Running head: Assistive technology 1

Assistive Technology
Madison N. Vanderlip
North Greenville University

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Assistive technology can be defined as certain devices and programs that

are used to help
students with disabilities to perform everyday tasks. This allows students to
be able to use
devices to enable them to accomplish more tasks, such as things having to
do with schoolwork.
It helps the students have a sense of independence because they are
accomplishing the task on
their own instead of having to ask for continual help. Assistive technology is
a great way for
students with disabilities to work through tasks and complete them just like
any other student
would; therefore, making them feel just like everyone else.
An example of a device that would help students with a hand or arm
disability would be an
electronic pointing device. This allows the student to use the cursor on the
screen without the
use of their hands (Sinclair, 2015). This device uses brain waves and nerve
signals instead of
hand movement to control computers (Sinclair, 2015). An electronic pointing
device would be
useful in the classroom for online activities that a teacher would assign her
students to do.
These are not expensive and are usually about twenty dollars (Sinclair,
2015).
Another useful device for students with disabilities would be a Text-toSpeech (TTS) device
or speech synthesizers. This would be helpful for students who are blind or
who are unable to
communicate with their words. This allows what is typed to be spoken orally
by the computer
or it can also be connected to a students thoughts if they are unable to
verbally communicate

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(Sinclair, 2015). The TTS device would be helpful in the classroom for
students who are blind to
be able to work on assignments and be interactive with other students.
There is an online app
called ZoomReader that is available for $20 that is for text-to-speech usage
(Krull, 2012).
Speech recognition or voice recognition programs would be very helpful in
the classroom for
students who are unable to use their hands. Speech recognition allows
students to give
commands with their voices instead of typing orders (Sinclair, 2015). This
program would be
helpful for students who have difficulty using their hands, because it allows
them to search the
internet, type, and compose things by just using their voice. These devices
can be found on
eBay or Walmart for around $100.
Another helpful device for assistive technology is an on-screen keyboard.
This allows
students to use a mouse, joystick, switch, or electronic pointing device with
touch screen to
control activity on the computer (Sinclair, 2015). This would be useful in the
classroom for
students who have difficulties with dexterity (Sinclair, 2015). Many different
websites offer onscreen keyboards for free.
There is an app called READ that is available for iPhones and iPads for
ninety-nine cents. This
app allows users to communicate without using their voice. This would be
helpful in the
classroom for students who have trouble with speech (Alijn 2012).
For a software program, there is a web based program called Academic
Software

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Incorporated. This helps students who need assistive technology by giving
computer access to
children with disabilities (Lacefield 2004).
Overall, assistive technology can be very useful in the classroom. It is a
great way for
students with learning disabilities or disabilities, in general, to be able to
communicate and
participate as well as the rest of the class. This can also be a great
confidence
booster for children who are usually not able to participate in activities with
the rest of their
classmates. Assistive technology is helpful but also beneficial for all
students.

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Assistive Technology
Alijn, J. (2012). iTunes. Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read/id433493823?
mt=8%20]http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read/id433493823?mt=8
Dubey, K. (2015). Mousetrapper Advance. Retrieved from
http://www.techshout.com/hardware/2007/31/mousetrapper-advance-an-electronicpointing-device-to-prevent-repetitive-strain-injury-rsi-launched-by-mousetrapper-nordic/
Krull, J. (2012). IPAT. Retrieved from http://ndipat.org/blog/is-there-a-portable-affordableoption-for-text-to-speech-for-someone-with-a-reading-disability/
Lacefield, W. Academic Software, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.acsw.com/asiinfo.html
Retrieved from http://www.yabla.be/
Retrieved from http://www.imagesco.com/articles/hm2007/SpeechRecognitionTutorial01.html
Retrieved from http://portableapps.com/apps/accessibility/on-screen_keyboard_portable
Sinclair, R. (2015). Microsoft Accessibility. Retrieved from
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx

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