Assistive Technology in the Classroom

I had specifically thought that assistive tools used in the classroom were for someone with a disability. Growing up, I had never used any assisting tools in my education and only people with disabilities used these tools. It had never dawned on me growing up that people with disabilities needed these tools in order to do well in class, until I read Section 508. I had not realized how much work goes into preparing for a child with disabilities in a classroom, especially reading what goes into Section 508 and the tools that a child might need. However, I feel as though that assistive technology can benefit an entire class, not just those who have a disability.

Growing up, I had never really seen anyone in my classes with any assistive technology. I hadn’t witnessed it up until sixth grade, where I had a girl in my class with hearing problems. The teacher wore a microphone and it connected to a computer speaker, which projected it to her so she could listen better to lectures. It was really awesome because I would always sit next to her and I could hear the lessons better, especially if I sat further back in the classroom. However, it’s not just microphones and speakers that could help out a classroom. I had always seen kids with a special type of keyboard, called the Alpha Smart, where they could type onto it and it would save it. It seemed like something I always wanted to use, but the option was never offered to me since I did not have a disability.

Now that I will have my own classroom, I feel as though tools such as the Alpha Smart will benefit not just the disabled, but it will help my other students succeed. It would be ideal for me that my class would type on those, instead of writing in a reading journal. Although writing has its benefits, a lot of kids don’t know how to type. It also gets kids familiar with using computers at an early age. Of course, assistive technology doesn’t have to be computers. I would also love to give my kids the option to use other tools, such as musical instruments or large foam blocks for class projects or to help them learn not just in a lecture style. I want all my students to do well, even if they have a disability. I feel as though familiarizing all my students with different tools, including ones that disabled children might use, will help them learn new methods of understanding.