Assistive technology

This week's assignment consisted of exploring assistive technology.  We explored and discovered technologies used to assist all types of disabled students:  visually impaired, hearing impaired, etc.  We began with a tool designed to assist a user with a visual impairment: high contrast.  This changed the colors of the display to contrast more than the usual display colors so that they are more easily seen by the user.  Next, we moved onto another tool for the visually impaired call “the magnifier,” which does just that, it magnifies the screen as much as needed.  I tested out the feature with magnification of 200%.  After magnification, we went onto look at toggle keys which is a setting used for someone that may have some type of physical impairment that might cause them to engage certain computer settings unintentionally.  Toggle keys setting creates a sound whenever certain keys are pushed as a notification.  Following the toggle keys setting, we explored the visual alert setting, which allows the computer to flash whenever the computer sounds an alert.  This would be used for someone that may have a hearing impairment.  The final assistive tool we explored was the on-screen keyboard which allows a student that can only use the mouse to input information into the computer as well as any other user. 

After exploring all of these assistive tools, we created slides that had both sound and pictures that could be used for any student regardless of their disabilities.  We also made a slide with the information for online resources for sound clip and images for free.

I knew of most of these tools; however, I’ve never had a reason to use any of them before this assignment.  

Click here to check out my powerpoint on assistive technology.  

ISTE standards: to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity; to design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments; to model digital age work and learning; to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility; to engage in professional growth and leadership. 

Common core standard: integration of knowledge and ideas, production and distribution of writing, research to build and present knowledge, comprehension and collaboration, and presentation of knowledge and ideas.