Sunday, November 22, 2009

Module 2- Assistive Technology

I am amazed at the number of items available to those in need of assistive technology. We live in a technologically driven world and any type of technology that can assist others in need of it is surely welcomed. As Jurkowski says, in "Technology and the School Library," "Assistive technology for students with disabilities is becoming more and more prevalent in school libraries and classrooms"(106). As noted in the text there is an increasing awareness of the need to accommodate these students through various technology adaptations and accommodations. For the visually impaired there are screen magnifiers and video magnifiers that can magnify just about anything. There are also readers and scanners that can scan something and then read it. For the hearing impaired there are amplification devices as well as telephone accessories to aid in hearing. Alternate pointing devices and word prediction software enables those with cognitive deficits as well. Even pictures and switches are an amazing resource to use if communication is a problem. We are truly lucky to live in an age where these modifications are available to us in order to promote learning and offer those with special needs the accommodations that they deserve.

Jurkowski, O. (2006). Technology and the school library. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

1 comment:

Lesley Farmer said...

yes, the possibilities of tech to help these students is fascinating