Under Title II, LMACS provides effective communication to students with hearing, vision, speech and other learning disabilities. Assistive technology includes any software or equipment used to help students with disabilities navigate their learning challenges and strengthen their skill sets. Every student’s learning challenges are unique, and assistive technology gives them an equal opportunity to a quality education using individualized lesson plan
Assistive technology refers to the devices and services that are used to increase, maintain, or improve the capabilities of a student with a disability. Assistive technology can be very high or low-tech. Assistive technology that helps students with learning disabilities includes computer programs and tablet applications that provide text-to-speech speech-to-text, word prediction capabilities and graphic organizers, wheelchairs and pencil grips
In comparison to other interventions, assistive technology may have a significant effect in helping students with disabilities progress towards the goals outlined on their Individual Education Plans. Assistive technology helps in two ways: it can help the student learn how to complete the task and it can help to bypass an area of difficulty. For example, when a student decides to listen to a digital version of a book, they are bypassing an area of difficulty. However, if the student focuses on the computer screen as highlighted words are read aloud, they can learn unfamiliar words.
Auxiliary aids and services make aurally or visually delivered information available to students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities so that they can receive information from, and convey information to, others as effectively as students without disabilities.
Auxiliary aids and services include a wide range of services, devices, technologies, and methods for providing effective communication, as well as the acquisition or modification of equipment or devices.
When a student requires assistive technology to access the curriculum, LMACS provides them with the needed aids. Students are required to return high-tech high-cost materials that are used in school. If student needs to take a device home, LMACS records the device number and the student signs for it. The student is allowed to keep the device for the length of the school year. Students are not required to return low tech devices such as graphic organizers.
LMACS makes every effort to assure that every student is effectively accommodated and has access to Assistive Technology based on their needs.
List of Assistive Technology at LMACS:
| Domain | Low to Mid-Tech | Mid to High-Tech | Apps for Mobile Devices |
| Reading | *High Interest Low Lexile Books – that allow older students to read books they enjoy on a level that they can read | Wikipedia – The Simple English function on Wikipedia allows content to be “translated” into plain English which is easier to read.
*Flocab – Helps remember new vocabulary in original and artistic ways using rap music |
GoodReader – This PDF reader allows students to add sticky notes, highlight and take notes.
* Free Books – This app contains more than 23,000 free books notes, highlight option, bookmark and dictionary tools are provided. |
| Writing & Typing | *Pencil Grips – assists with technical writing and helps students manipulate the writing tool
*Graphic Organizers – Organizing thoughts, allows learners to visualize the connections between their ideas. |
*Word Processors – assist with punctuation, capitalization and spell-check
*Voice to Word – Students who type slowly, can speak and Google Voice will translate their speech into a written text |
*Translator – An app that helps students translate to and from English. |
| Math | *Calculator –to help students with basic math calculations
*Mathematical Manipulatives – to assist with number sense, visual-spatial awareness and 3D geometrical figures *Rulers & Protractors to assist with graphing, finding angles and drawings *Number Lines – to assist with integer number sense.
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*IXL – helps with assessments, and adapts to each student by strengthening the weak mathematical skills
*Phet Interactive Simulations – helps students graph lines in an interactive way |
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| Focusing | *Fidgets/Squeeze Balls – for students who benefit from those devices to help concentration | *Noise Canceling Earphones – To help eliminate distracting noises for students with unbalanced auditory sensors | |
| Memory Aids | *Highlighters – helps color code information; helps with memory and organization
*Memory/Flash Cards – help remember the learned materials *Character Charts – to help remember the various characters in reading text |
*Videos – provide visual manifestation of the learned material
*Padlet – real-time collaborative web platform in which users can upload, organize, and share content to virtual bulletin boards |
Remind App – To better communicate with teachers, remind of important events and check on students when they are not in class
*Kahoot – a game to assist with memory and understanding of the learned material |
| Organizing | *Binders and folders – to help students organize their papers
*Personalized Schedule – for students who struggle to find their classes and remember their schedule |
*JamBoard – Assists with representation and organization of the learned material into categories | |
| In-School Transportation | *Wheel Chair – to assist students who are injured and cannot transport from class to class | *Elevator – To help students move between the floors when a medical condition requires it. | |
| All School Assistive Tech | *Smart Boards – In every class – for interactive instruction and display of attractive graphics
*Chromebooks – Students can choose to use a Chromebook to do the work *Google Classroom – all teachers post their lesson on GC: students who missed school can see the missed materials; provides interactive options for teaching. *Email – Each student receives LMACS email. This email is connected to Google Classroom. Teachers and students can communicate via email. |