1) By Using AT, Kids Can Experience Success with Working Independently. “Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview.” Reading Rockets. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.
This source is reliable because Reading Rockets is an organization that offers a lot of research-based reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help children learn how to read and increase their reading skills .
Assistive technology is technology that helps learning disabled children find an easier way to learn. Assistive technology does not cure nor eliminate disabilities, it just helps them find ways to learn that are easier for them. “AT doesn’t cure or eliminate learning difficulties, but it can help your child reach her potential because it allows her to capitalize on her strengths and bypass areas of difficulty.”( Reading Rockets) AT is not a specific type of device/ program ,it is any kind of technology that will assist a child in learning. Children that struggle with school work usually depend on others for help and may have a low self esteem because they always rely on others for help. With AT children can feel comfortable and believe that they can accomplish success on their own with out relying on anyone. Children also become more independent when using these devices because they’re dong it all on their own. AT can help learning problems such as listening, reading, math, writing , organization and memory. The types of AT that are available are abbreviation expanders, alternative keyboards, audio books, publications, electronic math worksheets, graphic organizers, information/data managers, talking calculators and many more useful programs that can assist LD children.
I strongly believe that technology like this , is the type of technology advances that we need moving forward. Technology that will help the people that are in need. I think this AT is a great way to help children learn and become more successful. This type of technology is more for children who have learning disabilities as opposed to children with autism or down syndrome . AT can really improve kids lives and get them into more prestigious programs. AT isn’t a way for kids to cheat its to help them this way learning for them is easier and more entertaining and they can probably pay attention more easily. Using this technology will help information get to children easier and make it more fun for them to learn. iPads, computers, iPods, tablets, televisions, all of those devices can assist the children that have special needs , and I think that that type of use of technology is useful and is being used for a good purpose.
2) ”Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders | NIDCD.” U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
This source is reliable to use because it comes from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Assistive technology is any device that helps a person with hearing loss, or a language impairment to communicate. Here are many different names to describe assistive technology devices. Assistive listening devices help amplify sounds especially where there is a significant amount of background noise. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices help individuals with communication disorders to express themselves. Alerting devices connect to doorbells, telephones or an alarm that makes a loud sound or flashing light to alert someone with hearing loss that something is happening. In the school environment, an AAC device is helpful in letting students communicate. Simple devices include picture boards or a touch screen that utilizes pictures of typical items and activities that a student needs during day to day tasks. Many students use iPads or computers in school to communicate. These boards are personalized for each person’s needs. As technology advances, more devices are being made available to assist students with disabilities and to assist with communicating and fully participate in daily life.
As technology advances , I think that it should help better peoples daily lives. The devices that are used for deaf children help them a lot doing things that they wouldn’t be able to do normally without the AAC devices. I believe that these devices help the hearing impaired children feel better about themselves and they wont feel left out. So instead of making iPhones and new tablets, these inventors should be making devices such as AAC devices to help better peoples living conditions.
I would like to use this source to explain what hearing disorders are and what devices you can use to cope with the disability and all the ways it helps kids move forward with learning in school and day to day life activities.
3) Missouri Assistive Technology Advisory Council. “Autism Spectrum Disorder and Assistive Technology.” Autism Spectrum and Assistive Technology (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
This source is reliable because it is from the Missouri Assistive Technology Advisory Council.
Children with Autism may not speak at all. Some use utterances that may not make sense to the listener. Students on the spectrum may not understand gestures, body language or tone of voice which makes it difficult for them to be engaged in regular conversations. Since communication is a barrier for students with autism, AAC devices can be used to help develop communication skills. These devices can be low tech or high tech. A low tech AAC device is a picture exchange communication system or even sign language. A high tech device is a word processor, an iPad or a laptop. Students with autism who have access to assistive technology have shown an increase in their communication skills. This also allows the student’s abilities to become more noticeable to others.
It is usually hard for children with autism to communicate with others. Especially when they are non verbal. When kids with autism find things they like such as games on an iPad they can use it to communicate and I think that is a great way for them to stay in touch with the world. I believe that technology can be used for good and not just for people to be addicted to social media or online shopping. In the summer I work with children with all types of disabilities especially autistic children, and the computers are a big part of their day. They play learning games with partners and it help them get along really well and for the most part they are able to communicate effectively.
I would like to use this source to explain what autism is and explain what speech generating devices are. I would also like to show how the SGD are relevant to children who are on the autism spectrum.
4) Cumley, Gary D., Dr., Judi Cumley, Julie Maro, and Mandy Stanek. “Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology.” Introduction to Chapter 3 – Assistive Technology for Communication. N.p., 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. <http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch3-Communication.pdf>.
Communication includes speech, vocalizations, gestures, facial expressions, high tech which are electronic devices and low tech which are not electronic. The goal of a communication device is to provide support a student’s communication weaknesses and those supports will allow a student to actively engage in communication with others. An AAC does not replace the way a student communicates. It supports them. While a student with an assistive communication device can communicate basic needs and wants, the student must also learn social rules of communication. This is called pragmatic language. Students with language disorders and Autism must be motivated to communicate.
I think that AT is necessary in a classroom with disabled children because it helps better them as a student and an individual. It can help bring disabled children and non disabled children together in a classroom by letting them be able to learn at the same pace as the other children. I do believe the AT is highly effective and has made a tremendous impact on the disabled population.
I would like to use this source to explain what the rights of disabled children are, the benefits and needs for AT and the barriers for AT.
5) Assistive Technology For Children With Disabilities, Johan Borg, Rosangela Herman- Bieler, Chapal Khasnabis, Gopal Mitra, William N. Myhill, and Deepti S. Raja. “Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities.” Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities: Creating Opportunities for Education, Inclusion and Participation (2015): n. pag. Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities: Creating Opportunities for Education, Inclusion and Participation. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. <http://www.unicef.org/disabilities/files/Assistive-Tech-Web.pdf>
Assistive technology is devices or services that help improve the functioning of students with disabilities. Assistive technology at times can be considered the main source for students with disabilities to lead a life in which they participate in the same ways as typically functioning children. It is estimated that there are about 150 million children with disabilities in the world. Students with disabilities are excluded from participation in social situations. Students with disabilities are often exposed to discrimination. Children with disabilities can become adults who live in poverty or be unemployed. Assistive technology is a powerful tool that can increase independence and improve their participation in society. Research has also shown that assistive technology provided to students at an early age reduces the cost that society must pay as the student ages. It also provides opportunities for engagement in the learning process which would otherwise result in a lack of participation.
Assistive technology helps children become more independent and they have a higher chance to be able to live on their own when they get older. When children use AT they are able to preform the same tasks as non disabled children, with extra help.
I plan to use this source to explain how AT helps disabled children in society and can help them succeed in life.