Apps helping to provide visual supports for students with severe disabilities

 

 

Apps have been around for a while are always being added.  Apps have the ability to enable students to access self management and organization through picture schedules and other visual representations.  Photos and pictures can provide those with cognitive disabilities the type of support they need to function appropriately in their world.  The Boardmaker program offers the ability to create a visual representation of sequence of events and schedules that speak to the user in a way they understand and can relate to.  iPhones, iPads and iTouches offer handheld technology that is mobile and easy to use and apps are always being updated and are improved often.  There are apps to support the apps offering more pictures and prompts to be used for schedules and checklists.  By merely searching through google or yahoo you can find information on many of the options that are available to users today and in the future.

AT providing accommodations for students in college

Assistive technology is something that everyone uses everyday.  Almost everyone I know uses a type of computer to do any number of things.  From basic communication (cell phones) to more complex programs that analyze information to a GPS that gets us where we want to go despite our lack of sense of direction.  In a college setting there are any number of needs a student with disabilities can get assistance with by using technology.  Scheduling, note taking or recording, sharing information and reporting, transmitting files, transposing notes to Braille, in short, removing obstacles that prevent anyone from participating in higher education is a benefit of assistive technology.

There are no IEPs in college but with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subject to discrimination by any such entity."  Anyone, who meets the criteria of being admitted into a public college needs to be supported by that college in any way that is reasonable and effective.

Computers, software, training and technical support, accessibility, appropriateness and task matching, and easy to use are a few of the considerations that need to be met for students with disabilities anywhere.  Using these in a college setting may allow a person to reach goals in their education that allow them to fulfill goals of employment and to explore avenues previously unknown to them.  As a teacher in any school, it is important to look at any and all ways that you can support your students and help them become all they are meant to be.

Resources visited and thoughts

University of Kentucky Assistive Technology Project (UKAT)
http://edsrc.coe.uky.edu/www/ukatii/toolkit/index.html

UKAT Tools

• Consideration
• Pre-Assessment Profile
• Assessment Planning and Data Collection
• Assessment Report Outline
• Trial Implementation
• Assistive Technology Implementation
• Knowledge and Skills Survey

The tools that are offered work through step by step the process of the who, what, where, when, how and why of Assistive technology.  It is a very systematic approach.  It asks all the questions that help to point out the tools and the use and the user and the trainers and teachers and parents roles.  It brings clarity and defines the responsibility of each of the parties involved.  This makes the process of AT assignment and assessment clear and concise and EASY!

Making It Work: Effective Implementation of Assistive Technology Guide

http://www.setbc.org/setbc/topics/effective_implementation_of_assistive_ technology.html

Support Materials

Making It Work: Effective Implementation of Assistive Technology Guide

• Introduction - (341Kb PDF)
• Section One: Gather Relevant Information - (3.53MB PDF)
• Section Two: Establish IEP Goals - (224Kb PDF)
• Section Three: Conduct Assistive Technology Trials - (1.87MB PDF)
• Section Four: Identify Assistive Technology Solutions - (2.09MB PDF)
• Section Five: Develop Assistive Technology Implementation Plan - (3.11MB PDF)
• Section Six: Adapt Lessons for Technology Integration - (2.26MB PDF)
• Section Seven: Follow Up and Plan Transition - (3.31MB PDF)
• References and Resources - (113Kb PDF)

 Successful AT implementation is:

• collaborative
  
• systematic
  
• recursive
  
• flexible, and
  
• based on curricular goals and student needs 
  
  
  This site provides another guide to help establish AT needs and goals.  It uses SETT and WATI and UKAT information as well.  It is great to see that information sharing is available and encouraged in the world of technology.  It provides people with the ability to adjust quickly and share knowledge with a click.  The same principles that we hope the students are able to implement into their day. 
  

Integrating Augmentative Communication in the Classroom, Home and Community

Many students play the "helpless" card.  Children learn from a very early age that they can manipulate situations and people, some more easily than others.  Parents, teachers and peers alike can be lead to believe that a person really can't communicate a need or want.  They will guess and pantomime and jump through hoops to try and figure out what the student wants.  Sometimes they think it is a quicker, therefore better, idea to just give the person what they want rather than make them reach, figuratively or literally, for it themselves.  Augmentative communication, for some people, is a tool that can help them make their needs and wants knows.  They can share their knowledge and ask questions about school, friends and life in general.  IF they are taught how to use it properly and IF they try...
* Creating expectations of participation socially and academically at the start of the school year, semester, month or day can provide the student with guidance and goals as to all that they are capable of and what the expectations are for them.
* The student can report about how their day went and what expectations were met and what needs to be tackled the next day.
*  The student should be part of the expectation and goal planning.  This allows them to buy into the situation.
*  The device needs to have the vocabulary that is best suited to the situations and/or class the student will be in.  Overlays can be created that are specific to each situation.

