| Recent NYS legislation mandates that students with disabilities
have access to alternate formats of instructional materials at the same time
that materials are made available to non-disabled students. | All
kids learn in different ways. With more students with disabilities being included
in today's classrooms, teachers must vary how they present information, structure
student assignments and test comprehension (Schwabb, 2002). Technology can provide
curricular materials in alternate formats so that more children can learn. Education
Technologies with Universal
Design for Learning (UDL) features help to create a learning environment that
allows all students to succeed. By applying this broader design standard,
classroom technology is able to be used by all children in more invisible and
normalized ways. Students with and without disabilities can benefit from classroom
products that incorporate these design principles. Let's consider the benefits
of a Sound
Field system in a primary classroom: - All students clearly hear
the speaker in any position from any area of the room
- Students pay attention
and stay on task longer
- Students with hearing impairments can participate
- Students
stay focused; they do not need to look up at the speaker in order to hear cues
- Classroom
personnel attending after hour workshops report less fatigue and higher interest
Universal Design ResourcesThe Center for Universal
Design
Principles
of Universal Design Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
UDL Center at CAst
Research Connections (Fall, 1999)
Universal
Design: Ensuring Access to the General Education Curriculum David H.
Rose & Anne Meyer (2002)
Teaching
Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning
| Education Technology and access to a Free and Appropriate Public
education (FAPE) for students
with disabilities - If a classroom technology tool or intervention
strategy is working for a student with a disability, continue to use it!
-
If any technology is assisting a student to achieve FAPE; make sure to put it
on her IEP as a necessary intervention.
| | 
