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Special Tools for Special Needs: New Technologies Help LD Kids

What is Assistive Technology?

Special Tools for Special Needs: New Technologies Help LD Kids In recent years, new assistive technologies (AT) have made strides in helping children and adults with learning disabilities overcome their specific areas of weakness. Whether it's a phone that reads text messages aloud for dyslexics or an iPhone application that uses graphics to help special needs people transition from one activity to the next, new devices are helping LD kids succeed.

The use of AT is a compensatory approach that allows a student with a learning disability to capitalize on his strengths and work around a deficit. These tools help kids with many disabilities, ranging from cognitive to physical impairments. Some AT tools are as simple as whiteout and highlighters to help children with writing and organizational disabilities, while others are more high-tech. For example, some AT services include audio books for children who suffer from dyslexia, and talking calculators for those who have trouble remembering math facts. In addition, the term AT applies to computer hardware and software, electronic devices, and Internet tools that help kids learn and communicate.

AT Tools and ConsiderationsA wide variety of assistive technologies are available for use both in the classroom and at home, including electronic and graphic organizers to help kids structure and communicate their ideas, talking electronic systems to pronounce challenging words for students with a reading disability, and portable keyboards for students who have difficulty writing by hand. Other useful AT tools include:

The Center on Technology and Disability offers suggestions to help parents find comprehensive AT resources.

It's important to keep in mind your child's specific needs when considering an AT product. The right service should make use of his abilities to help compensate for his disability. For example, if your child is articulate in speaking, but has poor grammar and spelling, a speech-recognition software program that converts spoken words to text will make use of his speaking skills and help him put his thoughts in writing. The National Center for Learning Disabilities offers four components to consider when deciding on AT:

An AT assessment may be conducted by your child's school or an independent agency, to help you determine which tools might work best for him.

Effects of AT on School and LearningAssistive technology allows learning disabled children to succeed in areas they may not have been able to before. The AT tools available today are making it easier for kids with learning disabilities to acclimate to and adjust to the demands of social and school-related pressures.

Some organizations, like the Association of Assistive Technology Act Program (ATAP), are striving for state assistance, but in general parents are required to supply most AT devices their children may require in the classroom. (For an overview of AT that should be provided to your LD child, visit http://www.fctd.info/factsheet/atlaws.) Although many AT services are cheap (some include everyday items such as highlighters and sticky notes to help with organization), others can be expensive. To help reduce unnecessary spending, most schools make this a mandatory discussion for parents and teachers during yearly IEP meetings to help determine which tools will be most helpful.

The use of AT can be an effective approach to helping a learning disabled child function better at school and at home. LD students often have the most success when they are able to use their strengths to overcome their weaknesses; the trick is simply finding a system or device that works for their particular needs. AT has the ability to level the playing field for LD children and enhance the functional independence of a child with a learning disability. AT allows disabled children to travel, participate in social and recreational activities, succeeed in school, and lead normal lives, which is why organizations like the Family Center on Technology and Disability are so passionate about working to incorporate them into the classroom and home.