Use of ComputerTechnology to HelpStudents with Special Needs

Outline:Definition of TechnologyThe aims of TechnologyDevices to Assist Students with Hearing Impairments

Devices to Assist Students with Visual Impairments

Alternative Input Devices for Students with Physical Disabilities

Technology

Devices to Assist Students with Hearing Impairments

Hearing AidsInfrared SystemsAudio Loops

Hearing Aidsa miniature public address system worn

bythe user (listener)

works best in quiet, structured settings, where the speaker is no more than a few feet away and extraneous noise is minimized

Infared Systemstransmit clean, clear sound invisibly to hearing impaired listeners

provide better hearing in public places without the hassle of wires and cords

Audio Loops a type of amplification system that was

introduced to meet the need to:control the sound level of the teacher’s voicemaintain consistency in auditory cues between

home and schooldeal more effectively with background noiseprovide maximum mobility within a classroom.

Alternative Input Devices for Students

with Physical Disabilities

Basic Adaptive KeyboardsTouch-Sensitive ScreensVoice Recognition

Basic Adaptive KeyboardsThese keyboards are excellent for individuals

with a limited range of motion or for individuals who have a difficult time applying pressure to keys.

Standard keys were replaced with a larger keys that are easier to see and touch

Touch-Sensitive Screensallows the user to simply touch the computer screen to perform a function

There are software that enables the users to create their own overlays

Voice Recognition• Voice recognition systems allow

students to operate a variety of application programs, to dictate to a word processor, and to enter data into spreadsheets.

• the user can bypass the keyboard and just speak to the computer

Devices to Assist Students with Visual Impairments

Computer Screen MagnificationClosed-Circuit Television Magnification (CCTV)

Braille Notetakers

Computer Screen Magnificationallow for the magnification of the screen through the use of special software

the user can select a portion of the screen and then enlarge that section up to 16 times the original size

Closed-Circuit Television Magnification (CCTV)is designed to enlarge any type of text or graphic material by using a small vertically mountedvideo camera with a zoom lens directly connected to a monitor for displaying the image

Braille Note-takers

are small, portable devices that enable students to enter and store Braille characters in the form of words and sentences.most note takers allow users to review what they have written by listening to the text-to speech function of the device

Thank You!