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July 2020 [Cohort 9] Assistive Technologies for Special Needs Students,…

- - - - a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior.
    - - Source: (Austism Speaks, 2020)
        
        Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
        
        Most children were still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.
        
        31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability
        
        Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
        
        Minority groups tend to be diagnosed later and less often.
        
        Early intervention provides the best opportunity to support healthy development and deliver benefits across the lifespan.
        
        Autism costs an average estimate of $60,000 a year through childhood
        
        Nearly half of 25-year-olds with autism have never held a paying job.
  - - - Assistive technology (AT) are varying methods of technology used to improve the functioning capabilities of people with disabilities. (ATiA, 2020)
    - - AT is used to enhance communication for people with autism, regardless of the severity and speech ability. (Austism Speaks, 2020)
    - - "Low" Technology
        
        Schedules
        
        Object schedules
        
        Visual schedule
        
        Rules and signs
      - "Mid" Technology
        
        Big Mac
        
        This piece of equipment is a great motivational device to focus on turn-taking activities. It is used to promote social skills. For example, children will take turns pushing the Big Mack button to respond to prerecorded questions or routines.
        
        Talk Pad
        
        This device can be programmed with simple 1-4 step directions. The child is motivated to hit the buttons and thus complete the sequence of steps. This is particularly beneficial for kids with autism as they often struggle to follow the steps of a sequence to complete their "job"
        
        Voice in the Box
        
        This device can help the child to focus his attention during large group listening activities. These activities tend to be very difficult for children with autism.
        
        For example, when the teacher is reading a book aloud to the class, numerous lines from a book can be visually represented with a corresponding recorded message on the buttons. The child can "assist" in "reading" the story by pushing the appropriate buttons for the story
      - "High" Technology
        
        Video taping
        
        Children with autism are often highly interested, motivated and thus attentive to videos due to their "predictability". Video taping can serve as an excellent tool with which to teach numerous skills to children with autism.
        
        Language comprehension skills
        
        Social skills
        
        Expressive language skills
        
        Self help skills
        
        Emotions
        
        Academics
        
        Computers
        
        Research on the use of computers with autistic children have revealed the following.
        
        Increase in focused attention
        
        Increase in overall attention span
        
        Increase in in-seat behavior
        
        Increase in fine motor skills
        
        Increase in generalization skills
        
        Decrease in agitation
        
        Decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors
        
        Decrease in perseverative responses
        
        Adaptive hardware
        
        In order to access the computer, some children with autism might require that the standard computer be adapted with certain devices such as the following
        
        Touch window
        
        Big Keys and Big Keys Plus
        
        Intellikeys
        
        Trackballs
- - - - According to the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), children are usually only considered deaf if their hearing loss exceeds 90 decibels (2015)
      - Hearing loss can be caused by either genetic or environmental factors.
        Environmental causes include loud noises, ear infections, a build-up of fluid, and others. (CPIR, 2015)
      - "With or without amplification" means that even a hearing aid is not enough to allow the child to succeed in the classroom. (Deafness, n.d.)
  - - - A note-taker - can be recruited from the other students
        
        A sign language interpreter
        
        Arranging seating in a circle so the student can read every student's lips, and the teacher standing where the student can read theirs
        
        Extra speech and language training with a specialist for the student
        
        Extra training in sign language and nonverbal communication for the teacher
        
        Assure student is looking at your face before speaking
        
        More visual and kinesthetic-directed teaching
    - - Enable captions on videos shown in class and online lectures
      - Telecommunications (National Deaf Center, 2019)
        
        Videophones
        
        a subscriber based system available only to deaf people but able to connect to others, run through the FCC
        
        Smartphones
        
        can be used like a videophone, text telephone, or in many other ways
        
        Text telephone
        
        an old but still used system, functionally similar to modern text messaging
      - Text-to-speech software or devices for note-taking or communication
      - Assistive Listening Devices to amplify sound (National Deaf Center, 2019)
        
        Hearing Loop Systems: a system installed in the classroom that provides wires so that the teacher's microphone can be linked directly to the student's hearing aid or cochlear implant
        
        FM/DM systems that transmit the signal wirelessly from the teacher's microphone, and the student can tune a receiver device to pick up the signal and connect it to their hearing aid or cochlear implant
      - Personal devices
        
        Hearing Aids
        
        Cochlear Implants - surgically implanted in the inner ear
      - Visible fire alarms (e.g. flashing lights)
      - In-class or take-home tablets or laptops, with assistive apps/programs installed
- - - - Are there multiple ways of presenting content?
      - Are multiple means of showing what the student knows supported?
      - Are multiple approaches to student engagement accepted?
      - Are there areas without visual clutter?
      - How flexible is the classroom schedule?
      - How much adult support is in the room?
    - - Does the child recieve medications that might affect their learning and engagement?
      - Implementing assistive for seating and positioning in the case of severe physical challenges
      - Variability of abilities in times of day: Teachers will need to examine what happens prior to an optimal learning conditon. What variables promote the best learning outcome for the student? Did they just get off a long bus ride? After lunch? Change in their seating positions?
- - - - Educational Challenges
        
        participating in classroom discussions
        
        taking notes (while listening to teacher)
        
        watching videos
        
        presenting oral reports
        
        grammar, spelling, and vocabulary
        
        (Special Education Guide, 2020)
      - Teaching Hearing Impaired Students
        
        Classroom Adaptations
        
        area rugs, heavy curtains, tennis balls on the bottom of chair legs-all can reduce extra noise.
        
