Logan ProxTalker

The Logan ProxTalker will assist students who have a communication disability. It will allow them to communicate with peers and teachers by placing pictures on the machine and the machine reads the word associated with the picture. Standard picture tiles are provided but custom tiles can be created by the user. The device has five receptors so full sentences can be created by the student instead of just fragmented words. The device can store up to 10,000 words, greatly improving the amount of communication available between a student and teacher.


It even comes with a stylish backpack!

For more information on this product click here.

Assistive Literacy Technology

The Kurweil 3000 is learning software that helps students who are struggling with a number of literacy issues, like reading and writing. The software is unique, however, because it is specially designed to help individuals with learning disabilities like dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, as well as those who are new English language learners. The Kurweil 3000 supports the principles of Universal Design for Living (UDL), which means that it is appropriate for students with a wide range of abilities. One of the most important advantages of using this software is that teachers are able to differentiate instruction without differentiating the curriculum for students who need additional assistance. Read more about the advantages here.

Why Assistive Technology?

The Kurweil 3000 and other assistive technology devices are not only for people who are completely blind or severely disabled. Even students with mild disabilities, or even merely difficulties in specific areas can benefit from these tools, as they boost achievement and motivation in students who may be struggling to accomplish everyday tasks that are required in education. The Kurweil 3000 makes literacy accessible to all students alike, which helps to reduce barriers and maintain high standards in education.

Personal FM Systems

WHAT IS IT?

Personal Frequency Modulation (FM) Systems are simply miniature radio stations that operate on special frequencies to help the user better hear things that they otherwise may not be able to. The system consists of a transmitter microphone used by the speaker (the teacher) and a receiver used by the listener (the student) to help hearing impaired students hear more clearly.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The receiver transmits the sound either to the students ears or directly to a hearing aid or cochlear implant. This allows them to hear the teacher clearly amidst confusing class discussion or other distracting conversations. Since the sound is transmitted directly to the listener's ear, the student is less likely to miss out on important information during lessons and discussion.

In classes where discussion between students takes place, a small microphone can even be passed around between other students, which transmits the sounds in the same way as the teacher's microphone. This allows hearing-impaired students to be an active participant in classroom discussion and become fully participating members in the classroom.

WHERE CAN YOU BUY THEM?

Personal FM systems are available at several online stores .... Click HERE to access one of these websites.

Additionally, if your school cannot afford these assistive technologies right now, you can borrow them from the PATINS Project, which is a state-wide technical assistance network for the provision of assistive/accessible technology for assisting local educational agencies in the utilization and creation of accessible learning environments and instructional materials.

Click here to learn more about Hearing Assistive Technology.