Assistive Technology in the Classroom : Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities

A current look at the most effective uses of assistive technology for students with disabilities that emphasizes the link between technology and learning.

This updated text focuses on the use of assistive technology to increase the independence and participation of students with disabilities in schools by providing them with access to the curriculum.  With an emphasis on both the relationship between assistive technology and learning and on how assistive technology can be integrated into the curriculum, this text assesses the school-related tasks that students with special needs must perform in order to be successful. Additionally, this text provides descriptions of technology-based solutions, presenting these obstacles in clear, engaging prose. Instead of approaching this topic through disability categories, this book recognizes that each child is unique and that there are multiple factors to examine before choosing technology tools for each student. Throughout the book, assistive technology tools are not discussed in isolation — the context for technology use is always the classroom, the teaching-learning process, and its impact on students with disabilities. 

The second edition of Assistive Technology in the Classroom Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities,  clearly understands and addresses two of the most important aspects of assistive technology: that classroom technology changes rapidly, and that individual students with disabilities require personalized solutions when it comes to successfully completing daily, school-related tasks. With the first aspect in mind, the authors of this contemporary and engaging text have created a companion website that will keep students and instructors up to date with the most current advancements in assistive technology, research, website links, and other resources. With the second aspect in mind, the authors have approached assistive technology with a focus on finding assistive technology tools that speak to individual students, not disability categories.

This text also comes filled with learning tools to help readers process and retain what they are learning effectively: each chapter begins with a set of Focus Questions to guide the reader, and concludes with a bulleted summary, a list of related Websites, and Suggested Activities for use in the classroom or as out-of-class assignments.

New to This Edition:

·        A chapter on Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction (Chapter 4) allow students to learn about best practices for using technology to include students with disabilities in general education classes.

·        An updated and expanded chapter on using computers and the internet to teach math to students with disabilities (Chapter 5) teaches readers how to use technology to provide access to math activities for students who are blind or have physical disabilities.

·        New information on captioning of films and videos for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing instructs readers on how to make films and videos accessible to students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

·        Current information on all technology tools, including software, Web-based activities, Website addresses, has been updated to reflect current products and trends, allowing students to find and use every technology resource included in the text.

·        New material on providing books in alternate formats to students with print disabilities, including the new requirement in the 2004 IDEA to provide all students with Accessible Instructional Materials.

·        Accessibility features in Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.6 have been added so that students are familiar with the most current and popular operating systems in use.

·        Sample IEP goals added to Chapters 2-6 and 10-12 provide students with the ability to integrate assistive technology into IEPs.

·        Web resources at the end of each chapter give students an easy way to find information and further their knowledge about all products and online resources that relate to each topic covered.

·        Suggested Activities at the end of each chapter give instructors further supplementary guidance that can be used as insightful activities in the classroom or as out-of-class assignments.