        Turn off/ eliminate equipment that makes background noise (ie projectors, fans)
        
        Flashing fire alarm
        
        arrange desks/students in a circle so impaired hearer can see all peers faces.
        
        reduce visual distractions
        
        for lip readers : avoid backlighting, so speakers faces are not in a shadow
        
        (Bright Hub, 2020). (Accommodations for Students with Hearing Loss, 2020)
        
        Assistive Devices/Technology
        
        Assistive Listening Devices-devices that help amplify the sound
        
        Hearing Loop System-(induction Loop System)- connects teachers' microphone directly to the students hearing aid via a wire
        
        FM systems-similar to the hearing loop system- uses a radio signal to transmit sound from the microphone to the hearing aid- no wire is necessary.
        
        personal hearing devices (hearing aid, cochlear implant)
        
        use closed captioning while viewing videos
        
        microphone for speaker/s (pass to all peers when they talk)
        
        ASR- Automatic Speech Recognition- software that transcribes speech to text- ( to use with a computer at student's seat)
        
        (Verbit, 2020). (Bright Hub, 2020) (Accommodations for Students With Hearing Loss, 2020)
        
        Communication Accommodations
        
        Obtain student's attention before speaking
        
        do not speak when your back is to the student
        
        clearly enunciate speech, speak slower, and repeat/rephrase when necessary
        
        use a talking stick or some other method (hand raising) so the student knows what peer is speaking so they can face the speaker.
        
        check frequently for understaning
        
        to ehance lip readers conditions: avoid hands in front of face, keep facial hair well groomed, do not chew gum
        
        use facial expressions, body language and gestures to help convey message
        
        explicitly teach idioms and explain jokes or sarcasm, and pre-teach new, specific vocabulary
        
        American Sign Language Interpreter or supplemental lessons to learn ASL
        
        (Bright Hub, 2020)
        
        Test Taking/Curriculum Modifications
        
        allow test to be taken in a quiet room
        
        Have a person read them the test, rather than using a digital or computer generated voice- this allows for speech intonation/inflections, speech to be slowed, and can be repeated to ensure understanding
        
        allow extra time for test taking, as hearing loss can effect one's ability to process information, including written information
        
        modify written and reading assignments- (shorten length, adjust evaluation criteria, alter phonics assignments)
        
        pre teach vocabulary
        
        use a peer notetaker- so student can concentrate on watching/listening to the speaker- and/or provide a written outline of the lesson as well as notes for the lesson
        
        utilize visual aids when possible in a lesson - ie posters, flash cards, graphic organizers, charts, or any visual item that helps illustrate the concept of the lesson
        
        (Accommodations for Students with Hearing Loss, 2020). (Bright Hub, 2020)
- - - - About 8% of kids have speech language difficulties. It is the most common childhood disability, affecting approximately 1:12 children.
  - - - Speech Language Pathologists are trained to identify language-based learning disabilities and implement techniques to help students continue to learn with their peers. It is very important to identify language problems early on in a child's education.
- - - - Motor crashes 20%
      - Other 21%
      - Struck my objects 19%
      - Falls 24%
      - Assault 11%
      - Suicide 1%
- - - - Dyslexia
      - Dyspraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
      - Dyscalculia
      - Dysgraphia
      - Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or AD(H)D)
  - - - Inclusion means putting students with disabilities into the general classroom.
        
        The focus on instruction should be on the student
        
        Focus on multiple intelligence
        
        Adaptive curriculum
    - - Consult with teachers about making simple changes to the classroom that will aid your child in their learning. The right accommodation depends on the specific learning disability that your child has.
    - - School administrators and teachers can create a roadmap for dealing with your child's needs and how the school will fulfill those requirements
    - - Look for a specialist with ongoing professional education in learning disabilities as well as your child’s required subject area — whether that’s reading, writing, math, or a combination of those.
- - - - Achromatopsia: the inability to differentiate colors
      - Myopia: extreme nearsightedness
      - Astigmatism: the inability of an eye to focus sharply, causing extreme blurriness
      - retinitis pigmentosa: progressive retinal degeneration that is hereditary and can lead to blindness
    - - JAWS Screen Reader
        
        JAWS stands for Job Access With Speech. It is a screen reader that provides braille and text-to-speech output.
      - Kurzweil Education
        
        Text-to-speech software that enables visually impaired students to access computers functions and also hear what is displayed as text on their computer screens.
      - Refreshable Braille Displays
        
        A refreshable braille display raises and lowers pins in braille cells, based on the text on a computer screen. As the student moves the computer's cursor around, the pins will raise and lower depending on what is displayed on the computer screen
      - Audiobooks
        
        Audiobooks are recordings of book readings
        
        Children with visual impairments can listen to audiobooks instead of reading books for class assignments
    - - Have visually impaired students sit away from bright, harsh lights if they experience light sensitivity. Have visually impaired students also closer to the blackboard/near the front of the classroom
      - Write on the board with large letters and contrasting colors (e.g. black ink on a white board)
      - Always give instructions to students orally
      - Give detailed explanations, from presentations and lectures to diagrams.
      - When testing students, ensure that visually impaired students are given enough support so they can do their best on the test. Use big text, braille, a recording of the questions, etc.
      - Provide visually impaired students with a voice recording of the lectures/lessons and/or handouts with your notes in big, large print
- - - - Electronic prompting aids
        
        Personal digital assistance
        
        Glucose Monitor
        
        Alarm watch reminder
    - - Portable magnifiers
      - Software magnification for computer use
- - - - Degenerative diseases
      - Musculoskeletal disorders
      - Neuromotor impairment
  - - - Loss of bone or muscle tissue, or include the amputation of a limb.
      - Broken bones and burns may also lead to damage to either muscles or bones.
      - can result in:
  - - - Some of these children will make use of assistive devices and technologies in order to function as independently as they can.