Quality Education

Assistive technology is a device or piece of equipment that can help a student with a disability work around his/her challenges so they can have a quality education. These tools can also help them with their strengths. (Millstone, 2014) There are different forms of assistive technology tools to help students who struggle with listening, math, reading, writing, and motor skills (gross and fine). Not all assistive technology tools are high tech. They range from low-tech to high-tech tools. Low-tech tools are devices that do not require much training.  Assistive technologies that range in the middle have some complex features – electronic or battery operated. High-tech tools are the most complex devices that have digital or electronic components.

 In the video, “Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams” it shows how students with disabilities use assistive technology as their lifeline to communicate with everyone around them. It is their major foundation of life. The video shows that they start introducing these assistive technology tools at an early age to prepare the students with disabilities and to make it easier down the road.

In all of my Special Education courses, I am required to go into the classrooms and observe for a certain amount of hours.  I have seen students use their assistive technology to communicate with the teacher or their paraeducators. In one of the elementary schools that I observed, a student who has Autism uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to communicate with the teacher. This student used the AAC when transitioning from one task to another.  Augmentative and Alternative Communication includes simple pictures, gestures, phrases and pointing.

When I become a teacher, the steps I will take to create a revised activity to include students with disabilities will be to look at the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program). I will look at their IEP first to see what is the student’s present levels, what goals does the student need to work on for the school year, and what assistive technology they use for their disability (Kid’s Health). After looking at the IEP, this will help me make some modifications to my lesson to meet the student with disability needs in order to succeed.  To help me meet all students needs I will find resources where it is at their level but still the same lesson as their peers.

As educators, we must be aware what type of students we have in our classrooms so we can accommodate their needs. We also need to be cognizant of what assistive technology is out there so we can help our student with disability get the right tool to get them quality education. Assistive technology is a major foundation for a student with disability.  When I become a Special Education teacher, I will advocate for my students to get the best education they need in order to succeed in school and post-secondary.  

 References:

·      Millstone, J. (2014). Assistive Technology: What it Is and How it Works. Understood for learning and attention issues. https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics/assistive-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works

·      Kids Health. (2016). Individuals Education Programs. Kids Health from Nemours. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/iep-teachers.html

·      Edutopia. (2005). How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams. Edutopia: What Works in Education. http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video