Assistive Technologies

For my assignment I have chosen to research Assistive Technologies and how they can benefit technology in my classroom. I am completing a minor in Inclusive Education so this will be very beneficial to me.

So what are assistive technologies? In my assignment I wrote the following explanation:

They are devices for people with disabilities that help them to perform tasks that they can't do without them. One of the main things that must be considered when setting students in the classroom up with assistive devices is will they actually be of use to the student as so often money is actually wasted on buying the latest gadgets that do not fit in with requirements of the student. A key factor is the school should not make decisions solely but include the outside agencies involved with the student before making purchases i.e. family, support people and agencies. Having all parties on board with the chosen assistive technology will see greater results for the student.

I have uploaded a YouTube that demonstrates various assistive technologies this teacher uses in her classroom.

(Weilbelk, 2008)

I have worked in a special needs school before and I have had the opportunity to access some very good assistive technologies and seen both the benefits to students as well as some that have been a really bad choice for a student. The reason being is they have been purchased without addressing the needs of the student properly, staff have had no training in how to use them so they get shelved unless some-one is able to spend the time to work out how to use them in their own time.

On the other hand I have shared in the excitement of when a student who was 12 years old began communicating via a program called Clicker 5. The student had Autism and was unable to communicate and he displayed behaviour management issues related to his communication issues. The visiting teacher from The Centre for Inclusive Schooling suggested we implement a computer program called Clicker 5.

Writing this blog brings tears to my eyes as I remember the day that he wrote a message to his Mum. I have three  children who I often tell  to be quiet and stop talking and this Mum just dreamed of the day that she could hold a conversation with her son, so to imagine what his mum must have been thinking.

After researching for this assignment and reading the article about a five year old boy in Queensland who uses an app on an iPhone to help him communicate just gives me a sense of relief for these people who can be taught to use assistive technologies for a better life.