Assisting Students with Diverse Learning Styles
Low Tech to High Tech Devices
Assistive technology is not just the electronics or high tech computers with all the bells and whistles. Low-tech supports can also be incorporated for students with disabilities. As teachers, parents and support staff we need to match students with the proper supports that will help them in the classroom and with online assessments. In fact, assistive technology can be viewed as a spectrum, from low, to mid, to high tech. Below is just a sample of some low, mid, and high tech assistive technologies.
| Low Tech | Mid Tech Tools | <High Tech Tools |
| Pencil Grips | Digital Recorders | Communication Devices |
| Reading/Writing Guides | Audio Books | Alternative Keyboard |
| Magnifiers | Specialized Switches | Word Prediction |
| Speech to Text | ||
| Software |
Judith Sweeney , Onion Mountain Technology The Assistive Technology Continuum,1998
Technology is not always necessary to make accommodations for students and easier to administer. There are several 'no tech' options such as :
- would be extended time
- asking for clarification or restating on a test or assignment
- seating in the classroom, and positioning.