Internet For Instruction

Vision Impairments

Screen readers are very beneficial tool for students with low vision or blindness.  A screen readers provide an audio output of the information that is displayed on a screen, so individuals with vision impairments are able to navigate computer screens and webpages independently. 

Screen readers can be downloaded on most computers or other electronic devices, often times for free. 

Jaws - for Windows this is a screen-reading software designed for Microsoft Windows devices.  It provides an audio installation process, multi-lingual speech synthesizers, and is accompanied with braille display.  Jaws is compatible with most programs used in a common school or workplace setting including Microsoft Office, MSN Messenger, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer, and Firefox, to name a few. 

Dragon Dictation this is a voice recognition and audio transcription software for Mac.  This software is available on all apple devices. It allows automatic speech to text capabilities, hands free recording, seamless audio blending, and also supports multiple audio formats.  While the version for the Macbook does cost, Dragon Dictation is a free download for on iTunes for the iPad and iPhone. 

Hearing Impairments 

Voice recognition software is also something that can help students who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Tools like this allow students to see what they are saying, which is often easier than using a keyboard.  

Many other software similar to this are also beneficial to hearing impaired students.  With the use of modern technology communication has been made much easier, as text messages and email are visual communication tools where hearing is not required.  There is also real time captioning software that allows the student to read what is being said.  

Captionate is a downloadable application that allows you to create caption for an flash video.  Captionate can be ran on any device using Microsoft Windows software. 

CaptionTube is a web-based software that provided captions for flash videos. Tutorials can be found to help navigate the software.  Once the captions have been created they can then be sent via an email.  

Here are some additional narration applications that could be useful to hard of hearing students:

iCommunicator is a software that converts spoken language into sign language. 

Google Voice Search allows you to search google verbally.

TalkTyper this is a simply dictation application that provides the basic option of dictating text. 

Mobility Impairments

A great tool for students with mobility impairments is an on screen keyboard.  These are alternative keyboards that do not require users to physically type using keys, which is a necessity to individuals with low finger dexterity. Most computer operating systems like the Macintosh and Microsoft come with on-screen keyboards built into their devices.  However, there are also many free on-screen keyboards that can be downloaded:

Click-N-Type

Free Virtual Keyboard

Dasher

While the first 2 of these are just standard on-screen keyboards, Dasher is quite a bit different.  Dasher allows typing via the on-screen keyboard using a variety of alternative methods, a joystick, a track ball, a touch screen, head mouse, eye tracker, an many others. This particular application would be a great tool for many physically imparted students and it is free! 

Processing Disabilities

Students with processing or learning disabilities often struggle when absorbing information from the traditional classroom setting. They do not understand things in the same way as other students and this can present problems for them.  However, with the use of assistive technologies these struggles can be avoided.  

Students with processing disabilities could potentially benefit from any of the assistive technologies listed previously, as their difficulties stem from they way they learn, their assistance is also based on this; each student may require a completely different assistive technology based on their needs. 

The National Center for Learning Disabilities is a great resource and provides many options for assistive technologies as well as helping to assess what particular technology a student may need.

Some suggestions are listed below:

Invisible Timer - this is a device that helps to keep an individual student on task, it is like a small pager, and sends out vibrations to remind students to stay on task.

Computer Aided Instruction - this could include lecture videos or audio notes, visuals, or interactive programs which allow the students to take in information in a variety of ways. 

Talking Calculator - this is pretty self-explanatory, this would help with students how have attention problems.

Audio Books - these are a great way to assist students who are learning to read, or are struggling readers.  There are also many websites that provide E-Books for free.