Assistive Technologies & Adaptive Education Tools

APPROACH assistive technologies & adaptive education tools

Students with diverse abilities need the necessary tools to accomplish everyday

tasks. For students with serious conditions it is important that we give proper functionality to make their lives easier to complete tasks. Assistive technology gives the students the ability to be able to focus on their education in their skill set, rather than fighting the barriers that prevent them from moving forward. Assistive technology also helps the educators during the course of the normal day, overhead rail systems, various types of sitting in standing apparatus, all support healthy living for students with mobility challenges and in most cases help to create a sense of dignity. The future of assisted technology could make radical changes to therapy. In the future, wearables could help deliver vital health information to caregivers that could lead to the switch from reactive medicine to predictive medicine and thus minimize highs and lows of student behavior.

There are new studies that suggest Augmented Reality and

Virtual Reality can support neurobiology rehabilitation.

(Benyoucef, 2017) Virtual and Augmented Reality can help in the development of synaptic connections that foster greater neuroplasticity in the brain. When combined with Exoskeletons or other movement devices, VR / AR can help those with mobility challenges rehabilitate in controlled environments while tackling simulated tasks. Other wearable devices allow students to

control computers with eye movement or simple gestures that help develop their gross motor skills and hand eye

coordination in Occupational Therapy. (Pepe & Talalai, 2016). Wearables also can encourage reluctant students to explore and move. Speech to text software supports those who struggle to get

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their thoughts out or have challenges typing. Low tech solutions such as movement chairs and visual timers help transitions. Adaptive education is an exercise in fluency over repetition. Students with behavioral issues can benefit from adaptive education theory by constantly switching ideas and only working on enough problems to get to the point of fluency. The goal is to keep students moving forward without becoming bored. Students with behavioral issues when bored, oftentimes become disruptive. In a way, adaptive education tools become almost like game playing. They become fun. Giving students goals to work toward, in a quick and efficient manner is helpful for allowing students to maintain their equilibrium.

Architectural Implications

• Storage for assistive technology within classrooms. • Assistive technology fitting zone should be flexible.

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