Assistive Technology: Resource Roundup

 I recently looked at a online article titled Assistive Technology: Resource Roundup it had a ton of tips for teachers for using technology in the classroom that I thought might be useful in the classroom.
These tips are especially valuable for learners with learning disabilities and English Language Learners and in General just wonderful tips that are valuable to all learners.
For Educators:

• This article is a is a great walk through of assistive-technology basics for classroom teachers. It talked about the areas that we all face as classroom teachers:
• challenge
• Initial thought
•  Prospective and Resources
• Wrap-up
• Assessment
• It mentioned that as educators that we need to know the individual needs of our students because what would work for one student might not benefit for all the students with learning issues. 
• Be mindful of the individual needs and learn to give options that would encourage the use of such assistive technologies.  It might make the difference in the student's learning!

For Parents:

•  What is Assistive Technology?
• What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology refers to devices that are used by people with disabilities to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible for them to do.
• It is just as simple as a tool to aid your child in the learning process.
• What types of Assistive Technology is available for my child some we use on a daily basis? 
• Braile
• Audio
• Large text
• Digital text
• Glasses
• Grip on a pencil
• Talk to text software 
•  If I have any further question where might I go and find out more about technology and disabilities?
• http://www.fctd.info/
• A good app that might help is  Graphite, a service of Common Sense Media; also if you are looking to enhance your child's learning by using apps this website has a ton of useful apps that might be helpful
•  https://www.graphite.org/top-picks/great-special-ed-apps-and-sites?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=&utm_content=10232013&utm_campaign=reviews
• Don't wait for the school to get involved what your child's needs are.  You know your child better than anyone.  Do your research.  
• Be prepared when it is time for the ARD and allow such items to be used on your child's IEP.  

This is my opinion: the values in using these tools are endless allowing the students to be able to be independent and promoting self-confidence is a tool that cannot be measured. It allows them to build on the skills that they are developing everyday and to utilize the individual that they can be if given the chance to excel.

This article had videos and links to other helpful articles on the same subject. This article was not meant for someone outside the education profession. It would be very hard to understand if you were not familiar with the terms that educators use.   I sure hope you enjoyed how I broke it down for you!






To find out more on this subject here is the article:
http://www.edutopia.org/article/assistive-technology-resources