Assistive Technology
Christine Walker EDU 638
Experience with Assistive Technolgy
I have had very little experience with assistive technology teaching kindergarten the past six years. I have used several different types of pencil grips for kids who struggle with handwriting or receive OT services. I have also used some manipulatives for kids who have ADD or ADHD to help them stay focused and on task (stress balls, bumpy objects...). I have worked with several individuals who use assistive technology including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and vision specialists. These people have helped me find tools to use with my students to help them improve in their areas of difficulty. All of the technologies on our list I have not used or heard much about.
My Researched Technologies
I researched speech recognition software which would be a type of communication assistive technology. I also researched screen readers which would be a type of environmental interaction assistive technology.
Screen Readers and Voice Recognition Software
Screen readers are a software application that enables people with severe visual impairments to use a computer. This assistive technology would benefit anyone who has a visual impairment, such as someone who is blind or has limited vision. This technology would greatly benefits students with visual impairments in today's classrooms because of the high use of technology in schools. Screen readers work for webpages, email, documents, and even graphics. Screen readers can also work in most common languages. This would allow students using a computer to complete reading assignments, research or participate in other activities on webpages.
Voice recognition software is an alternative to typing on a keyboard. All you have to do is talk to the computer and your words are typed onto the screen. Voice recognition software can help with a variety of disabilities such someone with a physical disability who finds typing painful, people with dyslexia, or anyone who has spelling difficulties. This technology would help students with physical disabilities or dyslexia in the classroom type assignments, class notes, or even computer based projects. In today's technology based classrooms, this technology would help students in ways that were never possible before.