Assistive Technology (Children) « Assistive Technology

Articles, Publications, Organizations & Websites About
Assistive Technology for Children
and Students With Special Needs

Articles:

• Assistive Technology for Kids with LD: An Overview (Great Schools)
  This article will introduce parents to the role of assistive technology in helping their children with learning disabilities. The better informed you are, the greater the chances your child will experience success in school, in recreation and, eventually, at work.
• Assistive Technology in the Classroom (Education World)
  children who need help to keep up with their peers -especially those with more severe disabilities – can benefit from machines designed to help them learn! Such "assistive devices" aid their learning, understanding, and participation in the regular classroom environment.
• Amazon Kindle 2 and Childhood Disability (Bella Online)
  The updated version of the Kindle wireless reader is as pricey as the original, but new features make it even more attractive and practical for families and individuals with developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions, and other special needs.
• Great iPad Apps for Special Needs Kids (AMS Vans – 6/6/12)
  There are so many iPad apps currently on the market designed with special needs children and adults in mind, deciding on the best app for your child’s needs is no easy task.
• How to be a Leader with Assistive Technology (eSchoolNews – 10/30/09)
  During an Oct. 21 webinar hosted by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), titled "The Building Blocks of a Successful Assistive Technology Team," Sally Norton-Darr and Chris Bugaj, both AT trainers for Virginia's Loudoun County Public Schools, offered their expert advice on how to evaluate assistive technology products for use in schools.
• Nintendo Wii Therapy Rehab for Children and Teens ( Bella Online)
  Children and teens who have physical, sensory or intellectual disabilities find the same benefit in playing games with the Nintendo Wii game system as their mainstream peers.
• Tablets, iPads Revolutionize Education for Special Needs Kids (AMS Vans – 5/11/12)
  In the two years since the debut of the iPad, schools have found how beneficial the new technology can be to children with special needs and students with learning disabilities.
• The Aurora Project – Robots Helping Autistic Children (MangoMon – 8/2/10)
  The Aurora Project was created as a long term project in the United Kingdom in 1998. It is a project supported by the University of Hertfordshire School of Computer Science with local schools. The program pairs autistic children with robots, a high-interest ‘toy’, to help them build educational and social skills.
• The iPrompts Application and Childhood Disability (Bella Online)
  There has been quite a bit of discussion recently about cell phone software applications created for children or teens with developmental disabilities, communication challenges and chronic health conditions.

Publications:

• Accessible Information Technology Resources – A Quick Reference Guide for Educators (Southern Regional Education Board)
  Educators need information to make websites and technology-related instructional resources more accessible to and usable by students with disabilities. Resources are provided to support students with vision, hearing and mobility disabilities.
• Assistive Technology for Children with Learning Difficulties (Schwab Foundation for Learning)
  Assistive technology is not designed to improve particular skills or teach particular subjects. Instead, it provides a means for the user to work around the learning differences. The contents of this guide focus on the specific topic of assistive technology.

Organizations & Services:

• Family Center on Technology and Disability
  For people with disabilities, daily tasks — such as going to school and work or participating in recreational activities — can be a challenge. To help organizations working with families of children and youth with disabilities, the Family Center on Technology and Disability provides web-based information and resources.
• International Society for Technology in Education
  ISTE is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK-12 and higher education.

Websites, Blogs Resources:

• Assistive Technology for Infants, Toddlers and Young Children (National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center)
  Children with disabilities have the right to participate in everyday activities with their typically developing peers. The appropriate use of assistive technology (AT) in the classroom or playgroup, at home, and in the community supports natural learning opportunities and the successful inclusion of infants, toddlers and young children with disabilities in the full array of services and settings that are available to all young children.
• Assistive Technology Rocks! (Cecilia Garcia blog)
  An article asking the question "Why is inclusion important both to the student with special needs and the culture of the class?
• AT Cubed
  Brian Wojcik, an assistive technology specialist, shares reflections and commentary about using assistive technology in the classroom. Many of the posts aim to start discussion about the needs and use of assistive technology, and pose thoughtful questions.
• National Resources on Assistive Technology (National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center)
  Links to resources related to assistive technology for children and adults.
• No Limits to Learning
  This assistive technology blog guides teachers and educators through the use of technology such as the iPhone, web applications, and software.
• The Future Is Here: Assistive Technology for Learning Disabilities This article explores various types of learning disabilities and the importance of assistive technology in the classroom.