53 Assistive Devices or Adaptive Equipment
Definition
Technology (e.g., a computer), tools (adapted scissors) or a program (e.g., text-to-speech software) to help students complete their work, focus on a task, access an activity, or support their learning.
In action
For students with assistive devices or adapted equipment, ensure that access, maintenance, and continued usefulness across the day in collaboration with the student’s educational team (e.g., parents, other teachers, therapists). For students without, assess and discuss potential devices and equipment with educational team to improve access.
Support Strategies
- Communicate with parents/caregivers to ensure technology supports provided at school are compatible with those provided on any devices at home
- Meet with the student to ensure they understand and can access the different functions on a given tool (e.g., all of the features of Google Read & Write)
- Ensure devices are charged and available for whenever students require them across settings
- Teach students how to maintain their technology so they can use it for prolonged periods
- Consider ways to make technology available to other students in the classroom to promote Universal Design for Learning
Case Study
Student: Grade 8 student in a math class.
Content: Students are working on graphing, by hand, the responses to surveys completed by their classmates.
Problem: The student is unable to grasp coloured pencils tightly enough to colour in the bar graphs
Solution: Provide access to adaptive pencil grip holder.
