Using Special Equipment and Facilities to Stimulate Interest in Learning

To assist students with disabilities or special needs, many teachers with special education degrees use technology as well as special equipment and facilities to stimulate their students' interest in learning. Such technology can assist students in overcoming limitations caused by their disabilities and is becoming increasingly important in special education. There are many interesting examples of such technology for special education students. For example, there are computer programs that allow eye movements to control input. Students with writing difficulties can use a computer with specialized software that completes focused spell checks, grammar checks, and/or recognizes speech to input data. There are also computers that have synthesized speech and voice recognition software as well as communication devices like communication boards that feature pictures, symbols, letters, or words, and allow student to communicate by pointing. Various interactive educational software programs are available that can help a variety of special education students reach their educational potential. Audiotapes, tape recorders, and reading machines, which can read books aloud, can stimulate interest in learning as well. For blind students, a special education teacher might prepare books on tape or books with Braille. Providing large print books or a magnifying lens for students with low vision might be the only special equipment they need. To evaluate which technologies, types of equipment, or even outside facilities would best help a special education student, many school districts employ an assistive technology practitioner.