Technology For Special Needs Children

Computers and educational technology can be powerful tools for assisting children with special needs and disabilities. Computers can help children with attention deficit disorders focus more effectively on their learning tasks and can also assist autistic children by improving their communications and interactions with peers as they use computers together. This topic became very important to me when my cousin was born deaf. He is only three now but the assistive technology that awaits him during his educational career are very promising.

Assistive technology includes adaptive tools that help students with disabilities to learn and perform tasks better in their daily life (Kauchak, Eggen, Carter, page 390). Adaptations to computers can assist children who have severe physical impairments or those who cannot interact with a standard computer unless certain adaptations have been made.

Adaptations to computer input devices include hardware options like voice-controlled devices, trackballs, touch screens and adapted keyboards can assist children with special physical needs and make computers and technology more accessible to them. Blind or visually impaired children can use voice activated machines or special Braille keyboards to input information into computers. There are computers and special equipment designed to assist deaf learners as well; captioned video with subtitles helps deaf children follow along with the rest of the class while watching educational videos, and when teachers incorporate hypermedia presentations into their lessons like Powerpoint, deaf children can read along or review the material at another time if needed.

Adaptations for output devices include computers that can translate speech into text s...

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...eachers who have access to computer hardware consultants as well as software experts who can assist them with meeting the needs of children with special situations can help their students adapt to a normal classroom environment. These technologies are so important because they prevent a child's disability from becoming and obstacle to learning to their education.

REFERENCES

Kauchak, Donald; Eggen, Paul; Carter, Candace (2002) Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Henniger, Michael L. (1999) Teaching Young Children, An Introduction. Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Anchorage School District

Web Site: www.asdk12.org/parents/choices/sped7.asp