Assistive Technology Brittany Fidler EDN 303 Dr Ertzberger

Assistive Technology Brittany Fidler EDN 303 Dr. Ertzberger

Assistive Technology Visually Impaired

Screen Reader • This is a computer program that identifies what is on a computer screen using sounds and pictures. • This could be used in a classroom where there is a visually impaired student and they are reading a book online and they have headphones on. • The academic gain is that students who need this device are now able to use the computer. • The potential barriers include the fact that it is an electrical device and could break or get damaged easily.

Closed Circuit Magnification • This tool is used to make text and pictures bigger. • This is useful in a classroom for student(s) who have vision problems even with glasses. They can use this to read books. • The academic gain is that students who have problems reading books with small text are now able to read more books because of this device. • The potential barriers include the fact that this may require continuous help from the teacher when using it.

Braille Translation Devices • This machine helps to translate what is on screen into braille. • This is useful in a classroom where there is a blind student and they can use this to read online books and read computer assignments. • The academic gain is that students are now able to read things from a computer screen like other students. • The potential barriers include the idea that it is a machine and could make a mistake that could change an interpretation of something.

Assistive Technology Developmentally/Physically Challenged

Adaptive Keyboard • This is a special keyboard that has capital letters instead of lower case letters to benefit the person typing. • This could be used for a student that needs to use the computer and this keyboard helps them focus on the screen and the task at hand. • The academic gain is that students can use an easier keyboard that does not cause too many distractions and they can focus. • The potential barriers include that idea that a student may be more familiar with lower case letters which will require more time and focus.

Alternate Communication Devices • This device helps people with disorders and diseases communicate easier with others. • This could be used in a special needs class for students to speak with someone and they would talk using pictures instead of words. • The academic gain would be that it makes communication easier, less confusing and stressful. • The potential barriers include troubles for students who have problems putting words with pictures.

Adaptive Student Desks • Desks for impaired students that adjusts to their needs. • This could be used to ensure that students fit comfortably at their desks based on hit and size. • The academic gain is that students won’t have to focus on being uncomfortable and can focus on the schoolwork. • The potential barriers include that students may feel constricted and pressured when being in these desks.

Assistive Technology Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Personal Amplification Device • A device that enhances sound for the user. • This would be used for students to listen to a book or something on the computer if they have hearing problems. • The academic gain is that students with hearing problems can listen to the computer and participate in hearing activities online. • The potential barriers include the idea that this device could hurt a students hearing and harm their hearing even more.

Audio/Visual Communication Devices • Device(s) that provide a closer view of someone’s mouth moving when talking and sound. • This would be used for hard of hearing students to read the teacher’s lips during a lesson in order to know what the teacher is saying. • The academic gain would be that teachers would not have to continuously repeat themselves for students and students can learn to read lips and keep up with other students. • The potential barriers include that idea that the visual of the speakers mouth may be blurry and harder to read and may in turn be less helpful.

Voice to Text Translation • A tool that hears words and puts them into words for someone else to read. • This could be used to help a teacher communicate with a student. The teacher would speak and the words would be translated to text for the student to read and communicate back. • The academic gain would be that teachers would not have to constantly write everything they want to say to a hard of hearing student which would lessen the time of student teacher conferences. • The potential barriers include the fact that the speaker would have to speak in a quiet environment for the listening device to only hear what they say and they must have no sounds around them.