Maddie is a fourth-grade student with a Specific Learning Disability who has dyslexia. I met with Maddie's school team while advocating for her at the annual IEP meeting.
Advocating for Assistive Technology tools for students with an IEP is very important. Maddie and other students I have advocated for receive assistive technology tools and services if appropriate for them. Parents and educators need this information to level the academic playing field for students with learning differences.
Information about the law and the resources available to students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) must reach parents, students, and educators.
We use tools every day to improve our functional capabilities!
- Knives — ability to cut and slice
- Tape measures, measuring cups, etc. — ability to measure
- Glasses — ability to see
- Forks, spoons — ability to eat efficiently without the mess
- Dishwasher — ability to wash dishes faster and sanitize
Why are Assistive Technology Tools Important?
AT allows a child to perform tasks, compensate for abilities they don't have, and amplify their strengths!
AT allows students to:
- access the curriculum
- concentrate on learning
- show what they know without being tripped up by mechanical tasks like writing
- participate in the least restrictive environment
What is the law? Section 300.105 – Assistive Technology
Each public agency (school) must ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services, or both, are made available to a child with a disability if required as part of the child's:
- Special education
- Related services
- Supplementary aides and services
On a case-by-case basis, using school-purchased assistive technology devices in a child's home or other settings is required if the child's IEP team determines that the child needs access to those devices to receive FAPE (free, appropriate, public education) in the least restrictive environment.
The law provides for the following:
- Evaluating the needs of the child with a disability paid for by the school district.
- Acquiring assistive technology tools and devices paid for by the school district.
- Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices.
- Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability and, if appropriate, that child's family.
- Training for teachers and others who provide services to the child.
IEP teams must ask this question: Would assistive technology or tools enable the student to meet their goal(s)?
Possible obstruction statements:
- "The technology or tool is too expensive." The team cannot consider cost a determiner in AT consideration.
- "The school doesn't want the student to become dependent on a text reader." How will the student access grade-level curriculum without an e-reader?
- "No need to write specialized technology or tools on the IEP." How will you ensure that the school will protect the right of the student to receive AT?
- "We cannot decide AT." Adjourn the meeting until the appropriate administrator can meet with the team.
- "The child doesn't do better with AT." Please show me the data that supports your statement. Ask the school to review performance data with and without the technology over time.
Examples of tools and devices used:
Need help with decoding text?
- Narrated audiobooks, access to text-to-speech software
- Learning Ally
- Read & Write
- Read2Go
- Scan and Read Pro
- Natural Reader
- Prizmo Go
Need help with writing?
Need help with math?
- Photomath (step-by-step explanations)
- MathPapa
Need help studying?
Need help with word meaning?
- Vocab1
- Magoosh (older students)
- Word Up (older students)
- Quizlet (practice for a test)
- Vocabulary.com
- Talking dictionary
- Text leveling—replacing unfamiliar vocabulary with simpler terms
Need help with spelling?
- Contextual spellchecker
- Word prediction
- Text-to-speech proof listening
- Grammarly.com
Need help with readability?
- Change font, spacing, colors of text, and background
- Mask lines of the text
- Reformat the page to remove distracting images and reduce visual clutter
- Beeline Reader.com—reading faster and easier
Need help with comprehension?
- Translator—Snap and Read Universal—Text reader that simplifies vocabulary, translates text, reads inaccessible text (OCR), and captures and cites sources.
Need help focusing on print?
- Mask the lines to minimize distractions
- Use color masking tools (available on Amazon)
Need help with critical thinking, brainstorming, and note-taking (annotating)?
- https://www.inspiration-at.com/
- Livescribe Smartpen
- Glean
- Audio Note 2
- Mic Note
- Microsoft One Note
- Notability
- Kami (my favorite)
- Apple Notes
- Echo Smartpen
- Otter AI
- Nebo
Need help with Narrated Audiobooks:
- Audible.com (fee)
- Learning Ally (fee)
- Overdrive (free)
- Kindle + Audible (Whisper Sync)
- Over 100,000 books are available
Need help deciding on a tablet?
Need help with fine motor skills—handwriting, using scissors, etc.?
Need help with focus and sensory issues?
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