Assistive Technology to Enhance Communication

I hope you learned a lot about UDL in my last posts, however these next few post will focus on another part of assistive technology.  I will be sharing information from my course textbook that is all about enhancing the school experience for students with disabilities. If you get a chance, I would suggest checking out the book because it is filled with resources. This post will primarily be on assistive technology enhancing communication.

Lets start by thinking about the kinds of obstacles that students who are hard of hearing face in a typical classroom.
Difficulty following instructions due to poor acoustics, classroom layout & teacher style
Following lectures 
Class discussions
Video presentations
Social interactions 

So, what is hearing assistive technology and how can it help those students who are hard of hearing?
Hearing assistive technology, a category of assistive technology that helps people who have hearing losses, can help students who are hard of hearing by amplifying specific sounds while minimizing background distractions. A variety of assistive listening devices are available to meet specific needs. 

What practices should a teacher follow if she or he has a student in class who uses an assistive learning system to help them be most successful? (Write these down!)

• Become knowledgeable about the device, request training of the system.
• Discuss how the device will be used with the student ahead of time.
• Position the microphone carefully (two to three inches from the teacher's mouth.
• Consult with an audiologist about optimal positioning of the speakers.
• Inform the entire class about how the assistive technology device will be used in the classroom. Remind students to speak one at a time. When possible, pass the microphone from student to student.
• Try to face the student in case he or she relies on visual cues to aid understanding.
• Use the assistive technology device for audiovisual presentations.
• Perform a listening check with the equipment regularly.

Lastly, what is augmentative communication, and why is it important. 
Augmentative communication is another key term when dealing with assistive technology. It can be defined as a way to supplement an individual's method of communication to assist comprehension. It is, for some, essential in making themselves understood and for conveying clear messages to a variety of audiences. Augmentative communication increases an individual's independence and opens the door to numerous opportunities! Check out this awesome video below about a seven year old using augmentative communication. 

Amy G. Dell, Deborah A. Newton, Jerry G. Petroff. Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities. (Chapter 6) 2012. Second Edition.