). Assistive technology tools: writing. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33078

Technical Solutions: Electronics for people with a disability. Retrieved from http://tecsol.com.au/wwweb/ComputerSoft.htm