The augmentative communication MUST be integrated into the IEP in order for the student to be provided with the needed equipment and to be trained in it's use.
*The use of the device should be written into the student's goals with clear directions of when, where, how and how often the device should be used for what activities in each class, general ed.

*The use of the augmentative device system at home and in the community is necessary in order for the student to experience continued successes in life outside of school.  With proper family and friend support the student can learn how to participate in the "real world" in the best way he is capable and to reap and enjoy life as anyone else does.  The system needs to be portable and needs to be used consistently for the student to gradually feel more comfortable using it.

There are an amazing number of websites that come up when you search "websites for teaching math".  I have gone through a few and have posted the ones that I thought were worthy of your time and exploration.  Happy mathing!!!


K-5 math teaching resources really covers the gamut of supplies and ideas.  It covers numbers, geometry, measurement/data and mental math.  It has read aloud books (a lot) suggestions, it has e books.  It talks about Classroom organization as well.  It is based on the Common Core standards so you are in the right place for standards based activities and lesson plans.

http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/2nd-grade-number-activities.html

Possible Activities: Picture, Numeral Word Match Cards (0-10) Domino Jigsaws Number Jigsaws Counting CupPlaydough Numbers Math Read Aloud Task Cards: The Enormous Watermelon The Very Hungry Caterpillar Ten Black Dots Rooster's Off to See the World

Playdough Numbers 32K+

32K+

www.Math Playground.com This site is full of games and fun activies to entice all the math learners. The graphics are bright and the games are like video games. Play Snail Bob 2 and all your favorite math and logic games

Review of an educational app for iPad

I always have an opinion.  I enjoyed "playing" with the Math2 app I found earlier on in the semester on the CAST website.  It did take a bit to figure out how to play the math game but once I overcame that obstacle it was great fun to explore the different levels and challenge my math skills!

Title - Math 2 (squared).
Publisher - fnx studios http://www..fnxstudios.com
website address
Cost - FREE
Notable system requirements:  it was specifically for iPads.  You can purchase it on the itunes site
Purpose/goal - to provide students a way to practice basic math skills at various levels.
Structure and Special features - it looks like a tic tac toe board, so it seems very kid friendly.  It gives immediate feedback and you can get assistance.
Strengths - very mobile and can be used any time.  The ability to choose a level for review work or to challenge.
Weaknesses - Starting off I could have used a tutorial so I can imagine students being frustrated until they figure it out.  (If they are willing to stick with it that long.)
Summary - I think it is a great app to have and for students to use.  It can be a self challenging game and can grow with the student as he progresses in his math learning.  It is accessible to any learner that can use an iPad successfully.  The screen size is large enough that it is possible for some visually impaired students may be able to use it as well.  It is a great have any where game for all ages and abilities.

Low tech and mid tech adaptations can be the ticket

It is important to provide students with the correct tools to support their learning.  It does not always have to be the newest and shiniest toy in the toy box that enables the student to access the math lessons.

Manipulatives are a widely available resource for ALL students.  The need to pair visual supports with learning is strong.  It creates a concrete example of many math functions.  They can also be inexpensive.  The use of a computer sites that have manipulatives is also an option but the individual blocks and 10 blocks are oldies but goodies that I have seen in every classroom I have been in.

Rubber stamps, special rulers, laminated number lines and multiplication/division tables are simple, easy to carry and use for most students.

Mid tech supports include talking calculators to assist visually impaired students, calculators with larger screens that show all of a math problem and work can help students that have a physical disability effecting fine motor skills.  Calculators that have keys that support coin learning by having keys shaped liked coins.  Again supporting the learners that need the visual connection to learning.

There is a wide range of supports available in the education world.  We need to make sure that the students are getting them in their hands by writing IEPs that require schools to provide them.

Five kinds of educational applications that can be used to teach math concepts, skills and problem solving

The programs are able to address many of the learning difficulties that students face.  I am sure that as time goes on there will be more and more programs that are developed to add greater access to more and more students.  These programs can be a source of support for the students with learning disabilities and for those without.  The programs can provide common ground for all students with review, extra support and feedback at many levels of math instruction.

Virtual manipulatives are provided at National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (Utah University).  Supplies support in varying levels and grades of math instruction.  Computing Technology for Math Excellence gives explanations along with virtual manipulatives.  The links provided will connect directly to the site.

Math support by Illuminations (NCTM) offers extra practice, visual support and interactive lessons for all grade levels.  There are online activities fro concept support.

Skill building - http://www.internet4classrooms.com is a free website that has links to other websites with resources the support instructions and reinforcement.

Problem solving support is provided using Math Playground a free online site with practice in basic math skills using games, word problems and logic problems.  Conceptua Math (www.conceptuamath.com) supports fraction and provides tools for teachers to use for the whole class.  There are visuals and text that is spoken aloud to support learners with reading difficulties or visual problems.  Assessments are included as well as data collection.  Destination math focuses on the skills of reasoning, understanding and problem solving.. It has animation and spoken text.  There is a Spanish support provided for ESL learners of that language.