Assistive technology and instructional practices for teaching students with disabilities (specifically ADHD, learning disabilities, and auditory disabilities)

1. Meeting Special Needs in the
Classroom

2. 12% of people in the
United States have a
disability.
12%

4. IDEA* defines 13 categories of
disabilities.
*IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Learning
disabilities
Physical
impairments
Speech or
language
impairments
Intellectual
disabilities
Emotional
disturbance
Multiple
disabilities
Hearing
impairments
Other health
impairments
Visual
impairments
Autism Deaf/Blindness
Traumatic
brain injury
Developmental
delays

7. Any device, equipment, or service that improves the
learning and capabilities of students with
disabilities.

8. Low-Tech
Mid-Tech
High-Tech

9. Instructional practices are
specific teaching methods
that guide interaction in the
classroom.
Includes:
• Programs
• Interventions
• Strategies
• Activities

10. Let’s move on to the specific
needs of your classroom.

13. Easily distracted
Makes careless
mistakes
Difficulty
organizing
Losing items
Fidgets with
hands or feet
Talks
excessively
Constantly “on
the go”
Interrupting
others
Difficulty waiting
for turn
Giving answers
before the
question is
finished

14. Bouncy, inflatable seat cushion
• Students put energy in squirming on it but stay in
their seat
“Koosh ball” or other squishy thing to
manipulate
Highlighters to highlight directions or
important words or phrases
Create a “window” in a piece of cardboard
to expose only one or two lines of print.

15. Reduce
seating
distractions
Sit the child
near the teacher
rather than the
window
Break down
assignments
Keep
instructions
clear and brief
Break down
large tasks into
small pieces
Assign a
“study
buddy”
Study buddy
reminds and
assists
Use alert
clues
Gains the
students
attention

17. Students with learning
disabilities have
average or about-average
intelligence
BUT still struggle to
acquire certain skills.
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
•Writing
• Spelling
• Reasoning
• Mathematics

18. Dyslexia • Processing language
Dyscalculia •Math skills
Dysgraphia •Written expressions
Dyspraxia • Fine motor skills
• Interpreting auditory information Auditory Processing
Disorder
• Interpreting visual information Visual Processing
Disorder
ADHD • Concentration and focus

19. Graphic
organizers
and outlining
Word
processing
programs
Alternative
keyboards
Audio books
Speech-recognition
software
Variable
speed tape
recorders

20. Allow verbal responses
Allow frequent breaks
Provide a space with minimal distractions
Provide on-task/focusing prompts
Break down large tasks into smaller segments

22. Otitis
Media
Ear
infections
Congenital
Causes
Hereditary
Prenatal
infections
Illnesses Toxins
Acquired
Causes
Disease Condition Injury

23. Distinguishing
one sound
from another
Identifying
similarities and
differences in
sound patterns
Blending,
isolating, or
separating
sounds in
words
Auditory
memory

24. Hearing
Assistive
Technology
System
Speaker wears a microphone
that relays sounds directly to
the individual’s hearing aid.
Computerized
speech
recognition
The computer changes spoken
messages into readable text
documents
Closed-captioning
on
TV or videos
Text is displayed for spoken
dialogue and sounds

25. Face the
student
Reduce
noise
Well lit
room
Small
group
work

26. References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2014). “Hearing Assistive
Technology.” Retrieved Oct 01, 2014 from
http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Hearing-Assistive-Technology/
Behrmann, M., Jerome, M. C. (2002). “Assistive Technology for Students with Mild
Disabilities” ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education Arlington
VA. Retrieved Oct 01, 2014 from http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm
Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2014). Disability Statistics from the 2012
American Community Survey (ACS). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Employment
and Disability Institute (EDI). Retrieved Oct 01, 2014 from
www.disabilitystatistics.org
Friend, M. (2014). Special Education: Contemporary Perspectives for School
Professionals. (4th edition). New Jersey: Pearson.
GreatSchools.org (2014). “Assistive Technology.” Oakland, CA.
LD Online (2010). “Accommodations for Students with LD.” National Joint
Committee on Learning Disabilities. Washington, D.C. Retrieved Oct 01, 2014 at
http://www.ldonline.org/article/Accommodations_for_Students_with_LD
North Shore Pediatric Therapy. (2014). “ADHDInfographic.com” Retrieved Oct 01,
2014.
Richert, Kit. (2014). “How to Help Your Student with an Auditory Processing
Disorder.” Teaching Community. Retrieved Oct 02, 2014 from
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/2324-how-to-help-your-student-with-
an-auditory-processing-disorder