Sunday, July 26, 2009

20 Tech Tools and Resources for Special Education Students

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes for OnlineCollege.org, an accredited online college resource.

20 Tech Tools and Resources for Special Education Students

Finding tech tools and resources for special education students is a great way to increase student comprehension and classroom productivity. Here is a selection of 20 free tools for special education teachers and students.

Thunder - Thunder is a free downloadable screen reader. The software makes tests, quizzes, and books more accessible and understandable to students with reading difficulties.

LibriVox - LibriVox features a large assortment of free public domain audio books read by volunteers. The site is a great way for students with reading difficulties to explore poems, stories, and other literature.

Bookshare - Bookshare provides free audio books and periodicals to students with qualifying disabilities. The site is backed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs.

Do-It - The University of Washington's Do-It program provides many different resources for special education students, including online math lessons, tutoring, explanations, and visual aids.

E-speaking.com - E-speaking.com offers downloadable speak recognition software for your computer. It allows students to use their voice instead of keystrokes to command their computer.

LAT Kids - This educational site for students with disabilities features several tools and resources that make life easier through technology. Resources include an online library, speech augmentative communications, and a smart instant messenger.

Mindomo - Mindomo offers free software for creating mind maps. This visualization method is an excellent way for students to formulate and organize ideas.

Visuwords - Visuwords features an online graphic dictionary for a visual demonstration of words and concepts.

KartOO - KartOO is a visual search engine that provides images of pages as well as text. Search results include news, images, web pages, and online references.

Interactives - This interactive education tool features strategies, content, and activities for teaching concepts that are difficult for some students to understand.

Quizlet - Quizlet is a free flashcard creation site for students who want to find or create flashcards of their own.

Do2Learn - Do2Learn is an activity site created for children with special needs. The site provides games, songs, communication activities, and print resources.

Education World - Education World provides many different resources and tools for teachers, including articles and lesson plans for assisting special education students.

MySchoolog - This free web app provides students with easy-to-use tools for organizing school life. Students can schedule weekly lessons, drag and drop lessons, and establish assignment reminders.

RFB&D - Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic provides several resources for learning through listening. The site also offers audio books for every subject and grade level for a fee.

Ghotit - This site features free assistive writing tools for special education students. Ghotit offers a spell checker, an online dictionary, and text to speech software.

BrainPOP - BrainPOP offers interactive games and learning tools for all subjects. This educational site works especially well for teachers who want to help special education students better understand difficult subjects.

Help Read - Help Read is free Internet and text reading software for students with dyslexia or reading difficulties. Once downloaded, this software reads the material on the screen for you.

Mindplay - This teaching site features resources and tools for students with ADHD/ADD, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. Resources include reading assessments, games, downloads, and speaking lessons.

EdTechTalk - This education technology podcast discusses the benefits of technology in the classroom. EdTechTalk provides useful information for special education teachers who want to implement technology in the classroom.


9 comments:

  1. I think the resources you have provided sound great. I plan to view and use them within my classroom. Thanks

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  2. I'd like to take credit, but Karen is a wealth of information. This is the 3rd post she's written for me and she always has new and different site to share! Thanks for reading!

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  3. Thanks to both of you for sharing such a wonderful post. When I read the post I realized that few of them are such tools that I usually follow. Its great every one should know about it. And I will definitely use your tools while preparing my teaching plan. Thanks again.....

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  4. I absolutely love your blog. I am so glad I found it today. I have added a link to it to my page about special education. You have excellent resources! I could be here all day and I want others to find it too! I hope that is ok...

    Here is where I added the link:

    http://www.squidoo.com/special_education

    I also see from your blog list that you have some freebies listed and I am going to also add some links to my page for freebies for teachers at:

    http://www.squidoo.com/free_stuff_for_teachers

    I would be honored if you would add my links to your blog list.

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  5. Hi Teddi14,

    Hi Teddi14,

    I'd love to add you to my blog roll! please pass along all you find, it's here for everyone to use! As Jim Hollis says - Sharing is Caring! (http://www.smartboards.typepad.com/smartboard/)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Reading Buddy Software is advanced, speech recognition reading software that listens, responds, and teaches as your child reads. It’s like having a tutor in your computer

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  7. Reading Buddy Software is advanced, speech recognition reading software that listens, responds, and teaches as your child reads. It’s like having a tutor in your computer

    ReplyDelete
  8. My friend told me I should give the INK FOR ALL application a try: http://bit.ly/2DWi1K9 The option to work offline makes sure I'm not distracted, it's made me unbelievably productive

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  9. Thank you for sharing such useful information about various tech tools. We would also like to suggest you all to check our page related to German Education Consultancy. It will definitely help you shape your career.

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