Early Childhood Special Education and Assistive Technology Blog

By: Chelsea Emery, EC-SEAT Scholar Children with hearing and vision impairments have many barriers in the classroom and accessing learning materials that other students may use. Barriers to access could be children left out of activities because of their disability, misunderstanding, not learning specific content because it was inaccessible to them. But now with the iPad we have apps that better accommodate children’s needs in and out of the classroom despite their disabilities. Many apps support exceptionalities that enhance children's learning and provide: Access to academic information for individuals with hearing impairments by adjusting the sound levels and using embedded utilities such as VoiceOver.  Written directions and picture visuals to support understanding of academic information.  Two apps to consider: Photo Translator: This first app is for vision impairment. It allows individuals to identify specific objects. This app overcomes the barrier of not b

By: Chelsea Emery , EC-SEAT Scholar  Technology is great. These are two great application for emergent literacy I found while taking an OT assistive technology class this winter! They are free and easily accessible. In each they describe what the application is for and what areas of learning it supports! Enjoy! Partners in Rhyme It is a free app that is about learning rhymes of words. This is a great tool for emergent learners to have because rhyming supports spelling, reading and phonics. This app has lots of games for practicing rhymes including matching games, memory games, either/or, yes/no, and pictures. If the child doesn't know what the picture is displaying they can click on the picture and it says the word. This way the child is getting visual, auditory, and sensory input. The pictures of this app show the matching and memory game of the rhymes. The app allows for many ways of learning the rhyming subject. They give options of activities to practice the work

Watch the following 5-minute interview with Dr. Therese Willkomm, ATP to learn about the difference between Assistive Technology vs. Instructional Technology and how it relates to Universal Design for Learning.  Dr. Therese Willkomm, ATP - Assistive Technology vs. Instructional Technology and Universal Design for Learning from Carrie Smart on Vimeo . Links to Interesting articles and materials to inform our thinking: AT in NH -  Website  and  YouTube 29 U.S. Code Chapter 31 – Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disability Assistive Technology and IDEA: Regulations Assistive Technology Laws What is Assistive Technology? How is it Funded? Assistive Technology Act Universal Design and Technology Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology Evaluating Apps – Instructional vs. Assistive Technology