Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities [Paperback]

Amy G Dell (Author), Deborah Newton (Author), Jerry Petroff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131191640 | ISBN-13: 978-0131191648 | Publication Date: August 4, 2007 | Edition: 1

With an emphasis on the integration of assistive technology into the curriculum, this text focuses on how assistive technology can be used in schools to enhance the teaching and learning of students with disabilities.  This link between technology and teaching and learning drives the book’s organization as well as its content.  It is organized by school-related tasks that students must perform on a daily basis to be successful -- reading, writing, practicing academic skills, and communicating with their teachers and peers – and presents descriptions of technology-based solutions to the obstacles students with disabilities face in completing these tasks. Since being able to access computers is one major barrier, the text features a section on making computers accessible to students with a wide range of disabilities.  A companion web site offers up-to-date information on product names, vendors, web site addresses, and other time-sensitive material.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The second edition of Assistive Technology in the Classroom Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities,  clearly understands and addresses two of the most important aspects of assistive technology: that classroom technology changes rapidly, and that individual students with disabilities require personalized solutions when it comes to successfully completing daily, school-related tasks. With the first aspect in mind, the authors of this contemporary and engaging text have created a companion website that will keep students and instructors up to date with the most current advancements in assistive technology, research, website links, and other resources. With the second aspect in mind, the authors have approached assistive technology with a focus on finding assistive technology tools that speak to individual students, not disability categories.

 

This text also comes filled with learning tools to help readers process and retain what they are learning effectively: each chapter begins with a set of Focus Questions to guide the reader, and concludes with a bulleted summary, a list of related Websites, and Suggested Activities for use in the classroom or as out-of-class assignments.

 

New to This Edition:

·        A chapter on Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction (Chapter 4) allow students to learn about best practices for using technology to include students with disabilities in general education classes.

 

·        An updated and expanded chapter on using computers and the internet to teach math to students with disabilities (Chapter 5) teaches readers how to use technology to provide access to math activities for students who are blind or have physical disabilities.

 

·        New information on captioning of films and videos for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing instructs readers on how to make films and videos accessible to students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

 

·        Current information on all technology tools, including software, Web-based activities, Website addresses, has been updated to reflect current products and trends, allowing students to find and use every technology resource included in the text.

 

·        New material on providing books in alternate formats to students with print disabilities, including the new requirement in the 2004 IDEA to provide all students with Accessible Instructional Materials.

 

·        Accessibility features in Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.6 have been added so that students are familiar with the most current and popular operating systems in use.

 

·        Sample IEP goals added to Chapters 2-6 and 10-12 provide students with the ability to integrate assistive technology into IEPs.

 

·        Web resources at the end of each chapter give students an easy way to find information and further their knowledge about all products and online resources that relate to each topic covered.

 

·        Suggested Activities at the end of each chapter give instructors further supplementary guidance that can be used as insightful activities in the classroom or as out-of-class assignments.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (August 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131191640
• ISBN-13: 978-0131191648
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PRACTICE MEETS THEORY!!, April 28, 2009

By 

A. Haga (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities (Paperback)

Too many times in graduate study, we are inundated with theory that has no real practical use. Enter this text! It is a new addition to my graduate program, and it provides practical information about assistive technology, low-tech to high-tech, that can be easily incorporated into any classroom. It describes products, explains use, describes disabilities that can be helped, and even gives vendor information!

This product is a "must have" for any special educator!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative book!, August 1, 2008

By 

rena8125 "Rena" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities (Paperback)

This a great book for individuals in education who are trying to learn more about assistive technology.

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Order the Kindle Version!!!, January 21, 2012

By 

Linda - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities (Kindle Edition)

Beware: The kindle version only works on your computer. You cannot actually read it on the kindle device itself. This was disappointing as I did not want to have to lug my computer around just to have access to this book. Unfortunately, had I known, I would have bought the physical copy; but now its too late as I currently need access to this book for school. ALSO BEWARE: that there are several occasions where I have stumble across a blank page with a few words "This item omitted from WebBook Edition." I think that they are mostly images, perhaps tables, but it annoying to pay for content and not actually be able to SEE the content. The actual book itself is interesting and informative. If it wasn't for the format that I currently have for it, I would actually be enjoying the book.