(graphic courtesy of http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/at/at_02.html)
Classrooms across the country have become far more inclusive in recent years, and a lot of that is due to the usage of assistive technology that has become far more common. Resources that can be utilized vary nearly as much as the ways they can be put to use by educators for students that need assistance.
Websites such as enablemart.com now exist with a plethora of solutions for each student. One fairly expensive piece of equipment that is available there is the QiCare Page Turner, which allows students to be able to read books in a more independent manner. The device (or a less expensive alternative) allows the child to read a book or magazine in a "hands free" manner, which lets them focus solely on reading the material in front of them. The pages are turned by the student pressing a button or switch, or in the case of the QiCare product, by using a foot pedal.
Not every solution has to be a high-tech or expensive process. Prince George County in Maryland has put together this site that offers many low-cost or no-cost solutions for students and teachers. Some of the solutions offered for issues with perception include the use of large print books/magazines, the use of headphones, and the use of manipulatives amongst many others. For those students that struggle with fluency and/or communication, they suggest word banks, using procedural checklists, and blocks or 3D models.
To bookend the thought of the expensive technology that may be available at specialty sites such as EnableMart, this site that many products that are available at local stores, or may already be in the classroom waiting to be used. One low-tech option, low-cost option is a specialized rubber pencil grip, which allows students that need assistance grasping their pen or pencil to have better use of their writing utensil.
Whether it is a PDA, an iPad (or other type of tablet), or a simple pair of headphones, the range of assistive technology is nearly endless, and the benefits to the students are as well.
