Tech Class Blogg for week 4

Please provide specific examples of technology/tools that you would recommend for a student with... (1) a hearing impairment, (2) low-vision, (3) a broken right arm, and (4) autism (non-communicative). The following is a list of technologies that could be useful for students with the disabilities listed. Hearing impaired: Hearing Assistive Technology systems are available which minimize the problems experienced by the hearing impaired including level of volume and background noise. These include a FM system, which is like a miniature radio with one station and one-to-one communicators where the teacher uses a microphone which is connected directly to the student's hearing aid. Low vision: E readers offer a variety of text sizes and several levels of gray which can assist the visually impaired. It also converts text to speech. One problem with e readers is that the menu is difficult to read so the individual is still dependent on help from another person. DAISY (Digitally Accessible Information System) is completely accessible and offers direct  access to specific points in the text. (Wikibooks, 2009) Broken right arm: Speech recognition software converts spoken word to text, a technology which is helpful to the visually impaired as well as for someone with a broken right arm. This avoids the necessity of writing as it converts speech directly to text. One example of this technology is Dragon Naturally Speaking. Autism/non-communicative: Students who cannot verbalize can use voice output communication aids which display a visual representation and are accessible by button. Some examples are Big Mac and Talk pad. In addition, Language Master is a voice output device which uses cards on which can be recorded a short message. Reference Wikibooks, Assistive Technology in Education/DAISY, last updated July 2009. Retrieved at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/DAISY