How can technology address learning disabilities?
Assistive Technology (AT) is digital technology which can aid students with learning disabilities in the classroom. According to IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), AT is "any piece of equipment, or product system. . . that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" (IDEA, 1997). AT allows students to articulate their strengths while working around their weaknesses (Raskind, 2012). By allowing students to accommodate for learning challenges they can be far more successful in the classroom environment. AT allows students to understand and communicate their ideas in a manner which can be reflected to the teacher. In this way, technology acts as an equalizer amongst diverse learners, thereby allowing them to interact in a way which otherwise would not have been available.
Examples of AT include:
Examples of AT include:
- computer software for multiple intelligences (audio/visual/etc)
- talking word processors:
letters, words, sentences are read aloud while the student type it on the computer - portable note-taking electronics:
record audio for students from the classroom for later review - pre-writing organizers
- abbreviation expanders
"used with word processing, these software programs allow a user to create, store, and re-use abbreviations for frequently-used words or phrases. This can save the user keystrokes and ensure proper spelling of words and phrases he has coded as abbreviations"(Stanberry and Raskind, 2012). - talking calculators
- audio books