Assistive Technology By Jennifer Diaz What is assistive

Assistive Technology By: Jennifer Diaz

What is assistive technology? Software designed specifically for students with physical impairments or learning disabilities to assist them in school. “Any equipment, modification, or accommodation that can improve a person’s capacity to learn, communicate, solve a problem, or complete a task” (Gunter and Gunter 39).

Visual Schedule Works not only for Special Needs Students but for everyone. Increases independence. Reduces anxiety. Increases understanding. Helps with time management (makes questions like “What will we do next? ” less frequent).

Social Story “A social learning tool that supports the safe and meaningful exchange of information between parents, professionals, and people with autism of all ages” (Gray). “A Social Story accurately describes a context, skill, achievement, or concept according to 10 defining criteria” (Gray).

Text-to-speech “Takes words and converts them into audio” (Text-to-Speech Technology: What It Is and How It Works). Reads aloud digital text. Helps students who struggle with reading. Helps with writing, editing, and focusing. The following video shows what text-to-speech is and how to turn it on/off on mobile devices: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-g. Tn 4 Q-9 Lk 8

Smartpen Note-taking help. Capture (record) everything you hear and write. Prevents missing a word or getting behind. Replay as many times as possible.

Dyna. Vox A solution to communication and education. “Designed to help individuals living with speech, language and learning disabilities communicate and reach their potential” (Welcome to the Dyna. Vox Community). Helps individuals speak their minds and connect with friends and family.

Graphic Organizers Helps dyslexic students and others. Easy way to classify ideas. Helps students communicate more effectively. Helps structure writing projects. Helps problem solve. Helps decision making. Great study source. Great source for planning, researching, and brainstorming.

Word Banks Modifies text. Helps decision making (easy way to pick out/decide right word). Supports thinking. Helps students become independent in the long run.

Speech-to-text “A type of software that takes audio content and transcribes it into written words in a word processor or other display destination” (Speech-to-Text Software). Helpful for those that can’t use a keyboard. Reduces manual typing. The following link shows how Bethany benefited from a speech-to-text software: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=tj 85 z. QT 184 o

Grammarly Checks grammar. Makes corrections. Helps sync words together. Gives sentence structure suggestions.

Classkick Develop math problems that students can work on at home, at there own pace. Gives feedback. Good practice.

Works Cited Gray, Carol. “Home-Carol Gray-Social Stories. ” Social Stories, carolgraysocialstories. com/. Gunter, Glenda A. , and Randolph E. Gunter. Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a Changing World. 8 th ed. , Cengage Learning, 2015. “Speech-to-Text Software. ” Technopedia, https: //www. techopedia. com/definition/23767/speech-to-text-software. “Text-to-Speech Technology: What It Is and How It Works. ” Understood. org, www. understood. org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistivetechnologies-basics/text-to-speech-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works. “Welcome to the Dyna. Vox Community. ” Dyna. Vox I Community, www. dynavoxtech. com/community/.