ICT supporting children with Special Educational Needs

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ICT supporting children with Special Educational
Needs

• Liverpool Hope University

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Barriers to learning may be..

• Physical or sensory
• Intellectual
• Emotional
• Any combination of these

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All children should have access to the curriculum

• Language lies at the heart of the curriculum.
• Many pupils have language difficulties, these may
  be with
• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• I CT can help but it is not a magic wand!

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Pupils with a Physical Disability

• IC T may be essential for access for some pupils
  through special equipment
• Regular assessment is needed to ensure equipment
  is suitable
• Pupils and helpers need training and support

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ICT tools that can offer support

• Communication aids
• Computer access devices - switches, adapted mice,
  key-guards
• Software with alternative input options
• Word banks and word prediction facilities

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Speech output device Four large, coloured
buttons, each has its own message. Four distinct
levels for pre-recorded messages are available.
Plastic pocket inserts to allow you to use your
own pictures to represent the messages
Clicker also has speech facility
Adjustable Pressure Switch Can be adjusted to be
used by different parts of the body and for
different pressures of touch.
Roller ball and switches Easier access to
computer program features
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Children with a Visual Impairment

• Consider the position of the pupil
• Consider the position of the screen
• Consider the clarity of the display
• Use large, clear fonts if they help
• Change the size and speed of the pointer
• Add speech feedback where possible
• Adjust the colours

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Which colours make it easiest for you to read
this?
Which colours make it easiest for you to read
this?
Which colours make it easiest for you to read
this?
Which colours make it easiest for you to read
this?
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ICT tools that can offer support for visual
impairment

• Talking word processors and books
• Big pointer utilities
• Screen magnifiers
• Screen readers
• Electronic Braillers

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Pupils with Hearing Impairments Language is a
major problem for these children

• Symbol or picture enhanced text can bring meaning
  to print. This could be specialised software or
  clip art.
• Illustrated Overlay Keyboard files make writing
  more accessible
• Access to whole words (through word banks) can
  aid expression and help pupils to organise their
  ideas

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An overlay keyboard is an ideal way to give
physical, visual and cognitive access for people
with a wide range of disabilities
Writing with Symbols 2000 is both a word
processor and a symbol processor. Some writers
will want to use it mainly as a word processor
but have easy access to producing images. Others
will want to use it mainly as a symbol processor
where images appear as you type.
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Dyslexia ICT can provide
tools that enable pupils to overcome their
difficulties. Having their own laptop can be a
boon for these children.

• Word banks and predictive word processors
• Overlay keyboards
• Talking word processors and spell checkers
• Speech driven word processor
• Talking books

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Penfriend, a predictive word processor
Penfriend allows less able users to type on a
computer more quickly and efficiently, using any
normal word processor. is able to predict words
before they are typed, saving time and effort. It
can also speak its suggestions
Clicker
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Pupils with Learning Difficulties

• ICT provides a medium for differentiated
  activities
• ICT can make writing more accessible with the use
  of illustrated word banks and overlays
• ICT can make information more accessible through
  good, visual CDs and Internet sites
• Appropriate drill and practice programs can be
  used successfully

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Emotional Behavioural Difficulties

• ICT is motivating and may lead to better
  concentration
• ICT is not threatening or judgmental
• ICT can make tasks more manageable and can
  provide satisfying outcomes
• The multimedia nature of ICT can support
  different learning styles
• Learning can be fun in the form of games

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Inclusion through ICT