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Adaptive/Assistive Technology Strategies for Learners with Special Needs

This page will discuss five categories of special needs students, and technology-enhanced strategies to help higher education students with special needs succeed in writing:

  • Students with Cognitive Difficulties
  • Students with Physical Difficulties
  • Students with Sensory Difficulties
  • At-Risk Students
  • Gifted and Talented Students

Students with Cognitive Difficulties

According to Roblyer & Hughes (2019), cognitive disabilities include learning, emotional, and intellectual disabilities, and can affect intellectual ability, attention, memory, and social skills. Such students benefit from support with reading and writing, memory, and organization, and technologies that support their productivity and the development of their creative and higher level thinking skills. Tools that can help higher education students with these types of cognitive disabilities improve their writing skills include those that assist them with brainstorming, organizing ideas, note taking, handwriting, typing, and spelling.

  • The Livescribe Echo pen can record the student’s writing, drawings, and audio, which are then downloaded to a computer as a pencast, allowing the student to see, review, organize, and share their notes (Livescribe, Inc., 2007-2017). The pen helps students improve their note taking, memory, and organizational skills.

  • Alternative keyboards such as the BigKeys keyboard help students with cognitive difficulties type their text, by making keys easier to find and read with a simplified layout, color coding, and in some models, arranging the keys alphabetically instead of the customary QWERTY keyboard layout (BigKeys Keyboards, 2017).

Mobile

  • The Elevate app can help students improve memory skills in a variety of subjects, including writing. Students can play writing games to earn digital badges, and complete study materials. Using the app can help students practice and improve their writing skills.

  • Inspiration’s visual thinking and learning app helps students who have difficulty organizing ideas for writing, by providing tools for brainstorming, note taking, concept mapping, depicting relationships, outlining, planning, and organizing their ideas (Inspiration Software, Inc., 2018).

Students with Physical Difficulties

Students who have physical difficulties are typically affected by mobility and agility impairments that can range from gross or fine motor movement. Assistive technologies for higher education students with physical difficulties include those that facilitate their ability to move and to control devices, and to perform daily tasks independently (Roblyer & Hughes, 2019).

  • Switches such as the AbleNet Blue2 switch are input devices that allow the student to enter and access information, including their written text, on a computer without the need to use a keyboard and mouse. The computer is configured to work with the switch to allow the user to accomplish tasks (AbleNet Inc., 2018). These devices allow students with mobility problems that prevent them from using a standard keyboard to work on a computer. There are a variety of switches available depending on the needs of the user, and his or her ability to operate the switch.

  • Trackballs and joysticks such as the Wave Trackball and the Rock Adapted Joystick, offered by AbleNet, are mousing alternative devices that allow the student to roll a ball or use a handle to enter and access information on a computer (AbleNet Inc., 2018). They assist students who cannot use a standard mouse to access the computer to enter their writing.

Mobile

  • The Dragon Anywhere dictation app allows the student to dictate their text into their mobile device using voice, and share their document from the device (Nuance Communications, Inc., 2018). This app can help students who have difficulties using the built-in mobile keyboard, by allowing them to tap the microphone key and then speak into the device to enter their text.

  • Assistive Touch helps users of mobile devices who have motor skill impairments to control their device by allowing them to add custom gestures such as tapping to replace those they have difficulty performing, such as pinching or swiping (Apple Inc., 2018).

Students with Sensory Difficulties

Students with sensory difficulties include those who have visual or hearing impairments, ranging from partially sighted or hearing impaired to blind or deaf. Higher education students who are partially sighted or hearing impaired benefit from technologies that improve their ability to see or hear information on their computer or device. Students who are blind or deaf need support from technologies that give them alternative ways to access and enter information on their computer or device (Roblyer & Hughes, 2019).

  • Screen readers such as VoiceOver enable students with vision disabilities to control and understand what is occurring on their screen. VoiceOver allows the student’s computer to be configured with braille editors to enable the student to enter text on their computer in braille (Apple Inc., 2018).

  • Screen magnification features and applications such as the ZoomText Magnifier/Reader allow partially sighted students to enlarge their screen, or part of it, to allow them to better see text and objects on the screen (VFO Group, 2018). The ability to enlarge the screen helps students with vision disabilities see and edit their writing, and any resources they need to assist with writing and research.

