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Hello! My name is Leah Howe and I received my undergrad degree in general education to teach Language Arts to grades 7-12. Although I truly loved working with the middle school and high school general education students, I most recently have developed a new passion for elementary school special education. I was offered a position at a wonderful clinic/school in which I have a classroom of seven students. Six of these students are on the autism spectrum, and one student has cerebral palsy and visual impairments. My school was originally a school for kids with autism, but is now expanding and accepting students with other disabilities as well.

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It is important to know this information about me when reading through my e-portfolio because the resources I have gathered are all centered around the challenges that I have or am currently facing. Through the creation of this e-portfolio, I have learned many ways in which assistive technology can greatly benefit my students as well as myself within the classroom.

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This article explains assistive technology and the contributions it can have in a special education classroom. The research done for this study demonstrates teacher's attitudes toward assistive technology in an inclusion classroom. Special education and general education teacher's were both questioned, and the conclusion results in the understanding that assistive technology can be beneficial for both the student with special needs and their teachers.

https://search-proquest-com.nuls.idm.oclc.org/docview/1984321815?pq-origsite=primo

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Resource 2: AT Services for Post Secondary Students

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Resource 2: AT Services for Post Secondary Students

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This article demonstrates the impact that assistive technology has on students with special needs in the post-secondary classrooms. For this study, three hundred fifty three students filled out a survey about assistive technology. A consensus was developed based on the participants responses. It was found that the majority of these students felt that assistive technology is important for their education and they really fell that it helped them learn.

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.nuls.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=0c78768d-c52e-44d8-864f-d076c0f44416%40sessionmgr4006

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Resource 3: iPads in Inclusion Classrooms

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Resource 3: iPads in Inclusion Classrooms

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This article demonstrates how great of an impact iPads can have on an inclusion classroom. They can be used in many different ways such as; a reward or incentive for students with special needs, a research platform, a way to reinforce concepts and skills, learning through videos and hands on activities etc. This article is a great resource for teachers to learn about the different ways in which implementing iPads in their classroom can benefit both them and their students. It also gives an overview of the many different education apps that can be useful in a classroom for special needs students.

https://primo-tc-na01.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_ericEJ1083513&context=PC&vid=NATL&lang=en_US&search_scope=all_scope&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,ipads%20in%20inclusion%20classrooms&sortby=rank&facet=tlevel,include,peer_reviewed&mode=basic&pcAvailability=false

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This article outlines the importance of using "e-reading", or a digital platform used to read. In this day and age, the author argues that schools should be making use of e -reading, because it can teach to the diversity of many different learners. For example, e-reading has the capability of adjusting font size for learners that have vision problems, and read aloud options for learners that are not able to read. This type of e-reading can even have a language converting option for English language learning students. Overall, e-reading is much more beneficial than old school hard copies of text books.

https://primo-tc-na01.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_ericEJ1083513&context=PC&vid=NATL&lang=en_US&search_scope=all_scope&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=default_tab&query=any,contains,ipads%20in%20inclusion%20classrooms&sortby=rank&facet=tlevel,include,peer_reviewed&mode=basic&pcAvailability=false

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Resource 5: App for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

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Resource 5: App for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

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Ava is an app that people who are deaf or hard of hearing can use for real life group conversations. This helps keep track of who is saying what, so that the person with the hearing disability can understand who is talking without the stress of trying to read lips or trying to focus with the background noise getting in the way. The app will transcribe the conversation to make it easier to understand the order of people conversing.

http://assistivetechnologyblog.com/2016/11/ava-app-that-helps-deaf-hard-of-hearing-people-follow-group-conversations.html

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Resource 6: iPhones for the Visually Impaired

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Resource 6: iPhones for the Visually Impaired

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This website demonstrates the many different functions that an iPhone has available to assist people with visual impairments. Some of the assistive technology features are as follows: a magnifying glass; text enlarger; zoom function; and text to voice options. These functions and many more can make life easier for anyone with difficulty in eyesight.

https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/

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Resource 7: iPhones for Physical and Motor Skills

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Resource 7: iPhones for Physical and Motor Skills

