A mildly disable student generally has normal function that requires a small amount of
assistance to perform various tasks. I would use assistive technology softpware and hardware for
students who are having problems. The type of software I would use would be a word processor
so the student could use outlines to help them capture the main points of the lesson. The type of
hardware I would use would be a laptop or iPad so the student would have the hardware in their
hand because it would allow the students to look up information about what ever topic they need
at that time to complete the task at hand.
Moderate and severe disabilities are deficits in adaptive skills. I would use assistive
technology to help students with moderate and severe disabilities by using an iPad as a hardware
supplement. The software I would use on the iPad would be "Go Talk Now" software. I would
use "Go Talk Now" to help the student communicate and to allow the student to participate in
discussions. Go Talk Now is a flexible, yet powerful app for people who have difficulty
speaking.
Students with a physical disability have an acquired or congenital physical and/or motor
impairment. I would use assistive technology with a student with a physical disability to learn in
the classroom setting or to participate by using Classroom Suite and Unique Learning System
(CSULS) software. The hardware I will use is the interactive white board with CSULS. CSULS
allows the teacher to create different templates that allow them to interact and discuss answers
with the student. Also the system allows the teacher to allow the student to demonstrate different
skills and allow you as a teacher to go in and give feedback.
Sensory disabilities refer to a disability related to hearing problems, vision problems, or
both hearing and vision problems in education. The way I would use assistive technology with a
student with a sensory disability, such as a student that is blind, would be with a software that is
called SuperNova Screen Reader. SuperNova Screen Reader is developed for blind computer
users. SuperNova Screen Reader is a software screen reader that works by reading the screen
interactively and communicating through a speech synthesiser or a refreshable Braille display.
The student will use iPad or a laptop with the software install.
At-risk behaviors/situations (ARB) are a classification granted to those students who are
likely to drop out of school or be held back from graduating to the next grade level. Common
characteristics that classify a student as high-risk include living in a single-parent family,
receiving welfare assistance, living in a household where the primary language spoken is not
English, and having a mother who did not graduate from high school. I would use assistive
technology with a student that is categorized as ARB by having the student to use word
processors to create power points on a computer dealing with motivational projects that can be
an intervention program for the student. These Powerpoints would be fun, rewarding, and
educational. The hardware I would use would be laptops which may empower the students to
feel as though they are equals to their peers. Another technique that I would use would be that
after giving a quiz or test to a student, the problems I see the student has difficulties with will be
the problems I have the student to create Powerpoints with the correct answers inserted in the
power points.
Gifted and talented students have unique needs that require special attention and
accommodations for them to succeed in school. I will use assistive technology by using a word
processor software to allow the student to create an animated power point presentation to tell a
story based on then completing a book. Slides will include story elements and the animation will
enhance the story. The student will complete the presentation on an iPad or a laptop as their
hardware.