Assistive Technology and Special Needs Children

1513 Words4 Pages

Title Portfolio Activity One: Assistive Technologies Assistive Technology or “AT” is a term used in this context to describe an item or technique used to make the navigation of a home, school or play environment more accessible for a child with special needs (Lowenthal & Egan, 2003). This paper is written to explore some of the assistive technology (AT) options available to serve two children with special needs in separate circumstances. Low, mid and high tech options will be addressed with regards to the specific needs and intentions of the parents and teachers in each child’s life. Attached is a table offering options for assistive technology in the classroom to support the educational goals of each child.The first case study addressed in this paper is Savannah, a three-year old student who is wheelchair bound. She has a seizure disorder and has been diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. She has limited vision but seems to be able to recognize items presented to her such as shapes and colors. Savannah participates in “social” language. She loves music and cause/effect activities. She knows all of her colors and shapes, is able to recite the alphabet by rote. In written word, Savannah recognizes both her name and those of her classmates. Savannah’s parents have expressed a desire to have her placed in a more restrictive classroom, and her teacher is interested in working more to support Savannah in the areas of writing and organizational skills. Some assistive technology suggestions for use in supporting Savannah are discussed below. Because Savannah’s teacher is working on encouraging Savannah in the area of writing, assistive technology options to support this area of development will be discussed herein. A low-tech ... ... middle of paper ... ... References Assistive technology overview. (2010, February 26). Retrieved from http://www.nectac.org/topics/atech/overview.asp. Fridge phonics – Fridge DJ set. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.leapfrog.com/school/prod_pages/Fridge_Phonics.html. Lerner, J W., Lowenthal, B, & Egan, R W. (2003). Preschool children with special needs (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon Publishing. Talking shape recognition busy box. (2011). Retrieved from http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/assistive_technology_devices_used_in_education/special-communicators-accessories/talking-shape-recognition-busy-box. Time tracker. Retrieved from http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/autism_products/schedulers/time-tracker. Tots n tech. (2011). Retrieved from http://tnt.asu.edu/. Vibe writer. (2011). Retrieved from http://enablingdevices.com/catalog/useful-devices/special-devices/vibe-writer

Open Document