Assistive Technology Helps Students in D146

At the Board of Education meeting in April, teachers Ms. Faith Bilina and Ms. Margi Strombeck highlighted the successful use of iPads and the apps that are used currently with D146 special needs population. The two educators presented several short video clips and apps available to the iPad. 

Highlighted were the ways that the special needs students are able to use, and adapt easily to the use of, the iPads. The device and the apps used are based on individual students and are chosen for certain areas of need.  They indicated that the assistive nature of the iPads and its apps allow for certain students to perform tasks that without the iPad have always been much more difficult, or even impossible.

Ms. Strombeck said, “These apps provide students access to the general education curriculum, and are presented in ways that are both engaging and motivating. Some apps target specific skills (i.e. speech sounds, fine motor skills, academics), while others provide social emotional/behavioral support (i.e. social stories/picture schedules). The apps are affordable, and aid the student learning process.  They have opened the door for so many different learning opportunities for students with disabilities of many ages.”

Ms. Strombeck continued.  “Limitations that existed prior have been melted away.  They captivate the student and the level of technology that they provide allows us to help to meet the needs of so many children that were in need of alternative learning options. Watching the D146 students blossom has been very rewarding.”