Special+Education

toc =Ideas for Supporting Special Education Students.= Technology offers some new pathways to reach and teach our students. Using new tools involves a change in practice, perhaps yours, and perhaps that of colleagues. Be aggressive while respecting your collegial relationships. Much is to be gained in the areas of student engagement and in leveraging learning via effective pedagogies. Special opportunities exist for addressing [|multiple intelligences] and varied learning styles with technology.

Operating System adaptations for accessibility

 * **Apple** Accessibility: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
 * **Windows XP:**[| http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/accessibility/expert/crawford_03may27.mspx] or[| http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/features/accessibility.mspx]
 * **Especially Noteworthy on both platforms:** Text-to-Speech and Magnification

Support for writing
//The field of special education technology has long recognized the area of writing as one in which technology holds considerable promise for individuals with disabilities. This long-standing interest can be characterized as having three focal points: (a) alternatives for students who's access to the development of written expression skills is impaired by handwriting difficulties, (b) interventions for engaging reluctant writers (i.e., I don't want to... I can't...), and (c) specific strategies that enhance written expression performance (i.e., planning, drafting, spelling, peer editing).// http://jset.unlv.edu/18.2/asseds/edyburn.html An excellent piece on reasons to use technology in teaching writing can be found at: Learning Point Associates. [|"What Works—Enhancing the Process of Writing Through Technology: Integrating Research and Best Practice]."

Support for Reading
[|Technology and Teaching Children to Read]

Keyboarding: Some resources:
http://del.icio.us/ayale/KeyboardingResources

Writing/Reading Assists

 * [|Co:Writer | Don Johnston Incorporated]
 * [|WYNN™ Literacy Software for Reading and Writing]
 * [|Kurzweil Educational Systems]
 * Kurzweil** Educational Systems is the leading developer of reading technology for people with learning difficulties (**Kurzweil** 3000) and those who are blind or **...**
 * Use [|Audio Notes in Microsoft Word] to save effort, provide examples of expressive language, vocabulary support, etc.
 * [|Online and Adapted Books for Reading Experiences]- A compilation of sites to support reading, some free, some paid.

Support for visual learning:

 * Use pictures as prompts,
 * Use graphic organizers
 * Use Kidspiration/Inspiration for mouse control and for writing process- http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/index.cfm?fuseaction=example or look in the Examples folders inside the Applications folder for Kidspiration and Inspiration on most ICSD computers

Support for auditory learning
Often your students are behind their peers in reading. In any content area: if the goal is other than reading, take the reading and make it accessible. Additionally, auditory memory practice might be addressed with software. > Textbooks and readings can be made accessible in this way.The focus can then be on auditory processing, meaning and higher level skills.
 * Audiobooks: [|LibriVox Catalog], [|The **Audio Books** Project - Gutenberg]
 * Commecial sites offer support to make selected texts accessible. An example is http://www.raz-kids.com
 * Create CDs (digitize a selection with a digital recorder or software and rip a CD.)
 * Use Text-To-Speech
 * Use [|audio clips] as prompts for writing [[file:door.wav]]

**RTI**
[|Responsiveness to Intervention (RTI)]

Collected sites:

 * http://literacychanges.wikispaces.com/

[|ICSD Special Education Website]
Disclaimer: I am not specifically trained in this area; my suggestions come from my years in the classroom and knowledge of technology. I am totally open to any ideas and resources you can suggest.