As we know students with learning disabilities and difficulties have at their disposal a range of assistive technologies to support their learning.  Assistive technology is defined as “the software and technology which helps people with disabilities and special needs to overcome the additional challenges they face in communication and learning”(BECTA, 2003).

The emerging research concerning the use of these assistive technologies indicates their potential to make a difference to the learning and educational performance of students in schools, particularly in the area of literacy, where the traditional use of non-digital teaching tools have had limited success.

For students who struggle with literacy, technology is increasingly being used to remove barriers to learning and provide access to knowledge and understanding. Assistive technologies can give these students the tools to assist them with reading, writing, research, study and organisation.

Assistive technology…can remove barriers and enable (students) to gain more equitable access to successful learning experiences and accomplish things not thought possible before (Sitko, Laine and Sitko, 2005)

• Abbott, C. (2007). E-inclusion: Learning Difficulties and Digital Technologies. Available from www.futurelab.org.uk/download/pdfs/research/lit_reviews/futurelab_review_15.pdf
• LD Online – www.ldonline.org
• Technology for Learning Disabilities Project – http://www.cwu.edu/~setc/tld/eval_outcomes.php
• Dave Edyburn Home Page provides links to research, publications and articles – www.uwm.edu/~edyburn
• Journal of Special Education Technology – www.tamcec.org/jset/index.htm

Reading Tools

• Accessible Book Collection – www.accessiblebookcollection.org
• Bookshare – www.bookshare.org
• Project Gutenberg Online eBook resource with over 20,000 free books -http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Daisy Books – http://www.daisy.org
• CITEd’s Learn Center showcases select resources and targeted tools to help students meet the everyday educational challenges through technology – http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=2
• Reading Software: Finding the Right Program – http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7765

Writing tools

• Assistive Technology Writing Tools – http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/3084
• A blog focusing on making the curriculum accessible to all learners through the provision of assistive technologies and universal design – http://www.teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com
• Accessibility features of Microsoft products – http://www.microsoft.com/enable
• Broaden Your Horizons: Assistive technology benefits to students, suppliers, freeware and shareware, resource links – http://www.imvc.com.au/broadenhorizons/index_new.asp?NavID=9&a=9&b=0

Organizational, Research and Study tools

• Inclusive Technology Resource Kit (2007) – This resource includes a range of fact sheets on a wide variety of assistive technologies including organizational, research and study tools. Contact RMIT Disability Co-ordination Office http://www.rmit.edu.au/ssg/dco for more information.
• Hall, T., & Strangman, N. (2002). Graphic organizers. Wakefield, MA: National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum. Available from http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_go.htm

Universal Design for Learning

Many of the assistive technology tools providing support with reading, writing, research, study and organisation now include Universal Design for Learning features which seek to seamlessly embed their benefits into commonly used technologies found in the classroom. This approach ensures that digital learning environments are flexible and accommodating for all students.

• CAST works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning – www.cast.org
• UDL Technology Toolkit – http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com
• Universal Design for Learning Wiki – http://udl4all.pbwiki.com

References

Becta. (2003). What the research says about ICT supporting special educational needs (SEN) and inclusion. Coventry: Becta. Retrieved from http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/wtrs_ictsupport.pdf.

Sitko, M. C., Laine, C. J., & Sitko, C. J. (2005). Writing tools: Technology and strategies for struggling writers. In D. Edyburn, K. Higgins & R. Boone (Eds.), Handbook of Special Education Technology and Research. Whitefish Bay, WI: Knowledge by Design, Inc. http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/handbook-of-special-education-technology-research-and-practice