Assistive Technology

With the push toward inclusion, teachers have a variety of students in their classroom with a wide spectrum of needs. Learning about assistive technology available will help teachers to best design their classroom to satisfy the requirements of all children.

The online language translators don't completely eliminate the language barrier, but they do help to alleviate some of the difficulty in communication. With the increased number of students who do not speak English as a first language, the opportunity to use technology to translate becomes far more valuable. Services such as Babelfish and World Lingo can help to translate classroom newsletters home to non-English speaking parents, or to place instructions both in English and another language when giving specific directions on worksheets or assignments. This can help to lessen any initial confusion. The benefits to this free service are great, but it is also necessary to be aware of their inconsistency and inaccuracy. The translators give a general overview but can't always translate word for word, so it's important to note that slang may not be interpreted correctly and sometimes words in different languages have multiple meanings.

I am utterly amazed at how far the grasp of technology seems to extend. The digital, audio, visual and software enhancements Microsoft provide allow for nearly all people to have access to the benefits of computers. Alternative input devices such as joysticks, wands, touch screens, and sip-and-puff systems make sure that individuals can control the computer by means other than a standard keyboard. I had an Art History professor who had limited physical ability but utilized a device strapped to his chin to control lectures and slides. I witnessed the general ease of its usability, and am impressed with its overall outcome.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation and an article by Dr. Giuseppe Erba, photosensitive epilepsy affects patients with a particular sensitivity to "flashing lights or contrasting visual patterns, such as stripes, grids and checkerboards." The condition causes their brain to produce seizures when exposed to the visual stimulation. As teachers, we need to be aware of the environmental threats and can do small things such as watching television or videos in a well-lit room to reduce the contrast between the room and the screen, dim the brightness on the control panel, use smaller screens, and make certain students are viewing images from a safe distance.

Overall, with such extensive technology available, teachers should be able to support diverse learning. Whether through language translation assistance or accessibility technology to help with physically impaired students, teachers must first be aware of the needs of their students in order to be able to guide them to the technology available to them. For teachers, knowing your students, their abilities, difficulties, and needs will make certain you can send them in the right direction.