Importance Of Technology In Special Needs Education

One important benefit of implementing the use of technology in the classroom for students with

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

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).

Technologies can be selected and so they can best meet the needs of the students who are differently abled.

In this artifact, I researched for alternative technological tool(see Assistive technology.doc) for students with disabilities to represent how technology could be a great assistance for them. This assignment represents how technology could be used by all students no matter what they need. Therefore, in this assignment, I looked for tools and ways to implement access to technology resources for students who have neuromuscular difficulties, and/or difficulties of counting with her finger to show that there are varieties of technological tool for all the needs.

The world is constantly changing and evolving. Yet mankind does not like change. Many people resist it for as long as possible. One of the biggest changes in the past few decades has been the development of the Internet. With the Internet came a plethora of different advancements in how we communicate with each other. There have been so many recently with everything from e-mail to Facebook; it is difficult to keep up. Which is why some people don’t bother. Technology has endless possibilities especially when it comes to education. It can allow us to communicate in new and more effective ways to reach students who may have had trouble in the past due to disabilities. Technology should be integrated into the classroom to help students with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because technology allows them to learn more.

Teachers will undeniably continue to face the challenge of being able to teach all students who have learning disabilities. They will continue on the journey in researching the availability of treatments, services, and new theories. There are numerous tools available in teaching; however, discovering exactly which tools will work for all with some type of learning disability, will continue to be a work in progress. Teachers will persist in expanding their education on how to effectively teach special needs children, because of the desire and passion they have for their

Technology can be found in every classroom of schools today and continues to grow as the field of technology continues to advance. School age children today know more about technology than most middle-aged adults because they have been exposed to it from such an early age. We live in the technology age and it’s clear that technology is here to stay and has permeated every area of our lives including home, work and leisure. Because of this, educators and school staff have been tech-savvy and must continue to keep up with the technological advances in order to present as competent to the student body. Technology has impacted the way our students learn and has provided avenues of learning to disabled students that they didn’t have in the past and has provided teaching staff with a multitude of resources and diversity in class activities to aid in teaching (Pearson, 2010). Without a doubt, technology will continue to impact our educational system as new technologies emerge and our country competes to keep up with a new globalized economy. Schools will implement these technologies into the

We can utilize iPads or tablets and provide students with fun educational games. They can also utilize computers for several activities. Technology also offers exceptional methods to assess children. When we observe a child at the computer it provides us with a “window into a child’s thinking process” (Weir et al. 1982). Technology in some cases can mean that a child can talk through a special device that helps him/her communicate such as an Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. A device as such is known as an Assistive Technology device. Assistive Technology devices are used to help individuals with special needs in life. “Integrated curriculum allows students to employ technology in ways that enhance learning” (Jackson, 2009). A SMART board can also be classified as an assistive technology device because it magnifies the information that teachers are showing to students. “As technology becomes increasingly infused in instruction for the general student population, the options for curriculum access, participation and progress increase for students with disabilities” (Jackson, 2009). When it comes to students who speak a different language, they can utilize a translator to help them translate from their language into English and vice versa. Technology can fit into a developmentally appropriate program because students can do age appropriate work such as educational games and assignments. Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is “a framework of principles and guidelines for best practice in the care and education of young children, birth through age 8” (Helm, 2008). Technology can fit into a DAP because students learn at their own level. Play is an important vehicle for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as a reflection of their development. Understanding that children are active constructors of

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.

Over the years, disabled children were not able to obtain the assistance that they need in order to better their mentality and physical performance towards academic performance. Disabled children faced a variety of discrimination in educational systems because they were looked as incapable of accomplishing tasks. Disabled children were not allowed to attend to school because they did not acquire enough intelligence. Assistive technology was created to help disabled children to improve social skills and improve their daily activities. This a great tool because it can help a student learn by allowing them to take the same courses as other students. Assistive technology helps children build independence and social skills. As the Internet

The summary of this article is to look at using technology and how it can help students with disabilities to enhance and improve their independence in academic and employment responsibilities, their participation in classroom discussions, along with helping them to accomplish some difficult academic tasks. This article discusses the role and benefits of using assistive technology in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), in academic skills, and in transition services. The article summarizes the important principles that are needed to be considered in the incorporation of technology in educating or training students with

“Assistive technology and accessible educational materials create opportunities for students with disabilities to enjoy greater access and meaningful participation in the general education curriculum with their non-disabled peers.” (Schwab 3). It is very important that there are new ways discovered to make an individual feel like one who isn’t disabled, especially when dealing with a mental or intellectual disability. Almost every disability that we are familiar with we don’t know everything about. When scientists discover new ways to cope with a disability whether it be emotional, physical, or intellectual, they will have created a new piece of assistive technology and received more information concerning the disability. There will always be room for improvement when it comes to assistive technology, because it will continuously grow and change with the changing disabilities.

Though students will be able to communicate using their devices, they must still be able to physically be present to participate and contribute to classroom activities as well. The use of wheelchairs and walkers are already sound Assistive Technology devices that would allow students with disabilities mobility. However, devices in this case are not enough to support a student with disabilities inside of a classroom. The classroom itself must also be structured in a way that supports an Assistive Technological driven class.

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)