Assistive and Educational Technology to support learner variances
IDEA Definition of Assistive Technology
(1) Assistive technology device.--
(A) In general.--The term `assistive technology device' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
(B) Exception.--The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), a federal special education law, requires schools to consider a student’s possible need for assistive technology devices and services whenever an IEP is developed. In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require schools to provide assistive technology for students with disabilities, if needed to assure equal access to the school’s programs and services.
Newton's Public School's AT brochure
Resources for Access to the Curriculum for all students
What technology tools can give the student access to general education curriculum that they would not otherwise have access without the assistive/educational technology?
EdTech Solution Teaching Every Child blog by Karen Janowski, an Assistive & Educational Technology Consultant
Learning Works for Kids- games and apps for the Unique Child
EdTechTeacher- find apps by mobile device or by learning activity
Assistive Technology Devices for Students Struggling in Mathematics
From Newton, MA school district
Tech Matrix- the tech matrix is a technology search engine that gives you 3 fields to search within: content area, grade level, IDEA disability category.It is a project funded through the US DOE.
Tar Heel Reader- a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches (web-based program)
Bookshare- For anyone with a qualifying print disability. This would be anyone who cannot read traditional print books because of a visual impairment, physical disability or severe learning disability.
Doorway Online is a collection of free learning activities originally developed with funding from Scottish Borders Council. It is now managed by the Doorway Accessible Software Trust, a Scottish charity. The suite comprises highly accessible educational activities that learners will find easy to use independently. Each exercise has range of accessibility and difficulty options.
The following information is from the UDLtoolkit Wiki
Multimedia and digital storytelling
Tools That Compensate for Handwriting Issues
a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License.