A look at the tech tools transforming education

The number of students receiving special education has been on a steady incline for years. According to Pew Research, about 15% of students enrolled in public schools in the U.S. during the 2021-22 school year had a disability. EdTech tools are helping schools meet the growing demand for learning that supports a student’s unique needs. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the different types of edtech that might be used in special education.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology refers broadly to technology designed to support activities of daily life. Most of us use some form of assistive technology in our daily lives, such as a pair of reading glasses that allows us to read fine print. A higher-tech example is a screen reader that can translate written text to braille. Both Microsoft and Google have features that are compatible with braille display devices.

Text-to-speech software is a form of assistive technology that translates text into audio, allowing students who have physical conditions or a learning disability that prevents them from reading to access text. Microsoft’s Immersive Reader incorporates tools like read aloud, text decoding and an image dictionary.

For students with ADHD or other executive functioning challenges, who may struggle to organize their thoughts, an app like Mind Node can help them organize and outline their ideas before sitting down to write.

Sip and puff devices enable users to command a device by using air pressure. By using the mouth to sip or puff air, students can control their wheelchair or computer.

Assistive technology can even be something unexpected, like a virtual sensory room. A virtual sensory room enables students who get easily overstimulated or emotionally disregulated to access calming tools, such as listening to a meditation, participating in a guided breathing exercise, listening to soothing music or watching a live animal camera.

Augmented and Alternative Communication

Augmented and alternative communication (AAC) refers to a variety of ways in which people who have limited or no verbal speech may communicate with others. Examples of AAC range from American Sign Language (ASL) to voice recognition software that enables learners to communicate with their teachers and peers. In a classroom setting, a student might use a device to communicate with teachers via text or visual images.

Beyond Education and Into the Workplace

Several of our partners have made significant strides in creating more inclusive technology and embracing inclusivity among their workforce. Microsoft has created the Inclusive Tech Lab, a facility devoted to inclusion in daily life, including in the areas of education and gaming. People with disabilities can visit the lab to interact with assistive and adaptive technology. Google has launched the Start With One program, which highlights individual makers and innovators who harness Google technology to solve a problem or make life easier in some way. Dell launched a Neurodiversity Hiring Program in addition to True Ability, an employee resource group that supports employees with disabilities.

Want to know more about how educational technology can help students with disabilities thrive in school and prepare for the future? Let’s talk!