Computers and Special Education Students

I am looking for sites and activities that can be used with Level III Students. I work with computers and need to locate sites and activities that these students can do on the computer. I will have some of these students for 9 weeks and some for a semester.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Maichin on August 31, 2009 at 5:42pm

I am a special ed teacher in NY, but am not aware of the term level III students. Terminology is different everywhere, can you clarify the type of student a level III may be? What grade level do you teach? I teach learning disabled and inclusion middle school students, all of who function within the regular class setting, some with more support than others. If this is the type of student you have, let me know and I can give you some good resources.

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Permalink Reply by Del Jo Broadrick on August 31, 2009 at 6:10pm

I teach middle school (6th - 8th grade). Level III is students with learning and physical disabilities. I have some that can do pretty much what the other students can but with extra guidance. I have some that can not do anything but recognize letters and some that can not do very much - they can't use a mouse or a keyboard - they have no fine motor control.
They are only in Related Arts classes in the morning and afternoon. They are in classes with 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. This is the first year that they will be in a semester long computer class.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Pemberton on August 31, 2009 at 7:32pm

Del Jo,

It sounds like you are in need of IEP guidance for the students who cannot do anything but recognize letters, and those who cannot use a mouse or a keyboard. You may need assistive technology, such as a speech reader, and adaptive input devices. First thing to do is take a visit to the special ed teacher for each of the challenging student and ask for a copy of the IEP and look for the adaptations. If the computer class is on the students schedule the IEP "must" list objectives to be met, and accommodations needed. If this information is not on the IEP and the special ed teacher cannot direct you, go to the principal, and is he/she can't help, go to the special ed director for the district. (Note: You may have to make waves!).

In the meantime, look through the site I referenced for you and see if there is anything you can use. You may be able to make use of Famous Americans --- especially look at the Flash presentation for Pocahontas. That will get you started with those who cannot use keyboard or mouse - it need neither.
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/famamer ... Also, I am currently building an introduction to Civilization intended for the upper elementary, middle school and high school levels. I have many of the min-courses complete. You can see these at http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/socstud/Civilization/Civilization. The incomplete ones will hopefully be completed before I go for heart surgery sometime in September. If you go to http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/socstud/Civilization you will find links that I am collecting to make the rest of the civilization courses. These may be of interest to any of your students, especially those who may be studying world history this year.

For those who can only read letters, but not words or sentences, you will need a speech reader. Many computers now have it in the Office suite. Ask you techie to help you find it. (they are typically used with blind and dyslexic students)

I am a retired high school special ed teacher who got into technology with students back in the 90's. After I could no longer do special ed, I taught in a computer lab at a primary school, and did some nifty stuff with the special ed kids in the building.

If you would like to email me directly, I can provide more help. weezo45@gmail.com ... I can also share your situation with some folks on an ESF project called Cross Culture which is for special needs students with diverse needs. You will probably need on-going help with this situation.

Anne

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Permalink Reply by Anne Pemberton on August 31, 2009 at 5:48pm

Del Jo,

I have no idea what "Level III" is, but can tell you that from my experience running a computer lab, the special ed students could do almost anything the regular kids can do. But, to get you started, here is a site with lots of resources for regular and special ed students: http://www.educationalsynthesis.org ... While these students are in your lab, do not plan on doing anything but working with them. Be at their side and anticipate what they need help with (especially reading). Point to the key words on the screen (in the menu, etc.) and say the word for the child. They will eventually learn to recognize key words on the screen. Good luck, and let me know how I can help! Been there, done that!

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Permalink Reply by Ann Mock on August 31, 2009 at 9:54pm

Del Jo-

Do you have voice recognization devices? Those devices will read the computer to the screen.
Those that can not use a mouse there are touch screens that they can touch to pick answers.
There are also joy sticks that that can use also. These devices can either be held or used with movement of the
head or another body part.
If you have other questions please feel free to contact me at:
wolfieconsulting@gmail.com or anock51@gmail.com
Wolfieconsulting is my e-mail address for business
and Anock is my personal e-mail address.
List of different devices that might be of useful to you.
Please feel free to contact me.

Ann Mock

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Permalink Reply by Ann Mock on September 2, 2009 at 10:49pm

Del Jo,

I have put a list of assistive technology devices and vendors of the Enabling Foundation.(www.enabling.org) under special education. I hope that will help you. Please feel free to contact me if you need any more information on assistive devices.

Ann

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Permalink Reply by Bob Zenhausern on September 3, 2009 at 6:37am

More specifically the links are located at www.enabling.org/drupal/Speced Links

There are a large number of special ed links here, but the adaptive technology links are near the bottom.

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