Assistive Technology in Regular Education!
By Whitbread, Kathleen M., PhD; ConnSENSE Bulletin,Publication Date:
Article discussing assistive technology (AT) used in an inclusive middle school classroom through a case example. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that planning and placement teams consider AT needs for every student receiving special education services. In classroom settings, AT can be something as simple as a special pencil grip or as complex as computerized communication equipment. A case of one student’s combination of devices and strategies are discussed, which allowed him to keep up with the class curriculum. Six devices are listed: (1) a small handheld tape recorder to record lectures, class discussions, assignments, notes, and reminders; (2) textbooks on tape, which are available from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D); (3) word prediction software, which enables the user to type in the first few letters of a word, while the software provides a list of potential words to choose from. The student used Co:Writer from Don Johnston, Incorporated, which also reads the text aloud; (4) a computer text-reading program to translate written text to speech; (5) color filters, color highlighters, and color backgrounds for computer work; and (6) software to help organize ideas into graphic webs for presentations or papers.
Assistive Products Discussed: CO:WRITER 4000
Published by: ConnSENSE (Connecticut's Special Education Network for Software Evaluation) (Website:http://www.connsensebulletin.com)
NEAT (New England Assistive Technology) Marketplace (Web Site: http://www.neatmarketplace.org )
A.J. Pappanikou Center for Developmental Disabilities (Web Site: http://www.uconnucedd.org )
Connecticut Tech Act Project (Web Site: http://www.cttechact.com )
Link to text: http://www.connsensebulletin.com/whitart.html