Mobile

  • The SuperKeys app for iPhone and iPad allows students with vision disabilities to better see the keyboard and enter their text, by enlarging the keys and consolidating them into groups to allow the user to select the group and then the appropriate key. It also features word prediction to suggest words based on the first few letters the student types (Apple Inc., 2018).

  • The iBrailler app is a touchscreen keyboard for iPad that works by drawing the keys around the student’s fingers when they are placed on the screen. The student then types as they would with a desktop brailler to enter their text. If the student lifts their fingers and places them back on the keyboard, the app finds them in their new locations. This app can allow students with vision disabilities to type on a mobile device (iBrailler).

At-Risk Students

According to the Great Schools Partnership (2014), at-risk students are those who have a greater chance of failing or dropping out of school. At-risk higher education students include those who experience social, financial, or living situation hardships, and students who have learning disabilities or behavioral problems. These students need extra support in the form of educational resources and scaffolding.

  • At-risk students may have less access to technology resources at home and at school than other students. When schools provide all students with a computer or device, they are using one-to-one (1:1) technology, which has been shown to have a positive impact on a variety of subjects including writing skills (Roblyer & Hughes, 2019). Programs such as Microsoft Showcase Schools incorporate the 1:1 strategy (Microsoft, 2018). Students benefit from 1:1 because it helps to bridge the access gap among at-risk learners. Students who have a device that they can take home have the opportunity to practice writing skills and complete writing homework assignments at any time.

  • Online learning can help at-risk students who need to recover credits lost due to hardships and scheduling conflicts (Roblyer & Hughes, 2019). Online tools such as G Suite’s Google Docs can help students who study online to write and receive feedback in shared digital documents that can facilitate collaboration with classmates and teachers (Google).

Mobile

  • Online writing tools such as the Grammarly Keyboard app can help students build their writing skills on their mobile device, by checking for grammar and spelling problems and suggesting improvements (Grammarly Inc., 2018). Such tools can help students understand what errors they are making and how to correct them, and can help them improve grades by submitting error-free work.

  • At-risk students may need additional support in learning skills including how to write well. Using online apps such as the Khan Academy app, students can study and practice grammar and syntax skills on their mobile device, anywhere and anytime, including watching videos that explain concepts, working through practice activities, and taking quizzes (Khan Academy, 2018).

Gifted and Talented Students

Gifted and talented students include those who show potential for high achievement in academic subjects, or in intellect, creativity, artistic ability, or leadership (Roblyer & Hughes, 2018). Gifted and talented higher education students can benefit from technologies that provide differentiated instruction or creative outlets for their work.

  • NaNoWriMo is the digital hub for an annual online writing event occurring in November in which writers are challenged to write a novel in 30 days (National Novel Writing Month, 1999-2018). Students who participate can challenge themselves by writing a novel in a supportive online environment with mentors, like-minded peers, online resources, and web forums for sharing ideas and support. Participants earn digital badges for participation and writing upon completion of milestones. Gifted and talented students can improve their writing skills, as well as practice time management skills by working toward a deadline, and build written communication skills using the social interaction features. (The NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program is also offered for writers 17 years of age and younger.)

  • Online games engage the writing student and provide a competitive environment to challenge and interact with peers. 4TheWords is a digital writing environment that uses game mechanics to empower and reward the daily habit of writing (Reboot CR, 2014-2018). Gamers fight monsters and embark on quests as they write. Students can also publish their writing. Gifted and talented writing students can benefit from an engaging and collaborative way to practice and refine their writing skills, and make writing a daily routine.

Mobile

  • Apps that help students generate ideas for writing, including the Brainstormer app, can help the creative writer by providing inspiration, helping to generating creative ideas, and build plots and characters on their mobile device (Tapnick, 2016). This helps students write anywhere and anytime on their device, allowing them to capture their creative ideas on the go while the thoughts are fresh in their minds, and to take their writing with them during the course of their day.

  • The Book Creator app allows writing students to create ebooks that include text accompanied by photos and images, drawings, video, music, and recorded audio (Apple Inc., 2018). Gifted and talented writing students benefit by having an engaging and creative outlet for their ideas. The app can be incorporated into a digital storytelling activity for learners. Students can then share their ebook with peers, teachers, family members, or their social network.

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