Blog #12

Assistive Technology

I am so glad that we get to write about different assistive technologies that we can use in our classrooms. Assistive technology is characterized as technology that can help kids with learning disabilities leverage their strengths and work around or compensate different learning problems. In my future classroom, I wish to appeal to every learning strength and weakness there exists, and knowing that there are various and incredible things that can help kids get around those difficulties is astounding and reassuring to me! In my days in school, there were a number of great computer programs, devices, and even apps on a smartphone or tablet that I noticed that help people with special needs get the full educational experience they most greatly deserve.

In my 7th grade class when I was in middle school, there was a boy named Dylan who could not communicate verbally because the part of his brain that was supposed to allow him to speak was paralyzed, as well as the rest of his lower body. However, Dylan could definitely understand what you were saying when you spoke to him and knew the exact words to say, but could not express them. So he used a program called Abilipad, which allowed him to type whatever he wanted to say and it would speak the words for him! It was a huge peace of mind for our teacher who was very worried that he wouldn't understand or keep up with the lessons she taught. Dylan turned out to be an extremely intelligent young man. If it weren't for the Abilipad, our teacher would have never known if he was grasping the material or not, and Dylan would never be able to express in words what his opinions were or if he even got the material at hand.

Another program that is of my reach as a teacher is the app called iMouf. It's an app for the iPhone or iPad. It is a new, refreshing, and dynamic way of learning sounds of everyday language to children.  It brings funny moments and sometimes even complete joy and happiness to the kids while teaching the different characteristics sounds make. iMouf is a practical and creative app designed for parents, teachers, and professionals. It’s a fun way to teach children while learning the basic fundamentals of sounds and the way they should be pronounced.

One more thing that I think would be very helpful is the idea of a Talking Calculator! It can help with children who have ADD or ADHD to focus on what they are doing so the don't get off track. It will keep the child interested and make them want to learn and focus for that time being. It may even improve their focusing abilities in the long run as well! It can also be great for kids with speaking disabilities so that they can learn how to say certain numbers and how to explain specific math facts. It will be especially be important for blind people, so they can hear what they are typing and calculating.


Technology has really come a long way from just being something that was recreational or other things. If anything it has become a great equalizer for children and grownups with special needs that might prevent them from participating in class and other important assignments. Now, kids with the inability to speak can communicate with spoken language. Children with hearing problems can now generalize what sounds mean and what they sound like. The list literally goes on and on, and I am so proud that technology has stepped up to the plate to provide these wonderful programs to these wonderful children with lots of potential.