How Technology Helps Kids with Special Needs
In every school, millions of educators search for a new piece of technology to improve their classrooms. The education technology industry has been hailed by some and decried by others, but its widespread impact can already be felt. From smart boards to simply having computer access in classrooms, technology has changed the way students receive an education.
It has also become extremely valuable for special needs students, millions of whom pass through America’s education system. Well-intentioned laws to ensure that all students are able to receive a quality education have nevertheless fallen short in accounting for the requirements associated with these children. Moreover, traditional methods have also proven outdated, leading to educators and entrepreneurs alike to find better solutions.
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of assistive technology in schools is text-to-speech (TTS) software. While TTS programs have obvious applications for children with impaired vision or dyslexia, they also play a role in helping students with autism or ADHD make their thoughts known. One of the biggest difficulties with special needs students is ensuring that they can be understood by all. With improvements in speech synthesizing over the years, TTS programs can be a key component in facilitating communication between students and staff, or simply allowing them to complete their work as well as possible.
For those with other disabilities, classrooms are becoming more willing to accommodate for alternative means of communication. Hearing aids that can wirelessly connect to a teacher’s microphone eases the process for students with difficulty hearing. Even students with mobility issues can control a computer through mouth movements.
Even beyond this, virtual communication can help surmount barriers and allow for a seamless learning experience for special needs students. These “virtual classrooms” have been tested in schools and allow for children to easily communicate or respond to questions, becoming a little less isolated. Some of these devices include software for tracking eye movement, allowing students to answer questions simply by focusing on a picture for a couple of seconds.
Technology also plays a role in allowing special needs students to have a say in their own curriculum. Even something as simple as Google Classroom can provide instructors with the means to give their students choice over their own learning. From multimedia presentations to simple documents, the collaborative nature of these programs means that students can both have input in lesson plans and easily create projects of their own. Some teachers have used these tools to encourage special needs students to work on projects that interest them beyond what is taught in school.
Software also exists to ease learning in specific subjects. For those that have a hard time with numbers or lack the motor skills to take easy notes, programs such as MathTalk are configured specifically to allow for calculation, making use of TTS software. For those with difficulty writing, proofreading software specifically catering to dyslexics exists.
Children who struggle to learn due to a disability should not be counted out. With the development of increasingly powerful tools to allow for better communication and learning, this significant demographic of people is finding the power to learn.
