Assistive Technology for Children with Learning Disabilitie

Assistive technology (AT) is available to help people with different types of disabilities - from cognitive problems to physical deterioration. This article will focus specifically on AT for people with learning disabilities (LD). The use of technology to enhance learning is an effective approach for many children. In addition, students with learning difficulties often experience greater success when they are allowed to use their abilities (strengths) to work around their disabilities (challenges). AT tools combine the best of both practices. This article will introduce parents to the role of AT in helping their children with learning difficulties. The better informed you are about AT, the greater the chances that your child will experience success in school, in recreation, and finally at work. You also want to know how to choose AT tools that are reliable and to select the technology that adapts to the individual needs, abilities and experience of your child. What is assistive technology for LD? AT for children with learning difficulties are defined as any device, equipment or system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for specific learning deficits of an individual. During the last decade, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of AT for people with learning difficulties. 1 AT does not cure or eliminate learning difficulties, but you can help your child reach their full potential, allowing you to capitalize on your strengths and bypass areas of difficulty. For example, a student who struggles with reading but has good listening skills might benefit from listening to audio books. In general, AT compensates skill deficits of a student or area (s) of disability. However, the use of AT does not mean that a child can not also receive remedial instruction to remedy the deficit (as a software designed to improve the lack of phonic skills). A student could use recovery software reading and listening to audio books. In fact, research has shown that BP can improve certain skill deficits (eg, reading and spelling) .2,3 AT can increase the sense of autonomy and independence of a child. Children who have difficulties in school are often too dependent on parents, siblings, friends and teachers to help with homework. By using AT, children can experience success with working independently. What kinds of learning problems does assistive technology address? AT can treat many types of learning disabilities. A student who has difficulty writing can compose a school report by dictating it and have it converted to text by special software. A child struggling with math you can use a hand calculator to keep score while playing a game with a friend. And a teenager with dyslexia may benefit from AT that will read aloud manual online training from your employer. There are AT tools to help students struggling with: Play Some assistive technology (AT) tools can help people who have difficulty processing and remembering spoken language. Such devices can be used in various environments (for example, a class lecture or meeting with multiple speakers). mathematics Assistive technology (AT) tools for math are designed to help people who struggle with computing, organizing, aligning, and copying math problems on paper. With the help of visual aids and / or audio, users can create a better and calculate basic math problems. Organization and memory Assistive technology (AT) tools can help a person plan, organize and keep track of your calendar, address book, task list, contact information and notes several. These tools allow you to manage, store and retrieve information with the help of special software and handheld devices. reading There is a wide range of assistive technology (AT) tools available to help people who struggle with reading. Although each type of tool works a little different, all these tools help by presenting text as speech. These tools help facilitate decoding, reading fluency and comprehension. writing There is a wide range of assistive technology (AT) tools available to help students struggling with writing. Some of these tools help students circumvent the actual physical task of writing, while others facilitate spelling, punctuation, grammar, speaking, and organization. What type of assistive technology tools are available? The term "assistive technology" is generally applied to hardware and software and electronic devices. However, many tools are now available online. AT tools that support children with learning difficulties include: abbreviation expanders It is used with word processing, these software programs allow users to create, store and reuse the words or abbreviations for frequently used phrases. This can save the user keystrokes and ensure the correct spelling of words and phrases he has coded as abbreviations. alternative keyboards These programmable keyboards have special overlays that customize the appearance and function of a standard keyboard. Students with LD or have trouble writing can benefit from personalization reduces the input options, key groups by color / location, and add graphics to facilitate understanding. Audio Books and publications Recorded books allow users to listen to the text and are available in a variety of formats, such as audio tapes, CDs and MP3 downloads. Special playback units allow users to search and mark pages and chapters. Subscription services offer extensive collections of electronic libraries. Electronic Worksheets Math Worksheets are electronic math software programs that can help a user to organize, align, and work through