Assistive Technology Katherine Tatum Visually Impaired Screen Reader

Assistive Technology Katherine Tatum

Visually Impaired

Screen Reader �A program that combines sound and picture to help explain what is on the computer screen. � When introducing new vocabulary students would use this technology to listen to and read the words to help them recognize the vocabulary in the future. � Academic gain: The student will be able to recognize words better due to viewing and hearing the word. � A potential barrier is that it reads off everything on the screen, therefore if there is a web address on a page it will fully read it out. I believe that certain things like this could confuse the student.

Closed Circuit Magnification �A device that can enlarge words and objects on a screen for easier viewing. � When the class is assigned a book to read, the student can use this device to be able to individually read on their own. � Academic gain: The student will feel more confident and accomplished from reading on their own. � A potential barrier is the student may get far behind from the other classmates in reading.

Braille Translation Device � Used to translate screen words and formatting into readable Braille. � When the class is assigned an online reading the student will be able to participate due to this device. � Academic gain: The student will feel involved and will even be able to participate in the group discussions. � A potential barrier is due to expenses the device may be hard to get in the classroom.

Physically Challenged

Adaptive Keyboard �A keyboard that reduces the strain on the user by alphabetizing the letters. � When the class is assigned to type papers/poems the student will be able to confidently participate. � Academic gain: the student will be more focused on the assignment rather than worrying about the keyboard. � A potential barrier is that if the student needs help, fellow classmates may not be able to help as accurately as they would with a regular keyboard.

Alternate Communication Devices �A device that helps those with Down’s Syndrome, Autism, and other illnesses to communicate easily. � The student could use the tool as a way to communicate with students and teacher if the student needs help or just wants to be heard. � Academic gain: The student is aware of their feelings and can show teacher and other students what they need/feel. � A potential barrier is the other students may be nervous of how to react when the student using the device needs something; it may be distracting.

Adaptive Student Desks � For children with neurological impairments, these desks adjust to their needs. � When involving in a group activity other students can surround their desks by the student using a device and the student can sit or stand with the support of the desk. � Academic gain: The student can sit comfortably and not have to be distracted by worrying about their chair/desk. � A potential barrier is that the student may feel out of place in the classroom if no one else uses that same type of desk.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Personal Amplification Device � An audio enhancer that directly increases the sound of noise around the user. � Student who is hard of hearing can use the device to better hear a lecture. � Academic gain: the student will be able to hear better, therefore they will be able to understand the content and interact with the class better. � A potential barrier is that the student using the device may hear other students in the class speaking over the teacher causing a distraction for the student.

Audio/Visual Communication Devices � Combine residual hearing with closer views of mouth movement to enhance understanding. � When the teacher is lecturing the device would show a close up view of the teachers mouth. � Academic gain: if the student can barely hear or see the teacher they can watch the device to see the teachers mouth to give them a better chance of understanding what is going on. � A potential barrier is that other students may get distracted or students who need the device still may not be able to understand because they can not read lips.

Voice to Text Translation �A software device that captures spoken words and translates it into readable text on a screen. �A teacher could use this for a lecture and the student could read the lecture as the teacher was speaking it aloud to the other students. � Academic gain: the student using the device is able to keep up at the same pace as the other students learning the lesson. � A potential barrier is that if the teacher has an accent, or for any other reason, the device may not translate the words spoken perfectly.