Learning Disabilities and Assistive Technology

Introduction - Learning Disabilities and Assistive Technology
Reading Difficulties
Writing Difficulties
Math Difficulties
Daily Living and Social Skills Difficulties

Introduction - Learning Disabilities and Assistive Technology 

Brent struggles to form each letter of the words on his tablet. Michelle looks at her checkbook to spell her name and address on a job application. After his son falls asleep, Bill slams the third-grade reader shut in frustration because he can’t read it to his child or himself. Susan just received the wrong change at the grocery store, but she cannot tell because she can’t count fast enough. Jack, late again for another job interview, drives around anxiously in search of office building number 215, or is it 251? Mark’s mind drifts away to many other places as he tries again to concentrate on his GED examination.

These conscientious people share one thing in common: learning disabilities. They have the intelligence to accomplish all of these tasks; they have just not found the means to accommodate their needs. But, there are ways for them to reach their goals if they have the appropriate support behind them. Such is the purpose of this guide- to provide information on assistive technology for individuals with learning disabilities and their providers.

Assistive technology is an important piece of the whole support system individuals with learning disabilities require to achieve success. Exactly what is assistive technology (AT)? AT is any item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain or improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities: tools to promote independence across all areas of daily living. These common tools extend from low-tech, low-cost items to high-tech, more expensive devices. Low-tech devices require little or no training; high-tech devices may require extensive training.

Technology can affect the lives of people with learning disabilities in daily living, whether it’s in the classroom, at work, in the home, or in other social settings. Technology provides, in other words, valuable tools for life. The simplicity and ready availability of low-tech devices should not be overlooked. Inexpensive color highlighters, for example, can help individuals with reading difficulties distinguish words that appear the same, like proud, pound, and pond. Providers help the student highlight the troublesome words in different colors and make the reader visually aware of the differences between these words. Such training leads the student to a higher level of awareness of his/her disabilities. High-tech devices, such as an optical character recognition (OCR) system, provides a means of entering text or printed material directly into a computer by use of a scanner. Once the text has been scanned into the computer, it can be read back to the user by means of a speech synthesizer. Another useful accommodation is a speech recognition system. Appropriate for adults with learning disabilities, the system operates in conjunction with specially equipped personal computers. Such programs enable the user to dictate to the computer, converting oral language to written text.

New technological systems and their applications continue to evolve rapidly. In the recent past, technologies now applied to individuals with learning disabilities were originally developed for people with other disabilities. OCR programs, to select one example, appeared at first for individuals with visual impairments or blindness. Only recently were these programs found to be effective in the learning disability community.

Technology in itself is not the answer to all problems faced by people with learning disabilities or for their service providers. Technology does, however, provide valuable tools for life. Those seeking technological assistance should focus not on the device, but on what the device can do for the individual in need. The fit must be right. The biggest or most expensive may not always be the best fit. The key to selecting the most appropriate tool involves many elements: seeking a thorough team evaluation, finding the resources to obtain the technology, customizing the technology to make the best fit, and providing the time as well as the patience for training.

As a consumer, an individual with learning disabilities, I can speak from experience that technology has made a difference not only in my work environment but also in my day-to-day living. For all the Brents, Michelles, Bills, Susans, Jacks, and Marks who seek your help, there are assistive tools to level the field and give them the opportunity to realize their dreams. This guide can lead you to see technology as an emerging way to touch the future.

Christopher M. Lee

LD Assistive Technology Consultant