Special Education Resources and Ideas

Top 10 strategies Students with Physical Disabilities 1. Use alternative keyboards such as Intellitools IntelliKeys for students with limited manual dexterity so that they can use the computer independently. 2. Use joysticks or switches instead of keyboards for students with severe physical disabilities. 3. Use voice recognition software such as DragonTalks Dragon Naturally speaking for students who are unable to write by hand, who have illegible handwriting, or who find handwriting extremely tedious that can use this software to create text from their speech. Students with Sensory Disabilities 4. Use text-to-speech readers such as JAWS for windows for students with visual disabilities can use these to have text read to them from a computer screen. 5. Use optical character recognition (OCR) software or CCTV. Students with Communication Difficulties 6. Use text-to-speech products such as WizComs Quicktionary pen- these devices and materials assist students who have difficulty speaking. 7. Provide a range of tools to support student writers. Some students need simplified word processing tools such as Tom Snyders Scholastic Key, or specialized word prediction word processors such as Don Johnstons Co: Writer. 8. Use talking word processors as Don Johnstons Write: Outloud-provide speech synthesis to allow students to hear what they have written. Students with Cognitive Disabilities

9. Use digital cameras to capture images of objects and environments. Students with cognitive disabilities sometimes need concrete examples as cues and prompts for Learning. 10. Use specialized calculators such as Programming Concepts Coin-U-Lator. These handheld devices help students learn numerical concepts like making change.

The following special needs Apps are from this website http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/the-best-apps-for-special-needskids/2012/04/18/gIQA1FwiQT_story.html Speech Dragon Dictation converts speech to text or e-mails. Nuance Communications, free. ArtikPix-Ful l combines flashcards and other activities to help children with speech delays practice making sounds correctly. Expressive Solutions, $29.99. Articulation Station Pro allows kids with speech delays to practice making sounds in words, sentences and stories. Little Bee Speech, $49.99. Language VAST Autism 1-Core helps students with autism or other disorders, such as apraxia, learn to speak. SpeakinMotion, $4.99. First Phrases HD helps toddlers or children with speech delays learn to put words together into phrases. Hamaguchi Apps for Speech, Language and Auditory Development, $9.99. Reading Bob Books #1-Reading Magic HD is a phonics-based game to help young children learn how to read. Learning Touch, $3.99.

Rainbow Sentences helps students learn good grammar by color-coding the parts of sentences. Mobile Education Tools, $7.99. Rhyming Words has rhyming activities to help build early reading skills. GrasshopperApps.com, free. Writing and spelling Cimo Spelling is a game that uses a list of 255 high-frequency and sight words to help children in kindergarten through third grade develop basic spelling and reading skills. PlaySmart-Kids, $2.99. FirstWords Deluxe helps teach toddlers letter and word recognition. Learning Touch, $4.99. iWrite Words reinforces correct letter formation and spelling. Gdiplus, $2.99. Organization and note-taking Abilipad is a notepad app that allows users to customize the keyboard. It also has a text-tospeech function. Cheryl Bregman, $19.99. Audionote Notepad and Voice Recorder can synchronize typed notes with recorded audio for students who struggle with fine motor skills or organization. Luminant Software, $4.99. Notability-Take Notes and Annotate PDFs with Dropbox combines handwriting, typing and voice recording for note-taking. Ginger Labs, 99 cents. Communication Custom Boards allows users of all ages to create custom communication boards, schedules and activities from a library of more than 11,000 symbols. Smarty Ears, $39.99. My First AAC is a communication app for toddlers and preschoolers with delayed speech and language. Injini, $24.99.

Proloquo2go includes symbols and a text-to-speech function for students of all ages with speech and language difficulties. AssistiveWare, $189. TouchChat helps students of all ages who have trouble speaking with their own voices. Silver Kite, $149.99. Listening skills See. Touch. Learn Pro is a picture-learning system designed for children with autism and other special needs. Brain Parade, $24.99. LanguageBuilderDeluxe helps children practice coming up with ideas and forming sentences. It uses lots of audio clips to help kids work on listening skills, and can play back the childs own voice to help them develop their language. Mobile Education Tools, $14.99. StoryBuilder is designed to teach children to build coherent paragraphs, using audio clips to improve listening skills. Mobile Education Tools, $7.99. Other app resources http://www.friendshipcircle.org/apps/ http://teacherswithapps.com/12-best-special-needs-apps-of-2012/ https://www.smore.com/mzcx-special-education-technology this website also has video tutorials explaining how to use the app.

7 Ways Technology Benefits Special Education Classrooms 1. Most students are drawn to technology and special education teachers often find that these students are then more motivated to work because they get to use a technology device in the classroom. 2. Teachers can work with more students at one time more effectively, such as using a phonetic ear so that more students can hear or a clicker response system to engage all of the students at once. 3. Technology is an equalizer and parents even report that when their children with challenges or disabilities uses technology that they are seen as more capable by peers.

4. Children learn valuable technology skills that can translate into marketable skills. 5. Children with physical disabilities have more opportunities for engaged learned with modified assistive technology such as touch screens and assistive wands. 6. Students who spend time in mainstream classes and special education classrooms can use technology to bridge the expectations and demands of each, such as by using a device to record lectures for playback later. 7. Technology can help build confidence in children. They are finding more success academically and they are also feeling more like their classmates who utilize technology every day, too.