Assistive Technology

Facilitating Use of Assistive Technology

Ask your students how you can facilitate their use of AT.
- Example: Not in front of other students, i.e. what is the best way to use the FM microphone, how can I help you access Power Points?
Be open to the use of AT in class.
- Example: ALD, real time captioning, computer to take notes, text to speech all enable students to participate and are not an unfair advantage or an attempt to make you uncomfortable.
Think about who is at the “other end” when teaching online.
- Example: Students may be using assistive tech at the other end, or may not be able to hear or see well. Think about how students will access chat rooms, power points, voice overs, and other online teaching tools.
Present information in multiple ways.
- Example: Class notes online, accessible website, PowerPoints with lecture (provide text version of PP), captioned videos, and books available on tape.
Think from the bottom up.
- Example: Think about simple modifications first, i.e. providing lecture notes, hard copies of PowerPoints, rope to pull open class door and then more complex solutions.
Allow for flexibility in the way students access and convey what they know.