Assistive Technology in Education

What is assistive technology?
Basicly it is technology that allows someone who a disabality who is unable to do something, to do that task. It allows thoes who cannot walk to move, wheel chair. Someone who is hard of hearing to hear, hearing aid, or TTY for deaf people. It does not do any task for them but it provides the means for it to be done.

Take a student who has a reading difficulty. Now of course it is important for the student to learn how to read, maybe on an IEP but it is not always the point to read. In cases like that there are audio versions of many different assigenments, books and instructions that allow the student to understand what is going on an how they can best complete the assignment. Audio books also allow thoes who are blind to stay on task when there is not always brail avalible.

There is a fine line between when assistive technology is helpful and too helpful. As teachers we want our students to work hard but not be over burdend with something they have no control over.

http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?109

http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/assistive/

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/education/at.html