Special ED by Alexandre

  Communication and Sensory Impairments This guide will show different types of tools to assist students with sensory impairments, focusing on visual, auditory, and sensory challenges. Each tool addresses specific needs and includes resources for further exploration. 1. BrailleNote Touch+ Tool : Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Students Needs/Purpose : students who are blind or have a loss of sight can access digital text, note-taking, and learning   Description : BrailleNote Touch+ is a tablet combining traditional Braille literacy tools with the power of today's apps. It helps students read, take notes, and complete assignments using a Braille keyboard and touchscreen. Resource: HumanWare BrailleNote  https://www.humanware.com/microsite/bntouch/video.php 2. Frequent Modulation System Tool : Hearing Assistive Technology Needs/Purpose :  Helps students who are deaf or hard of hearing by making sounds clearer in classrooms. It reduces background noise so the...

  Selecting and Evaluating Technology How can we best select technology for students with disabilities? Choosing assistive technology (AT) for students should involve a team, usually during an IEP meeting. The team looks at what the student needs help with, their environment, and the tasks they need to complete. A common way to make decisions is by using the SETT framework, which stands for: Student: What the student can and can't do. Environment: Where the student learns, including what materials and support are available. Tasks: What the student needs to do to meet learning goals. Tools: The technology that can help, which is then tested to see if it works. What is the process Dell uses to describe the selection of AT? Dell explains the AT selection process using the SETT framework, which includes these steps: Student: Identify the student's needs and what tasks they find difficult. Environment: Look at the student’s learning setting, like support, materials, and any ba...

 UDL Lesson Planning After completing both lesson plan assessments, I felt most confident with the Elementary Lesson Plan, where I scored an 8. This reflects my comfort in creating engaging, age-appropriate activities for younger students. My score was slightly lower in the High School Lesson Plan, which makes sense since teaching older students requires more critical thinking and independent work. It’s an area where I’m still growing, but this assessment gave me useful insight into how I can improve in crafting more advanced lessons. What makes the UDL lesson plan different? A UDL (Universal Design for Learning) lesson plan is different because it’s built to meet the needs of all learners from the beginning. It offers various ways for students to engage, learn, and show what they know. Unlike typical lesson plans, which often use one approach for everyone, UDL plans are more flexible. They adapt to different learning styles and abilities, removing obstacles that might prevent some...

                Universal Design for Learning When setting goals using Universal Design for Learning (UDL), teachers should remember to be flexible . This means making sure goals can be reached in different ways so every student can succeed. Instead of having all students do the same thing, UDL suggests Showing information in different ways (like videos, books, or pictures) so everyone can understand it their way. Letting students show what they know in different ways (like writing, drawing, or talking) so they can use their strengths. Offering choices (like picking topics or activities) to keep students interested and engaged. This way, all students have a chance to do well, no matter how they learn best

 What is Assistive Technology?  What is Assistive Technology? Assistive Technology (AT) refers to any device, software, or equipment that helps individuals with disabilities perform tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. AT can range from simple, low-tech tools like pencil grips to more complex, high-tech devices such as speech-generating computers. The goal of assistive technology is to enhance the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities, enabling them to participate more fully in everyday activities, education, work, and social interactions. AT is designed to meet the specific needs of each individual, providing them with greater independence and improved quality of life. Examples of Low, Medium, and High-Tech Devices Assistive Technology can be categorized into low-tech, medium-tech, and high-tech devices, each serving different levels of complexity and user needs.     -  Low-Tech Assistive Technology includes simple, inexpens...