Q: High-Tech or Low Tech?
A: Whatever works!
As a teacher of students who have visual impairments, I work with students using a wide range of devices from low-tech to high-tech, from the ancient abacus to the more sophisticated and often expensive electronic devices.
Low Tech
 |
Abacus
(Used for performing math operations)
Cost =About $15 |
High Tech
The Pearl + Open Book Software
(Used for scanning and reading text or converting text)
Cost =about $2,000
When we think of assistive technology (AT), we often think of electronic devices and computers. But low-tech options can also be useful when you and your educational team are looking for ways to meet a particular need of a particular student or when working with groups of students with similar needs. For example, simple strategies such as highlighting printed or digital texts can make a big difference for students who struggle with reading. Lifting out important words or passages through color-coding can help bring the eyes to a targeted area of text or meaning.
Generally, these low-tech options don't require batteries and they're usually low cost, easy to use and adjustable. Most of the materials can be found in everyday stores. Many of you have already used many of these low-tech ideas but we are limited only by our own creativity and ingenuity in finding ways to help students. I have included a link to a possible source if I think an item may be harder to find. Please let me know if you have any ideas add to this list of low-tech solutions..
Ten (+) Simple (low-tech) AT Things
Most of these items can be put to many different uses but when they help a student "get around" a disability at least to some extent they're AT!
1. Page Holders
Page Up is one brand on the market. These are great little tools to hold story pages, directions, math tables, etc.
2. Magnetic sheets and Magnetic Business cards
Words and sentences or numbers can be cut out and then be placed on a cookie sheet.
They can then be easily moved around.
3.
Velcro. Ah, wonderful Velcro! It can be used to attach letters, words, sentences, etc to a ruler or yardstick.
4. Veltex/Soft fabric. You can get this at a fabric store and use it to make bulletin boards, fabric books, gloves or mittens for interactive learning activities.
5. Highlighter Tape. It's removable and comes in many colors. It can be used to emphasize words and phrases. You can also laminate highlighter tape to make your own reading guides. Post-it page flags are also great for emphasizing text.
6. Avery Removable Label Paper, 8.5" by 11". This costs about $15 or $20 for a pack of 25.
These labels can be used on devices or notebooks, to adapt books and to print Boardmaker symbols.
They're nice because they're "peelable".
7. Loose-leaf Binder. It can be used as a slant board and held in place with rug lock to stabilize the working or writing surface.
8. Hardcover Blank Books
Students can make their own books.
9. Nite Writer Pen
These pens illuminate the writing area. They're excellent for students with low vision but could be used with students to help focus on the writing area.
10. Duct Tape
They say there are at least 5,000 uses. Surely a few hundred could be educational applications. What "get-around" uses can you think of?
11. Labeler
These can be used by students or teachers.
12. Don't forget the abacus. It can be used with sighted students as well as students who have visual impairments for math.
Thanks for reading this! I hope you can find a useful reminder or a spark for a new idea.
