Assistive technology is not utilized in some classrooms in a timely manner to insure the optimal learning for students with disabilities. It is important for students that would excel with early introduction to assistive devices to receive those devices early in their educational career. Occasionally those devices can be phased out as the student learns to use their motor skills or voice. Not all students will be able to expand and learn without their device, they may need them for life. Updating assistive devices as they grow will insure the continued success of the student. Parents and educators can work together to insure that the student receives the assistance they need at home and at school.
Assistive devices can include wheelchairs, laptops, tablets, communication boards, voice recognition software, and any technology that can assist them including software. Students that are not able to communicate using their voice can use laptops or computers to write their thoughts. They can also use communication boards to use as their voice. Communication boards can even be used with a switch that may include using the eyes or other part of the body when students have limited mobility. Joysticks can be used on many different devices to assist students. An example could be for musical instruments. Bookworm is a program to use that helps to read books to younger students. This allows them to associate pictures with words. Assistive technology can include software such as OneNote or EverNote to help the student with organization.
As an educator, it is important to not only recognize when a student would benefit from assistive technology or devices but to know how to provide the student with the needed device. It is also important to know who to work with and where to research the latest devices. Technology is improving everyday and assistive technology is changing fast but it is vital in order to unlock minds that are trapped with disabilities.
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