Assistive Technology (AT) tools can help accommodate your child or teen’s attention, learning, fine motor coordination, and executive functioning challenges while emphasizing his or her abilities. The use of technology is especially helpful when struggling students can use their strengths to work around their challenges.
Assistive technology is defined as any device, equipment, or system that helps compensate for an individual’s specific weaknesses. Research studies clearly show that AT is highly effective for accommodating the needs of individuals with learning, attention, and executive functioning deficits. Although assistive technology does not eliminate the individual’s struggles, it provides a means for him or her to use strengths to be successful despite challenges in reading, writing, math, organization, memory, and other executive functioning challenges.
What Are Some Examples of Assistive Technology?
Students with dyslexia who struggle with reading but have a good understanding of spoken language can benefit from using audiobooks. With the signed certification of need, Learning Ally and Bookshare can provide audio recordings of textbooks and novels for a minimal yearly membership cost.
For books not available from these groups, students can request alternative (PDF or e-reader) copies of textbooks from their school and utilize a product like Texthelp Read and Write for text to speech support.
Students with fine-motor coordination deficits could benefit from taking notes using a Livescribe Smart Pen or on the computer using a program like Microsoft OneNote to record their instructors’ lectures while taking notes. These tools allow a student to go back and listen to only the part of the lecture he missed.
Using a computer is often the best way for students with fine motor deficits to share their knowledge in writing. As these students get older, the use of speech recognition software may be helpful using Dragon Speech Recognition or Texthelp Read and Write.
At the basic level, AT can include the use of timers to compensate for poor time awareness and weak time management.
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It may be helpful if a student uses a timer that beeps or buzzes every 10 to 15 minutes during homework or other tasks to be completed in a timely manner: this can serve as a cue for him to get back on task if he has become distracted.
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A Time-Timer or similar tool that visually shows the progression of time could help a student to persevere and see when the end is in sight.
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If a student rushes to complete certain tasks and makes careless errors, it may be helpful to have him use a two-minute sand timer in order to help him slow down. For example, when completing math assignments, he should spend the entire two minutes completing each problem.
Developmental, executive functioning, and learning challenges can hamper a student’s ability to take notes in the classroom. Assistive Technology tools to accommodate problems with note taking include pens and software that record what the teacher is saying as a student takes notes.
Numerous software programs and applications can be helpful for students who struggle with time and task management, organization, and other executive skills.
Match AT with Your Student’s Needs and Strengths
As stated earlier, AT allows a student to use his or her strengths to accommodate learning, attention, and executive functioning challenges. Therefore it is important to consider the interaction between a student’s strengths and needs, the specific tasks she struggles to perform, the setting (school, home, etc.), and the technology available.
Use the AT Selection Tool to better identify your student’s strengths and needs. Consider the following links to learn more about AT tools to meet your child’s needs.
Software, Applications, and Electronics lists tools I have seen help students and adults.
Able Data is a database that provides comprehensive information on assistive technology.
The College Student Assistive Technology Guide includes applications, software, and web-based resources for college students.
The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials: Assistive Technology Resources includes a comprehensive list of national and local organizations and other helpful AT resource organizations.
The Center on Technology and Disability is designed to increase advocacy for and acquisition of effective assistive technology.
Evaluate Specific Tools
Use the AT Tool Evaluation Worksheet to consider the characteristics of a specific tool, compatibility with the settings it will be used in, and your student’s actual use of the tool.
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Ask past and present users questions about reliability. Look at unbiased ratings and reviews. Ask educators, other parents, your school’s IT staff, and local support groups.
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Consider the level of technical support available (online, phone, and service locations) and the length of time that support is available.
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Look at the product specifications to determine compatibility with the current technology available at school or home.
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Before you buy an AT tool, have your student try it out to make sure he or she can and will use it.
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Spend time with your student checking out hardware (computers, tablets, etc.) at the store
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Ask retailers what their return policy entails.
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For software and applications, check to see if there are website demonstration versions or free 30-day trial versions available.
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Ask your student’s school if they have assistive technology tools available to try out. Even if they don’t pay for your student’s AT, they may have tools available to try out before you buy. Consider additional information on assistive technology on the web:
Gather Additional Information
The following websites have research-based recommendations for choosing and using assistive technology tools:
The Schwab Learning Foundation previously provided the following fact sheets on assistive technology for students with learning problems. Much of this information has been updated and is now available from the Great Schools website:
Understood.org, a nonprofit website for parents of children with learning and attention challenges provides the following information.
Need Help Applying These Concepts?
Call 817.421.8780 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Davenport is happy to help you think about how to use assistive technology to help your student.
(c) 2010-2018, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
