ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Adaptive Technology for Special Needs Students





Adaptive Technology for Special Needs Students

Introduction

Disable people are the significant minority group in the world. Over the past couple of years, the profile of these people as older, uneducated and poor has started to change. This trend attributes to the increase in the number of disable people seeking higher education. This increase can be related to the improved technology and easy ways of learning, which are made available in the special students schools and colleges. These institutions offer a variety of support programs and adaptive technologies to enhance learning. These technologies motivate students to learning and accomplishing big in life. Due to these advancements and adaptive technology, the disabled students are encouraged to contribute as positive members of society.

This paper discusses these adaptive technologies and the way they are facilitating the special students.

Definition of Adaptive Technology

Adaptive technology refers to any equipment or product that is used to improve the working capabilities of disable individuals. Adaptive technology service is any service that directly supports an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

The usual way of entering information into a computer is through the use of keyboard or mouse. But when an individual has a visual or motor control disability, alternative devices are needed. Several adaptive keyboard and mouse are available in the market to facilitate the learning of special needs students. A brief detail of adaptive technology is given below

Mid Level Technologies

They comprise of battery operated simple electronic devices. They require limited advancement in technology, for example, language master, tape recorder, timers, calculators and voice output devices.

Language Master

It is a “mid” tech equipment which is in use for more than 20 years. Language master is an electronic device approximately the size of a tape recorder. The 3” BY 8” cars comprise of a recordable strip across the bottom are played through language master. These cards record verbal message. The corresponding visuals of the message like, words and photos are also recorded.

Tape Recorder

Tape recorders are used to develop language comprehension skills, communication and social skills, attending and academic skills. They are the commonly used facilitation devices.

Talk Pad

The device is programmed with to four easy steps. Students can complete sequence of steps by hitting the buttons. For instance, a student with autism experience difficulty in following the three steps sequence of a process. ...