Assistive

Technology
By: Abby Schaumburg

 Accommodations that aid

disabled people in learning with
technology
What
kind of disabilities?

What is
it?

Sensory
Visual
Auditory
Physical
Cognitive

Does your computer have it?

If you have Microsoft Windows or an Apple
operating system, yes! (settings: Ease of
Access Center for Windows, System
Preferences: Universal Access for Apple)

Deaf / Hard
of Hearing

TTY (teletypewriter): a keyboard attached

to a phone coupler where text appears on
the screen for the deaf or hard of hearing
person https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQ73575Qp8
(Relay Communication Services (TTY
version))
VRS (Sorenson Video Relay Service):
updated version, high-quality video relay
using a sign language interpreter, video
display and camera https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oes2KGYfWXo
(Video Relay Service Helps Deaf Workers)

Blind/
Visually
Impaired

A slight impairment may be aided

by using the built-in accessibility
features (Gunter pg. 93)
Screen Reader: reads all text
on the screen and requires
keyboard skills because there is
not a mouse
Have you ever used a function
that reads off words for you?
When?
Cell phone texts
Security codes

Speech

Speech Synthesis: aids students with

speech and vocal muscle disorders by
assigning shortcut keys to reproduce
frequently used phrases so the student can
type in the shortcuts and the software will
read it (Gunter pg. 147)
Speech-to-Text: As the student speaks, the
technology writes, becoming more prevalent
on smartphones
Text-to-Speech: Kurzweil 3000 is a system
that scans text and then reads it, similar to a
screen reader for the visually impaired

 It is important to have assistive

hardware in your classroom to
accommodate to every student
Keyboard Alternatives:

Hardware

Keyguard- aids students in typing correctly

by preventing the wrong keys being pressed
Screen-Displayed Keyboard- touch the
keyboard with a pointer

Head-Mounted Pointer: aids

students with limited hand mobility

 Assistive technology can help students with

disabilities achieve their goals, giving them high selfsatisfaction

Assistive
Technology
Helping in
the
Classroom

Using assistive technology can help disabled students

better understand the material being taught
Students with disabilities can fit into the classroom
setting, being able to do the same coursework, with
the help from assistive technology

What previously mentioned assistive

technology would help a student who has
dyslexia?
Kurzweil
3000, text reader
What previously mentioned assistive
technology would help a student who has
cerebral
palsy?
Keyguard,
or keyboard with a specialized template

Tablets

Built-In Features: text-to-speech, voice

command, auto text, video chat, and
magnification, zoom
iPad: VoiceOver, White on Black (for color
blind), Facetime
Touch screen: easier to control and type
on, makes completing a task easier and
quicker
Apps: thousands of apps that can help with
anything
Dexteria: app that helps improve fine motor skills
through
What
apps
have you used that could
hand
exercises

help with disabilities?

 Considerations:
Technical Quality: caption availability, will it
function using alternative input devices (keyboard)

Technology
Choices in
the
Classroom

Presentation of Information: directions presented

both visually and auditory, sufficient time given to
read and comprehend, clear directions and examples,
text clear and easy to read (control over text size)
Content: dependent on color or only auditory/ visual,
provide logical information and presented in multiple
structures

How to Integrate Technology into the

Special Needs Curriculum:
Graphic organizing, digital video editing
software, digital media tools, database tools
(Gunter pg. 403)

 Healthbridgeweb. Relay Communication Services

(TTY). Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr.
2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2016

WORKS
CITED

WKYT. Video Relay Service Helps Deaf Workers.

Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 23 Mar. 2009.
Web. 29 Jan. 2016
Gunter, Randolph E., and Glenda A. Gunter. Teachers
Discovering Computers. Boston: Cengage Learning,
2014. Print.