Annotated Articles on Adaptive
And Assistive Technology
 

 Christina Miller

  Wilmington College
EDT 6020


 

Warger, Cynthia. (1998. October). Including Assistive Technology in the Standard Curriculum. ERIC Digest. [Online] Available:

http://at-advocacy.phillynews.com/docs/ericatincurric.html

The law requires that assistive technology devices and services be considered for all children identified as having an exceptional educational need. There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that IEP (Individualized Education Plans) teams consider the maximum benefits of technology use. There are important key points to consider in implementing technology in special education: select low tech applications whenever possible, offer training and technical support to teachers initially, integrate the use of technology into lessons in a purposeful and meaningful way, and when possible use the technology that’s already in place.
 
 

Golinker, Lewis. ( 1997, June). Funding for Assistive Technology Devices and Services in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997. Eric Digest [Online] Available:

http://at-advocacy.phillynews.com/data/atgollinker.html

Before the term assistive technology became part of policy discussions, schools were required to provide computers and other adaptive equipment to students who needed them. In addition, other decisions and policy letters have established some core principles related to assistive technology device funding. The best known policy letter concerning school provision of assistive technology devices and services is the “Goodman Letter”. In this letter, the Department of Education make it clear that schools are prohibited from refusing to consider assistive technology devices and services as part of the IEP writing process.
 
 

Behrmann, Michael. (1994, April). Assistive Technology for Students With Mild Disabilities. ERIC Digest #E529. [Online] Available:

http://at-advocacy.phillynews.com/docs/ericatmilddis.html

Technology has become an important tool for teachers in the classroom at all levels to develop, provide instruction, and to engage the students in learning. There are several areas of instruction to help students with mild disabilities. These areas include cognitive assistance, productivity, access to reference materials, note taking, organization, writing assistance, and materials modification. Such instruction in the classrooms using assistive technology can make learning more efficient and certainly more real for students whom abstract learning and generalization may be difficult.
 
 

Goodman, Susan. (1998, March). New Special Education Regulations on Assistive Technology. Technology Assistive Resource Program. [Online] Available: http://at-advocacy.phillynews.com/data/spatnj.html
 

The Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey issued a decision invalidating the regulation and directing the Department to adopt a new regulation to clarify that “ assistive technology devices and services “ must be considered and provided through the IEP process. This was decided in November 1997. The court noted that IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) specifically requires assistive technology devices and services to be considered as a component of each student’s special education, related services and supplemental aids and services.

 
 

Goldberg, Leslie B. and O’Neill, Lucinda M. (1999, May). Computer Technology Can Empower Students With Learning Disabilities. CAST eReader. [Online] Available: http://www.cast.org/udl/index.cfm?i=960

Mason Barney was classified as a gifted student, but he was failing math. His parents soon found out that Mason had a severe learning disability that impaired his performance in all subject areas. Writing a report for a school assignment would have been next to impossible for Mason, but with the integration of technology he had a new way to express himself and to keep moving ahead academically. Thanks to Mason’s positive example, teachers have an increased awareness of the issues surrounding learning disabilities and the role computer technology can play in addressing these issues.
 
 

Home