Laura+Hopper-Resources


 * RESOURCE 1: ** __Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview__
 * Web address: **[|Reading Rockets]
 * Authors: **Kristin Stanberry and Marshall H. Raskind
 * Site Name: **Reading Rockets
 * Summary- **This article presents how assistive technology (AT) can help students with disabilities be successful by utilizing their strengths in order to overcome challenges they have. The article explains what assistive technology is, what types of disabilities AT addresses, and types of AT tools that are available. Areas addressed include reading, writing, math, listening, memory, and organization.
 * Critique- **I think this article does an excellent job in providing an extensive list of technologies that are available. I was disappointed that the areas of science and social studies were not addressed. While reading and math seem to be the core subject areas, and so are targeted for assistance, I feel that science and social studies are areas that students may need assistance in as well. A great feature of this article was the mention of other technologies that are available to help all students, beyond AT tools.


 * RESOURCE 2: ** __Digital Note Taking: The Use of Electronic Pens with Students with Specific Learning Disabilities__
 * Authors:** Sarah Irvine Belson, Daniel Hartmann, and Jennifer Sherman
 * Site Name:**JSET-Journal of Special Education Technology
 * Web address: **[|Journal of Special Education Technology]
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Summary- **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">This article summarizes the findings of a study done with high school students who have learning disabilities. They used digital note taking devices as a form of intervention for note taking and retention of classroom information. The findings support the use of digital pens to improve academic performance for students who have specific learning disabilities.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Critique- **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">The article was a great resource to support the use of technology in assisting in the learning of students who have disabilities. The study only consisted of high school students. I would be curious to see how the digital pen would help students on the elementary or middle school level. While the article indicated a significant improvement in the note taking skills of students tested, it did not give much background information on the participants of the study. Knowing more about the participants would have helped me better connect with the product and see its value. I could associate participants with students that I teach who are similar. It would assist me in being able to picture the use of this device in my classroom.

<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Family National Center for Accessible MediaWGBH Educational Foundation
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">RESOURCE 3: **__<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Using Apple Technology to Support Learning for Students with Sensory and Learning Disabilities __
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Authors: **<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Trisha O’Connell, Geoff Freed, and Madeleine RothbergCarl and Ruth Shapiro
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Web address: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;"> [|Apple Technologies]
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Summary- **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">This resource proved to be a wealth of knowledge on using Apple products in the classroom and how they are beneficial to helping students with disabilities. The article opens with a list of requirements put into place by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It continues with an explanation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) by stating who qualifies and what can be expected of the teacher. The article addresses the importance of differentiating instruction in the classroom. The article is very thorough in explaining what disabilities can be accommodated by specific Apple products. Several examples, of various subject areas and age ranges are provided in the text. Subject area accommodations include reading, writing, and math. Technology uses to help students with organizational, processing, and sensory disabilities is also included.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Critique- **<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16px;">I found this article to be very enlightening and worthwhile. It provided background information on technology and learning disabilities before getting into the products and their uses. A variety of learning disabilities were presented in this article, and the specific examples given made it easy for me to see how beneficial technology can be when providing accommodations and differentiating instruction in the classroom.