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.

Additional Resources

License

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Ed Guide Copyright © 2022 by Jordan Shurr is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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