Technology / Assistive Technology

Week 1
Keyboarding is an essential part of literacy programming. It leads to self-confidence with access to technology. You may want to modify the keyboard with color coded stickers (with the letters and characters) for a more manageable display. Make practicing keyboarding interesting, so include fun prizes.

Week 2
Children first learn to listen and speak, then use these and other skills to learn to read and write. Help students know about technology tools to accessing print, communication through writing, and producing materials in alternate formats (such as audio, Braille and large print). Connect with adult mentors who are blind and use various technologies for fun and work. Invite curiosity and interest ...have a show and tell session.

Week 3
Building competent writers is important. Support their use of technology with both reading and writing. Enjoyment of reading is important and fosters good writing skills too. Don't forget word-processing skills are important to practice. Help students realize word-processing skills will help them finish written assignments. Work on creating, editing, saving, and printing text files. Competency in written language is what students need for academic and vocational success. And technology makes this goal much easier to reach.

Week 4
Work on setting goals. Have the students write a list of what they "can do." They will be working on writing, spelling, and chart-making skills in a fun way. Make a chart and discuss how well they do the task. Discuss the frequency and technology they may use too. Then look at what they find and move ahead to what they would like to do.

Resources:

Resources for the Expanded Core Curriculum (RECC)

"The Impact of Assistive Technology: Assessment and Instruction for Children and Youths with Low Vision," by Ike Presley (pp. 589-654) in Foundations of Low Vision (2d ed.), edited by Anne L. Corn and Jane N. Erin (2010). New York: AFB Press.

The Braille Superstore

The Talking Typer

Assistive Technology ECC Audio Library

Teens' Voices ECC Audio Library

DCMP Resources:

How to Make Digital Stories

Equal Access in the Classroom

Real Life 101: Computers