How Do Students with Learning Disabilities Amplify Their Strengths? Utilization of Assistive Technology Tools and Services.

Assistive technology allows children to perform tasks, compensate for their lack of abilities, and amplify their strengths.

Author: Mary McCool Berry, M.Ed., W.D.T.

Date: 1.4.2023

Maddie is a fourth-grade student with a Specific Learning Disability who has dyslexia. I met with Maddie's school team while advocating for her at the annual IEP meeting.?

Advocating for Assistive Technology tools for students with an IEP is very important. Maddie and other students I have advocated for receive assistive technology tools and services if appropriate.?

Parents and educators need this information to level the academic playing field for students with learning differences.?

Information about the law and the resources available to students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) must reach parents, students, and educators.?

We use tools every day to improve our functional capabilities!?

• Knives - the ability to cut and slice
• Tape measures, measuring cups, etc. - the ability to measure
• Glasses - ability to see

• Forks, spoons - the ability to eat efficiently without the mess
• Dishwasher - ability to wash dishes faster and sanitize?

Why are Assistive Technology Tools Important? AT allows a child to perform tasks, compensate for abilities they don't have, and amplify their strengths!

AT allows students to:

• access the curriculum
• concentrate on learning
• show what they know without being tripped up by mechanical tasks like writing
• participate in the least restrictive environment

What is the law? Section 300.105 - Assistive Technology

Each public agency (school) must ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services, or both, are made available to a child with a disability if required as part of the child's?

1. Special education?
2. Related services?
3. Supplementary aides and services

On a case-by-case basis, using school-purchased assistive technology devices in a child's home or other settings is required if the child's IEP team determines that the child needs access to those devices to receive FAPE ( free, appropriate, public education )in the least restrictive environment.

The law provides for the following:

• Evaluating the needs of the child with a disability paid for by the school district.
• Acquiring assistive technology tools and devices paid for by the school district.
• Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices.
• Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability and, if appropriate, that child's family.
• Training for teachers and others who provide services to the child.?

IEP teams must ask this question: Would assistive technology or tools enable students to meet their goals (s)?

Possible obstruction statements:?

• "The technology or tool is too expensive." The team cannot consider cost a determiner in AT consideration?
• "The school doesn't want the student to become dependent on a text reader." How will the student access grade-level curriculum without an e-reader?
• "No need to write specialized technology or tools on the IEP." How will you ensure that the school will protect the right of the student to receive AT?
• "We cannot decide AT." Adjourn the meeting until the appropriate administrator can meet with the team.?
• "The child doesn't do better with AT." Please show me the data that supports your statement. Ask the school to review performance data with and without the technology over time.?

Examples of tools and devices used:

Need help with decoding text??

• Narrated audiobooks, access to text-to-speech software
• Learning Ally
• Read & Write
• Read2Go
• Scan and Read Pro
• Natural Reader
• Prizmo Go
• Bookshare.org

Need help with writing?

• Dragon Naturally Speaking for PC users and Dragon Dictate for Mac (https://dyslexia.yale.edu/resources/tools-technology/tech-tips/dragon-naturally-speaking/)SnapType
• Popplet (graphic organizer- webbing ideas)
• Mind Meister (creates webs with your thoughts- brainstorming)
• Google Voice typing
• Windows Speech Recognition
• Need help with math?

• Photomath (step-by-step explanations)
• MathPapa
• My personal favorite- 2024- https://www.vnote.ai/

Need help studying?

• Quizlet

Need help with word meaning?

• Vocab1
• Magoosh (older students)
• Word Up (older students)
• Quizlet (practice for a test)
• Vocabulary.com
• Talking dictionary
• Text leveling- replacing unfamiliar vocabulary with simpler terms

Need help with spelling?

• Contextual spellchecker
• Word prediction
• Text-to-speech proof listening
• Grammarly.com
• Need help with readability?

• Change font, spacing, colors of text, and background
• Mask lines of the text
• Reformat the page to remove distracting images and reduce visual clutter
• Beeline Reader.com- reading faster and easier

Need help with comprehension?

• Translator- Snap and Read Universal - Text reader that simplifies vocabulary, translates text, reads inaccessible text (OCR), and captures and cites sources.
• Need help focusing on print?

• Mask the lines to minimize distractions.
• Use color masking tools (available on Amazon)

Need help with critical thinking, brainstorming, and note-taking (annotating)?

• https://www.inspiration-at.com/
• Livescribe Smartpen
• Glean
• Audio Note 2
• Mic Note
• Microsoft One Note
• Notability
• Kami (my favorite)
• Apple Notes
• Echo Smartpen
• Otter AI
• Nebo

Need help with Narrated Audiobooks:

• Audible.com (fee)
• Learning Ally (fee)
• Overdrive (free)
• Kindle + Audible (Whisper Sync)
• Over 100, 000 books are available
• Need help with deciding on a tablet??

• https://dyslexia.yale.edu/resources/tools-technology/tech-tips/tablet-comparison/
• Kindle Fire
• Ipad Mini
• Nexus 7

Need help with fine motor skills- handwriting, using scissors, etc.?

• Use a spray bottle
• Practice grabbing and holding small items with tweezers or tongs.
• Using a paper punch
• String pasta or cereal onto the yarn
• Cut and make a mosaic from thick paper.
• Create eye dropper art on coffee filters with food coloring and water.
• Paint or draw on an easel
• https://www.schoolspecialty.com/SearchDisplay?categoryId=&storeId=10801&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&searchSource=Q&pageView=grid&beginIndex=0&pageSize=24&searchTerm=fine+motor

Need help with focus and sensory issues?

• https://enablingdevices.com/activity-guides-product-tips/22-sensory-room-activities/
• Apps for Students with Special Needs:
• Compilation- https://enablingdevices.com/apps-charts-for-the-disabled/ten-educational-apps-for-students-with-special-needs/

The Assistive Technology Act

In 1988 Congress passed the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (P.L. 100-407) to increase access to, availability of, and funding for assistive technology for all individuals with disabilities, including very young children. The Act was amended in 1994 (P.L. 103-218). In 1998 Congress enacted the Assistive Technology Act (P.L. 105-394) and in 2004, the AT Act was amended. See the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-364

• Mary McCool Berry, M.Ed., W.D.T.Reading Specialist, Wilson Certified Dyslexia Therapist, Certified Dyslexia Parent Advocate, Podcast Host; Read Keys