math problems on a computer screen. The numbers on the screen can also be read aloud through a voice synthesizer. This can be useful for people who have trouble aligning math problems with pencil and paper. Software database freely Used in conjunction with word processing or other software, this tool allows the user to create and store electronic notes for "scoring" the relevant information of any length and on any subject. Later you can retrieve the information by typing any fragment of the original note. Graphic organizers and outlining Graphics and organizers describing programs help users who have trouble organizing and outlining information as they begin a writing project. This type of program allows the "dump" user information in a structured and later helps you organize information into categories and order the appropriate manner. Information management / data This type of tool helps a person plan, organize, store and retrieve your calendar, task list, contact details and other information in electronic form. Managers can be personal data, handheld devices, software, or a combination of these tools working together for data "sharing". Optical Character Recognition This technology allows a user to scan printed material into a computer unit or handheld. Scanned text is read aloud through a reading system speech synthesis / screen. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is available as standalone units, software, and handheld devices like laptops. Personal FM Listening Systems A system of personal FM listening conveys a speaker's voice directly to the user's ear. This can help the listener focus on what the speaker is saying. The unit consists of a wireless transmitter (microphone) worn by the speaker and a receiver (with headset) used by the listener. Processors portable text A portable word processor is a lightweight device that is easy to transport (eg classroom at home). It may be helpful for children who may have trouble writing by hand and prefer to use a keyboard. Word processing allows users to edit and correct your writing more efficient than doing it by hand work. proofreading programs Students who have difficulty with writing (eg, spelling, grammar, punctuation, word, and sentence structure) can benefit from software programs (included in many of the systems word processing ) than word processing documents scanned and alert the user to possible errors. Voice Recognition Programs A speech recognition program works in conjunction with a word processor. The user "dictates" into a microphone, and their spoken words appear on the computer screen as text. This can help a user whose oral language ability is better than her writing skills. Speech synthesizers / screen readers These systems can be displayed and read aloud the text on a computer screen, including the text user, scanning printed pages (eg, books, letters), and text appearing on the Internet has been written . talking calculators A talking calculator has a built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol or operation key a user presses; also vocalizes the answer to the problem. This auditory feedback can help check the accuracy of your input and verify the answer before it is transferred to the paper. Talking spell checkers and electronic dictionaries Talking spell checkers and electronic dictionaries can help a poor spelling select or identify appropriate words and correct spelling errors during the process of writing and proofreading. Talking devices "read aloud" and show the selected words on the screen, so the user can see and hear the words. Tape recorders variable speed Recorders / players allow users to listen to pre-recorded text or to capture spoken information (eg, a conference) and play it back later. Speed ​​Control (VSC) recorder variables accelerate or slow down the playback speed without distorting the voice of the "speaker". Word prediction programs Word prediction software can help a user for word processing to "predict" a word that the user intends to write. Predictions are based on spelling, syntax and frequent / recent use. This leads to children who have difficulty with writing to use spelling, grammar, and word choice, with fewer keystrokes. The profile of his son Here are several factors to consider when evaluating AT products for your child: What are your specific needs and challenges? In the academic skill areas do not fight? What are your strengths? AT must use the skills of your child to help offset their disability. What is your interest, skill and experience in the use of technology? What scenarios and situations that the AT tool is used? AT can help a child with LD function better in school and in other areas such as home, work, social gatherings and recreational events. Other technology tools for learning There are other forms of technology designed to help all students, including those with learning difficulties, improve their academic performance. These technologies differ somewhat from AT, but worth mentioning. Instructional software is used to teach specific academic skills (such as reading and writing) or subject content (such as history and science). It differs from AT in providing instruction instead of going through the areas of difficulty. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a philosophy that embraces learning models, methods and products to enhance the educational experience of students with diverse needs (whether or not have learning difficulties). In this approach, AT is often built into educational materials and can be customized to help students with disabilities succeed in the general curriculum.