Assistive Technology: Supporting Learners in Inclusive Classrooms

Over the past 10 years, the numbers of students with physical disability who are being educated in inclusive or universal design for learning (UDL) classrooms have been increasing steadily. These students are expected to complete grade-level assignments, but not all of them are provided the necessary supports to do so. Many teachers in inclusive classrooms are neither aware of nor informed regarding technologies available to help these students achieve success in their classes. Fortunately, there are schools, teachers, and assistive technology (AT) specialists that can provide assistance so that students with physical disability can succeed in general education and co-taught classrooms. AT can be applied in many situations within the school and classroom settings. Areas of application are: (1) existence; (2) communication; (3) positioning; (4) mobility; (5) physical education; and (6)environmental interaction. This article discusses purposes and types of assistive technology and describes methods of selecting the appropriate type of AT for a student. The authors then provide examples of AT uses. In addition to the technologies discussed in this article, a wide array of others may also serve important purposes in helping students with physical disability to participate within their school environment. As technology continues to advance, the authors stress that teachers and other school staff need to stay informed of the availability of these devices, the advances that have been made, and methods of using these tools.