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iPhones can be adjusted for people who need more or less sensory/ physical accommodations. This website explains the different features that can do so. For example, the iPhone has a "switch control" function that allows the user to navigate their iPhone screen through bluetooth hardware. "Siri," and the "dictation" function allow a user to speak into the iPhone to give it a directive or to ask a question.

https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/physical-and-motor-skills/

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Resource 8: iPhones for Learning and Literacy

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Resource 8: iPhones for Learning and Literacy

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This website demonstrates how an iPhone can be used for those who are illiterate or have difficulty reading. There are many text to speech options in which a text can be read aloud for a user. There is also a typing feedback option that will read each letter aloud while the user is texting. The auto-correct function can be useful for those who have difficulty with spelling.
https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/learning-and-literacy/

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This simple way of keeping track of a daily schedule can help students with autism greatly. Many children with autism prefer to stick to a routine and enjoy knowing what comes next in a day. By using a visual aid in your classroom, students can learn to follow their schedule and accept transitions from activity to activity much better.
http://www.sasi.org.au/visual-aids-help-people-autism/

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This website explains how beneficial a communication device can be for a non verbal student with autism. These devices give them a way of communicating questions, directives, or demonstrating compliance for a given task. It also allows them to make verbal requests when working with someone that can help them.
https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/giving-voice-non-verbal-children-autism-aac-autism/

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Portable word processors are keyboards that can be taken anywhere. They assist people who have difficulties with fine motor skills. This can be used as an accommodation for students with these difficulties so that writing assignments are made possible for them.
http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-Technology/Pages/WS-Portable-Word-Processors.aspx

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Resource 12: Chrome Browser Text, Image, and Video Zoom

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Resource 12: Chrome Browser Text, Image, and Video Zoom

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This feature on google chrome allows a user to zoom in on the browser so that font size, pictures, and videos are enlarged to the viewers preference. This is helpful for people who have visual impairments.

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/96810

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Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad have a feature called, "guided access" that can be very beneficial to students and teachers. This feature allows a teacher to lock an app on the screen so that a student cannot exit the app or open other apps. This feature helps ensure teachers that the students are staying on task, but it also helps the student to stay focused and not stray away from a lesson.

https://www.imore.com/accessibility-iphone-ipad#guided-access

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iPhones and iPads have the option of making buttons more "tappable". With this feature, buttons are outlined darker so they are easier to tap. This can help people with visual impairments, as well as people with a lack in motor skills.
https://www.imore.com/accessibility-iphone-ipad#button-shapes

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This website outlines the many different types of walkers that people with cerebral palsy can benefit from. With a variety of walkers to choose from, this website offers many different types of accommodations for a person with cerebral palsy.
https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/living/walkers-canes-and-standers/

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A wiggle cushion helps students with ADHD or sensory processing issues. It can provide sensory output as well as balance and core strengthening wiggling. These cushions help students to focus more on a task given in school.
https://www.stageslearning.com/products/wiggle-cushion-autism-asd-adhd-special-needs

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This websites explains how using a recorded version of a story book can help kids to improve their fluency in reading. By hearing the words read aloud, and reading with the recording, students gain fluency practice with the recorded speaker.
http://www.literacyconnections.com/tape-assisted-reading-reading-while-listening/

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It is common for students to forget to put spaces in between words when writing sentences. To help break this habit, teachers can use visual reminders such a small stickers, bingo markers, popsicle sticks, etc. to help kids remember to put a space after the punctuation at the end of a sentence.
http://blog.maketaketeach.com/teaching-students-to-space-between-words/

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This website offers a variety of pencil grips that help students to learn how to write. Students with autism often times lack motor skills and sometimes find difficulty in writing. These pencil grips can promote a proper grip to develop writing skills.
https://www.theschoolrun.com/pencil-grips-for-handwriting

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Electric wheel chairs can be of great assistance for students with cerebral palsy. It allows them to get where they need to be quicker and more efficiently. This can decrease the stress and exhaustion they may face in day to day tasks.
https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/living/wheelchairs-and-scooters/