Sara Flanagan

Middle School Special Education Teachers' Perceptions and Use of Assistive Technology in Literacy Instruction.

In this research the authors examined middle school special education teachers’ perceptions of assistive technology during literacy instruction with students with high incidence disabilities. A survey explored the use, effectiveness, and factors impacting use or effectiveness of assistive technology for literacy teaching and learning. Results suggested teachers’ perceived assistive technology to be an effective tool for literacy, but use it minimally. When assistive technology was used, teachers indicated it was an effective literacy support. Teachers also reported barriers to using assistive technology in literacy including cost, usability, and lack of training/experience. However, factors such as previous successful experiences with assistive technology and assistive technology supporting students’ learning encouraged assistive technology use. The consistency of teachers’ reports of needing more experience and knowledge in assistive technology to fully use it suggests implications for preservice preparation such as providing additional experiences and information on assistive technology.

Assistive Technology and Mathematics: What Is There and Where Can We Go in Special Education.

Technology is a natural part of education for all students across a variety of subjects, including mathematics, as educators work to prepare students for tomorrows work force and align their curriculum and teaching with national standards such those developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2000). This article reviews the literature on mathematics, assistive technology (AT), and educating students with high-incidence disabilities in grades K-12 from 1996 through 2007. The results of the literature review revealed three main areas of AT in mathematics for students with disabilities: anchored instruction, computer-assisted instruction, and calculators. The review focuses on what has been done and suggests that we do know some things in terms of effective AT and mathematics education (i.e., anchored instruction). It then discusses where the field needs to go to improve its knowledge base (i.e., researching AT currently used in the teaching and learning of mathematics, and researching recent innovations in mathematics technology).

Fix It With TAPE: Repurposing Technology to Be Assistive Technology for Students With High-Incidence Disabilities

This article discusses how practitioners can repurpose technology—common and socially desirable technology in particular—to be assistive technology for students with high-incidence disabilities. The authors provide a framework for practitioners to consider technology for repurposing: TAPE (Transportable, Available, Practical, Engaging) and offers practitioners 6 examples of such technology that can serve as assistive technology for students with high-incidence disabilities who struggle with various academic (e.g., literacy, note-taking) and socioemotional development.

Assistive Technology and Students With High-incidence Disabilities: Understanding the Relationship Through the NLTS2

Assistive technology use in secondary school and postschool has been shown to improve the educational attainment and life outcomes of students with high-incidence disabilities. This study used data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2—collected in the early to mid-2000s—to explore the relationship between receipt of assistive technology in school and postschool outcomes. Few students in this study reported receiving assistive technology in high school (7.8%) and fewer still after high school (1.1%). In general, students with high-incidence disabilities who reported receiving assistive technology in school had more positive postschool outcomes in terms of a paid job, wages, and participation in postsecondary education. Yet assistive technology receipt was not a statistically significant factor in the logistic regression model for any dependent variable (i.e., postschool outcome). Although positive implications for receipt of assistive technology in school were suggested, receipt was not a predictor for positive postschool outcomes.

Speaking Math--A Voice Input, Speech Output Calculator for Students with Visual Impairments.

This project explored a newly developed computer-based voice input, speech output (VISO) calculator. Three high school students with visual impairments educated at a state school for the blind and visually impaired participated in the study. The time they took to complete assessments and the average number of attempts per problem were recorded when they used the VISO calculator and their typical individualized method of calculation. The results indicated that the time to complete assessments and the average number of attempts per problem decreased as the students continued to use the VISO calculator. Students reported positive perceptions of the calculator, particularly noting the independence it provided as compared to their typical means of calculation. Implications for practice, limitations of the study, and future research directions are discussed.

Spelling on the Fly: Investigating a Pentop Computer to Improve the Spelling Skills of Three Elementary Students with Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a pentop computer and accompanying spelling software on the spelling accuracy and academic engagement behavior in three elementary students with disabilities who were served in a resource room setting. Using a multiple baseline across students single subject research design, researchers determined student use of the pentop computer—the FLYPen™—and its spelling software may serve as an equivalent intervention to traditional spelling instruction. While academic engagement performance increased considerably for students when using the FLYPen™, results indicated little to no improvement over traditional instruction in spelling accuracy. Implications and suggestions for future research are presented.

Mapping out the Details: Supporting Struggling Writers' Written Expression with Concept Mapping.

Written expression is a key component of the secondary curriculum, but many students struggle to produce effective written expression passages. However, written expression can be supported through prewriting strategies such as concept mapping. Using a counterbalanced group design, 19 secondary students alternated between using paper- or computer-based concept mapping to write compare-and-contrast essays. Students’ written expression was significantly supported by concept mapping, regardless of the method. Essays were more cohesive, included relevant ideas and structure, and had an overall higher quality. Although no statistical differences existed on essay scores between each method, students expressed an overwhelming preference for computer-based concept mapping.

Exploring assistive technology and post-school outcomes for students with severe disabilities

Abstract Purpose: This study sought to understand the extent to which students with severe disabilities receive assistive technology in school and out-of-school, and the relationship between receipt of assistive technology in school and post-school outcomes for these students. Method: This study was a secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) from the USA. To analyze the data in this correlational study, researchers conducted frequency distributions, Chi Square Tests of Associations, significance tests and logistic regressions. Results: The main results suggest (a) receipt of assistive technology in school varied greatly by disability identification; (b) receipt of assistive technology post-school also varied by disability identification, but receipt was generally lower; and (c) few statistically significant post-school outcome differences existed between students who received assistive technology and those who did not. Conclusion: An under-utilization of assistive technology exists in practice in the USA for students with severe disabilities. Implications for Rehabilitation An under-utilization of assistive technology for secondary students and adults with severe disabilities likely exists. A need exists for improved collaboration between professionals in rehabilitation and professionals in schools to ensure continuation of needed services or aids, such as assistive technology. Additional research is needed to better understand the adult life (or post-school) outcomes of individuals with severe disabilities, factors from PK-12 schooling or post-school services that positively and negative impact those outcomes.

Technological Advances in Special Education

Abstract The chapter Technological Advances in Special Education provides information on advances of technology and how such technological advances have influenced students with disabilities and special education across the globe. The chapter presents technological advances that benefited students with disabilities in developed countries as well as potential technologies to support students with disabilities in developing countries. The scant exiting literature on developing countries suggests some universal themes regarding technology for students with disabilities including access and training. Additional attention and research is needed on assistive technology to support students with disabilities in both developed and developing countries, with recognition that what works is developed counties may not work in developing.