While some people try to argue that technology is creating "zombies" or decreasing the value of our younger generations, there are many ways in which technology is proving to be life-changing and valuable. Education is one of those places where technology can be a very good thing. Especially while considering adaptive technology, as it allows greater success for all students, specifically those with disabilities. Adaptive technology can allow a once-hindered student to excel in ways never thought possible.
Cognitive Disabilities
In order for students to be diagnosed with a cognitive disability, they must have impairments in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
Intellectual functioning refers to a person's ability to plan, comprehend, and reason.
Adaptive behavior refers to an individual's ability to apply social and practical skills in everyday life. Examples of adaptive behavior can include personal care, social problem-solving skills, dressing and eating skills, using money, and following rules.
(http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-cognitive-disabilities-definition-types-examples.html)
Students might struggle with reading, writing, or mathematics because of their struggle with comprehension and reasoning.
Intellectual functioning refers to a person's ability to plan, comprehend, and reason.
Adaptive behavior refers to an individual's ability to apply social and practical skills in everyday life. Examples of adaptive behavior can include personal care, social problem-solving skills, dressing and eating skills, using money, and following rules.
(http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-cognitive-disabilities-definition-types-examples.html)
Students might struggle with reading, writing, or mathematics because of their struggle with comprehension and reasoning.
- NaturalReader software is a program that can be downloaded on multiple devices and used as a free text-to-speech option. There are 57 voices to choose from, which will help struggling students find a voice that is easiest to listen to, and currently 9 languages. The program supports word documents, text documents, and even PDFs. Not only is there text-to-speech, but also image-to-speech which means the program can detect words that come with images and read that as well. There is also an extension that allows for web-reading as well which can read the content within a webpage. A struggling student will be able to keep up with the expected reading through digital or scanned text.
- Dragon Dictation is an app that allows for quick speech to text. Text can be copied and pasted into any document. This would be good for students who struggle with writing. With the ability to speak their thoughts and let the app transcribe their thoughts, they are being supported and more able to keep up with their peers.
Physical Disabilities
Physical disabilities include struggles with the body. This can vary from being in a wheelchair, to have limited use of hands.
- Animouse is an online application that allows students to move a mouse on a screen through head movements. It is free! This will help struggling students who have limited movement in their hands or arms navigate a computer and keep up with the class.
- Camera Mouse is another alternative to using your head to control the mouse on a screen. It was developed for the purpose of helping those with physical needs. Struggling students would more successfully navigate a computer in this way.
Sensory Disabilites
Sensory disabilities include struggles with any of the senses. For example sight, smell, taste, touch, or hearing. There are many options of support for students with these disabilities.
- Learning Ally is a great resource for audio books. This site has a collection of many commonly read novels for elementary students and they are read in human voices. Students who are visually or hearing impaired will be able to read with this technology! Students can enjoy the application on a computer or other device.
- KNFB Reader converts printed text to speech or Braille instantly and accurately. It features the best OCR (optical character recognition) technology available and uses patented image detection technology to quickly and easily detect and decipher printed text anywhere, anytime. This would help blind or visually impaired students to read in the classroom and at home!
At-Risk Students
At risk students who have factors in their life that might lead to less successful academics. This often includes factors at home such as family problems, stress, or violence. If a student's home life isn't taking care of their basic needs, then school will become more challenging.
- My Study Life is an online planner or agenda. Sometimes, just tracking assignments and what's due is the best thing for students with chaotic lives. With the online function, a student could access this from a phone even if a computer wasn't at home. This would help struggling students stay more organized and on top of what they're expected to accomplish.
- Brainventures is a tool that allows students ways to practice strengthening their brain through games. While helping them understand the growth mindset, students expand their knowledge and brain capacity in a fun and engaging way! This helps struggling students because their brains could use a boost in working memory when they come from at-risk homes, and understanding the growth mindset will help them understand that no matter their circumstances, they can grow and change!
Gifted and Talented Students
It's very important to not forget about the gifted and talented students within our classroom. We can not support and intervene with the lower students while forgetting to enrich the high achieving students!
- Tynker: Coding for Kids is a great way to challenge and push students who are already meeting grade level requirements and need a little push. Coding is becoming one of the most important skills for our society's future and the need is growing! Students can start learning the basics at a young age, and the power to create is unlocked. Even better is that a teacher simply has to get a student into the program and then it does all the teaching work! Students will benefit from the challenge and independence Tynker brings into the classroom.
- Thinglink: "ThingLink’s image interaction technology helps students become fluent in using digital media to express themselves and demonstrate their learning. With ThingLink, teachers and students can easily create interactive infographics, maps, drawings, and engaging 360 documentaries in a classroom setting, at home, or on field trips." Students will benefit from this program through challenging their creativity and traditional way of thinking. They can create anything to demonstrate their knowledge or share their peers.