Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities
Courtad, C. A. & Bouck, E. C. "Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities" In Learning Disabilities: Practice Concerns And Students With LD. Published online: 08 Mar 2015; 153-173. Permanent link to this document: https://doi.org/10.1108/S0270-4013(2013)0000025011
Courtad and Bouck present the concept of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities in an extremely readable, organized, and well-presented manor. The research discusses the idea of aligning assistive technology with specific content areas. The authors present the idea that students with learning disabilities that struggle in one area, often struggle in others as a consequence. Tools were referenced in content areas such as writing, reading, math, and organizational skills. The article also discusses the implications of the legality aspect, and how the Universal Learning Design can relate to the necessity of incorporating assistive technology. The research finds that in most cases the assistive technology tools positive outcomes. I utilized this research to justify the interlinking nature of learning disabilities, and how we as educators can delve deeper into assistive technologies in order to best assist them.
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Assistive Technology: Empowering Students with Learning Disabilities
Forgrave, K. E. (2002). Assistive Technology: Empowering Students with Learning
Disabilities. The Clearing House,75(3), 122-126. Retrieved July 4, 2018, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/30189719
Forgrave discusses not only several specific types of assistive technology, but also the benefits of students having access to them. She also mentions the importance of training in these assistive devices so that their full potential may be reached. Careful selection is necessary in deciding which type of assistive technology is best fit. Further research is encouraged to explore the further incorporation of technology. I utilized this source to discuss the impact of assistive technologies on students.
Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities: A glimpse of the Livescribe pen and its impact on homework completion
Harper, K. A., Kurtzworth-Keen, K., & Marable, M. A. (2016). Assistive technology for students
with learning disabilities: A glimpse of the Livescribe pen and its impact on homework completion. Education and Information Technologies,22(5), 2471-2483. doi:10.1007/s10639-016-9555-0
This journal took a closer look at a specific assistive technology tool, targeting the effect of increased homework completion. The Livescribe Pen was utilized specifically for a student with dyslexia. Positive research was gathered in the limited timeframe of the study. This journal was extremely useful in examining a more specific assistive technology tool, and the benefits of it.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Two Theoretically Motivated Computer-Assisted Reading Interventions in the United Kingdom: GG Rime and GG Phoneme
Kyle, F., Kujala, J., Richardson, U., Lyytinen, H., & Goswami, U. (2013). Assessing the
Effectiveness of Two Theoretically Motivated Computer-Assisted Reading Interventions in the United Kingdom: GG Rime and GG Phoneme. Reading Research Quarterly,48(1), 61-76. Retrieved July 3, 2018, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23343539
This article explores the effects of a computer program utilized as intervention The computer program was based on the Finnish GraphoGame, and English GraphoGame Rime (GG Rime) as well as English GraphoGame Phoneme. The individuals being studied were students aged 6-7 in a classroom setting that had been identified by their teacher as struggling readers. Ultimately the addition of this specific assistive technology provided positive research in terms of literacy skills for the individuals who utilized the programs. I chose this resource primarily due to the age group that was studies, and the applicability in my own classroom.
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Lesson Plans: Assistive Technology, Text to Speech Literacy Software
Kurzweil Education. (n.d.). Lesson Plans: Assistive Technology, Text to Speech Literacy Software. Retrieved June 30, 2018, from https://www.kurzweiledu.com/sample-lesson-plans.htmlreligion
This resource provides an outline of a lesson plan utilizing a very specific form of technology as an assistive technology tool. I utilized this resource because of the generality provided by the lesson plan. Users can incorporate the lesson plan with various forms of technology depending on what fits their classroom needs best.
Ensuring Equal Access to Technology: Providing Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities
Lee, H., & Templeton, R. (2008). Ensuring Equal Access to Technology: Providing Assistive
Technology for Students with Disabilities. Theory Into Practice,47(3), new media and education in the 21st century, 212-219. Retrieved July 4, 2018, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40071545
Lee and Templeton discuss the implications of technological advances and federal law in regard to assistive technology. The importance of the investment of the teacher is clearly touched upon, as well as family support and collaboration. The timeline of assistive technology utilization including the effects on daily learning life, and current issues are discussed in addition to funding issues and legal vagueness. I chose this article due to the information it provided regarding the legal aspect and availability of assistive technologies.
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Assistive Technology: Writing Lesson Plans
Lib Guides. (2017, September 13). IOE LibGuides: Assistive Technology: Writing lesson plans.
Retrieved June 30, 2018, from https://libguides.ioe.ac.uk/c.php?g=482313&p=3299128
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This resource provides a detailed lesson plan in utilizing graphic organizers as assistive technology for students with dyslexia or dysgraphia. I chose to utilize this resource to explore the implementation of assistive technology in a classroom.
Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview
Stanberry, K., & Raskind, M. H. (2017, September 06). Assistive Technology for Kids with
Learning Disabilities: An Overview. Retrieved July 4, 2018, from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overview
This particular site provided a wide variety of resources in regards to identifying specific assistive technology tools that best fit student needs and teacher training/understanding. The authors of this particular article address the types of learning disabilities that assistive technology can typically address, including listening, math, organization and memory, reading, and writing. I chose to incorporate this article in my research based on the wide variety of resources available and applicable at the elementary level.
Assistive Technology: Enhanced Learning for All
Wahl, L. (2003, August 5). Assistive Technology: Enhanced Learning for All. Retrieved June
30, 2018, from https://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enhances-learning-all
Wahl lists specific examples in which assistive technology tools were utilized to benefit children of a wide variety of ages and ability levels. This resource also gives a brief overview of the implications of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1997), and its impact on assistive technology availability. I chose to utilize this resource in order to better the span of assistive technology tools beyond learning disabilities.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
United States. (2004). Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. [Bethesda, MD :ProQuest],
This IDEA is the guiding document for the legal aspect of students with disabilities. This document allowed me to reference the expectations and considerations.
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Assistive Devices for Students with Disabilities
Wisniewski, L., & Sedlak, R. (1992). Assistive Devices for Students with Disabilities. The
Elementary School Journal,92(3), 297-314. Retrieved June 30, 2018, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/1001982?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.
Wisniewski and Sedlak bring about an interesting idea regarding disabilities; Environmental demands determine the existence of a handicap. For example, students with physical impairments become handicapped when they face a task that requires mobility, students with severe speech impediments become handicapped when they must communicate, and those with a learning disability who are unable to calculate are at a disadvantage when required to calculate the cost of items to be purchased." (Wisniewski & Sedlak, 1992) The authors touch on assistive devices for a wide range of disabilities beyond LD (learning disabilities), including visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech and language impairment. I utilized this article for the information regarding assistive devices for the learning disabled.
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Images
Canva (n.d.). AT Categorization Icons [Canva Icons]. Retrieved July 8, 2018, from https://www.canva.com/brand
Lauren Marchelletta (2018) About Me Picture (PNG).
Natural Reader, Word, CAI, ABC Spell Check, SOLO icons retrieved from creative commons
Vector (n.d.) Benefits of Assistive Technology Icons (Vector Icons). Retrieved July 8, 2018 from https://www.vector.com
Wix (n.d) Home page picture, About Me Computer Picture (Wix Pictures). Retrieved July 8, 2018 from https://www.wix.com