How are teachers in Chautauqua county implementing the accommodation of assistive technology to impact the academic achievement of elementary students with disabilities?

Abstract

With the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004, Assistive Technology (AT) has become a device or service teachers can implement into their classroom in order to better serve the needs of their students. Research has shown that technology is on the rise: more schools are implementing AT devices and services and more teacher preparation programs are introducing future teachers to the different types of AT available. This study looks into the different AT used within two rural schools in Chautauqua County: School 1 (S1) having a high population of students with visual impairments and School 2 (S2) with a population of students with a variety of disabilities. The results show both schools use different types and amounts of AT. S1 uses a large variety of AT to assist the students with visual impairments. S2 uses a very small variety of AT, with hopes more AT will become available to the students. Future research could continue the exact study and visit the remaining school districts and speak with their special educators on the types of AT they are presently using in their classroom. Future research could also follow up with S1 and S2 to see if any technology has evolved or been replaced, since technology is always evolving. [from author's abstract]