Evaluating Assistive Technology Tools for Visually Impaired and Developmentally Challenged Students
Assistive technology tools play a vital role in supporting students who are visually impaired, developmentally, or physically challenged, as well as those who are deaf or hard of hearing. This overview discusses the pros and cons of various assistive devices, such as screen readers, closed circuit magnification, and Braille translation devices for the visually impaired, as well as adaptive keyboards and alternative communication devices for developmentally challenged students. It highlights academic gains, potential barriers, and limitations associated with each technology.
Evaluating Assistive Technology Tools for Visually Impaired and Developmentally Challenged Students
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Presentation Transcript
Assistive technology tools are tools that assist those who are visually impaired, developmentally physically challenged and deaf/hard of hearing with the use of technology.
Pros and Cons Academic Gains Barriers • Screen Reader- gives both a visual and sound for comprehension • Closed Circuit Magnification- great visual aid for those who are visually challenged but not blind • Braille Translation Devices- great for those who are completely blind • Screen Reader- not so great for those who are both blind and audio impaired • Closed Circuit Magnification- the device can become a distraction for those in the classroom with impaired child • Braille Translation Devices- becomes a barrier if child has not yet been taught how to read braille
Assistive Technology for the Developmentally Physically Challenged
Pros and Cons Academic Gains Barriers • Adaptive Keyboard- assist with easily locating keys • Alternative Communication Devices- great for non verbal students to communicate with others • Adaptive Student Desk- makes the classroom setting more comfortable for those students who need them • Adaptive Keyboard- May hinder the development of adapting to a Qwerty keyboard later in life • Alternative Communication Devices – the device may glitch or cause interaction problems • Adaptive Student Desk- may not be in every room due to expense
Pros and Cons Academic Gains Barriers • Personal Amplification Device- great for individualized assistance • Audio/visual communication devices- good tool for those who read lips/ mouth movement • Voice to text translation- great for those who are only hearing impaired but not for those who are both blind and deaf • Audio/visual communication devices– the device may hinder the learning environment for others by providing distraction • Voice to text translation- causes problems for young learners who can not yet read and of course the usual technology issues of glitching
