Special computer tools

The portfolio screen makes quickly checking student progress towards annual goals much easier. The visual timelines and calendar views make tracking and scheduling much more efficient also. Not only do they provide the document and management tools through the IEP creation process, but they offer guidance throughout the process. That includes automated guidance throughout, an online learning center , training , and support. On top of that though it is customizable, provides notifications, allows for collaboration, has built-in communication systems, and has translation capabilities.

If you combine it with their SIS you can have grades, attendance, class sites, and student services all in one place. Another issue is that the system is down with some regularity for maintenance which can be frustrating. Skyward is another student information system platform that only has a limited number of offerings specific to special education students. While they do offer IEP services , their strength is in bringing together several disparate systems efficiently through its system.

That means you can track student health services and behavior management in one place along with other crucial systems. Related to behavior, you can track closely and determine extenuating circumstances that may have led to an outburst time of day, staff present, etc.

Not only will this help you create a useful FBA functional behavioral assessment , but you can, if you desire, share the data with parents to improve the consistency of behavioral measures across environments. The mobile site, though useful for small details, is not as effective as the desktop platform. They have a fully customizable bank of goals and objectives and language translation available. Their products allow for everything from an initial to Medicaid reimbursement, but they seem to each be separate but integrated software components.

You do seem to have to hop around for a bit to get to some information you may need. Creating one should never be a repetitive robotic exercise, because the goal is creating a guide specific to the needs of each child. View all posts by Sean Arnold. Power School Power School is a massive platform that offers a broad range of school solutions including admissions, assessments, student information systems , and an award-winning Unified Classroom management system.

Additionally, the NEA reports that nearly every general education classroom in the country includes students with disabilities, as three out of every four students with disabilities spends part or all of their school day in a general education classroom. But as the number of students in special education programs has increased, the supply of special education instructors has not kept pace. One tool to help students with disabilities even in the face of a special education teacher shortage is assistive technology.

Today, assistive technology can help students with certain disabilities learn more effectively. Several areas of assistive technology and sample products may be found in any given classroom, making a difference in how students of all abilities learn. As an assistive technology, text-to-speech TTS software is designed to help children who have difficulties reading standard print.

Common print disabilities can include blindness, dyslexia or any type of visual impairment, learning disability or other physical condition that impedes the ability to read. However, other students can benefit from TTS technology, such as children that have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD or an intellectual disability.

The technology works by scanning and then reading the words to the student in a synthesized voice, using a large number of speech sounds that make up words in any given context.

With the advances in speech synthesis, TTS technology is more accurate and lifelike than ever. It features a high-resolution camera that captures printed text, converts it to digital text and reads it to the user.

During playback, words are highlighted as they are read aloud, and the user can pause and have the device spell out highlighted words. The available Intel Portable Capture Station functions as a stand for the Intel Reader to easily and quickly capture text from books and other documents.

At about the size and weight of a paperback book, the Intel Reader is mobile enough to use in any environment. Students can also transfer content from a home computer, or save generated audio versions of printed materials to a computer. Available voices vary in gender, pitch and speed. Kurzweil The Kurzweil is a leader in TTS software for individuals that struggle with literacy. In addition to a range of TTS features, the full-featured software program integrates abilities that can help students in other areas, potentially appealing to those who may have a non-print disability or those who may not typically consider a TTS program.

Some of the features include:. The Kurzweil strives to provide students with a multi-sensory approach to literacy learning. It is available for Windows and Macintosh. Graphic organizers can be effective in helping students organize their thoughts during the writing process. As an assistive technology, graphic organizers can be a strong choice for students with dysgraphia or disorders of written expressions — particularly the conceptual aspects of writing.

Graphic organizers work by helping the student map out a course of action. Depending on the type of writing, the graphic organizer can prompt the writer to describe an object, chart out a course of events or perform some other task that can help in planning the piece.

Graphic organizers vary by type and technological sophistication. Low-Tech Handouts Graphic organizers do not need to be technologically advanced; in fact, they can exist in simple handout form.

Sample handouts can be found at the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company. The sandwich chart can assist students with paragraph writing. The sequence chart can help with narrative writing and the ordering of events. The sense chart is designed for descriptive writing, where writers are prompted for terms that characterize and express an item. Dozens of other sample charts exist and can help students with virtually any type of writing. Draft:Builder Draft:Builder is a writing tool that integrates outlining, note taking and draft writing functions to break down the writing process into three steps.

Using a graphical organizer, the program helps the student visualize the project and insert information into the appropriate place without having to conceptualize the whole process.

Sign Out Sign In Register. Latest Insider. Check out the latest Insider stories here. More from the IDG Network. Cool stuff: Your holiday gift guide. Smackdown: Windows 7 takes on Apple's Snow Leopard. Windows 7 tricks: 20 top tips and tweaks.