Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Essay

It is necessary for teachers and IEP committees to consider assistive technology for students with disabilities because AT offers many different benefits to students. AT can be used to assist students with communication deficits, assist students in completing assigned daily tasks, as well as assisting students in accessing materials and navigating the classroom. Assistive technology allows students to meet their goals academically and it allows students to access and

In current years technology has advanced extremely quickly and has taken the world by storm. Technology has a range of positive contributions to the world but advanced technology has impacted the deaf community in a variety of ways: it has allowed people to connect regularly through different communication devices, improve access and receive and look for information and work to improve the safety in and around the household with everyday appliances.

This article focuses on the many forms of technology in relation to special education. The article discusses the “high” and “low” forms of technology that is available for students with special needs to help “bypass” or “compensate” for their disabilities. The article goes on to survey the current status of assistive technology for the special education population. In the end, the article uncovers that the use of assistive technology for the special education population is promising though uncertain. Assistive technology has proven to be beneficial for students with learning disabilities, as it would empower them to work beyond their normal capabilities (Lewis, 1998).

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) encompasses those forms of communication excluding oral speech which enable an individual to express themselves (Bondy & Frost, 1994). It replicates non-functional speech for those individuals with verbal or language difficulties through augmentative aides (Light & Drager, 2007). Recent technological advances have resulted in the availability of electronic devices which can convert text and picture and communication boards, to generate voice output. As a consequence, individuals with communication challenges accessing alternative means with which to express themselves, and in effect improve their social interaction, academic achievements, whilst gaining increased self-determination (Light & Drager, 2007).

Target audience: This augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) application is designed for users of all ages who have an expressive language delay or no speech output. This text and picture based program has been developed to meet the communication needs of individuals with a range of diagnoses. Proloquo2Go offers a range of vocabulary levels, voice selections and accessibility options, which can be customised to meet student’s individual needs.

This technology includes voice amplifiers, wheelchair software, and other computing software to assist learning for those with a disabilities. The technology used is high tech especially in the wheelchair software. If the system was to fail it could lead to potential distress or harm of the individual in the wheelchair. In addition, staff must be properly trained so they are capable of carrying out the software

A practitioner with an individual with a disability in their care could engage assistive technology to help the child carry out tasks that may otherwise be difficult. This will also benefit the child’s social development as they will feel included in being able to carry out similar tasks as their peers. Keeping a direct link with intervention such as SLC therapists, social workers and physiotherapists can be a key aspect of meeting children’s needs when necessary to do so; alongside this providing security and stable relationships for children to reply on and understanding changes in behaviour. These are important adaptations when referring to children with behavioural issues, disability or children going through emotional

This technology allows people who are deaf to participate in both the deaf and hearing world. It

While Ian has a hearing aid to help him be able to hear others. The classroom may benefit from a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) as this devices is used for students who are deaf of has a hearing impairment. The devices has a QWERTY board and a small screen that will allow the student to type their word and/or sentence to communicate to others. Therefore, Ian who is non-verbal will be able to use this device to advance his ability of communicating rather than solely using the PECS system. As the student is learning to use the PECS device, the TDD device is hardly used in the classroom setting, but with the student is recommended as it provides a student tools to communicate. In each lesson, the teacher will instruct the student with to use the TDD device to communicate during the

Also, beliefs and perspectives are important for using or applying any kind of augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC), PECS as an example in teaching students with severe communication impairments. Therefore, teachers should have positive perspectives regarding using PECS in their classrooms. For example, teachers should feel that PECS as a method of AACs are effective for enabling students with severe communication impairments to communicate with their typical peers and supporting them to succeed in their

Even though speech recognition is not good for all physicians it is for some. This technology would make it much easier for the doctors, nurse and all of the staff. Benefits are significant because

Elle, a special needs person who is 14 years old has cerebral palsy. She is assisted in communicating with others by the use of a Dynavox, a computer assisted software that allows her to use a head mouse to point at a picture and the Dynavox talks for her. She is not able to communicate her wants and needs at school and home, and is able to chat with friends and interact with her

The use of technology in educating children with special needs has widely grown in the past few decades, and has since has changed the way people with disabilities live, work, and learn” (Winzer, 2002, p. 98). Individuals with special needs are unique and all have different areas in which they need assistance. Due to the advancements in assistive technology, computer programs, software, and other technology tools, have helped people to find useful and easier ways to become educated.

Speech and language disorders, as with any learning disability, can cause embarrassment and social hindrance for students along with the educational setbacks. Unfortunately there is yet to be a cure discovered, but luckily there are many ways in which individuals with learning disabilities can seek treatment and aide. For example a child could receive therapy from a speech pathologist to help them articulate more clearly. There is also assistive technology available for all types of disorders. Assistive technology can help motivate students to overcome the barriers in learning that they face by compensating in the area that they lack. When choosing which type of device that a student should use, it is very important that it is one that will accommodate to the specific disability of the student (Fleming, 1999). For individuals with speech and language disorders, either an electronic communication device or a personal FM listening system would be appropriate. An electronic communication device allows one to type their ideas into a machine so they

The use of technology in educating children with special needs has widely grown in the past few decades. Individuals with special needs are unique and all have different areas in which they need assistance. Due to the advancements in assistive technology, computer programs, software, and other technology tools, it has become much easier for people to find useful and easier ways to become educated. Because of this, “technology has changed the way people with disabilities live, work, and learn.” (Winzer,98)