Assistive Technology

When I looked into the assistive technology, I was blown away to find how many things are considered “technology”. I had a very limited idea of what constituted technology. I think it is vital, as teachers, that we are aware of the many things available to students with disabilities. I have found that some of the adaptations I make for those students who are disabled are good for the entire class as well. What is good for the goose is good for the gander, if you will. I researched an audio system that can be installed within the classroom so that the teacher’s natural voice can be heard anywhere in the room. So the student sitting in the back can hear as clearly as the student sitting right next to the teacher. 

The particular audio system I looked into was by Lightspeed. The selling point of this product is that teachers have the ability to address the whole class, wherever they are standing. The microphones are wireless, which gives teachers mobility to freely walk around the room. They are easy to use and charge. They also come with a handheld microphone that students could use for reading aloud to the class or presentations. Many students speak quietly and are hard to hear. The common core standards state that students need to be able to engage effectively in range of collaborative discussions. With the pass around microphone, they are able to be heard by all the students. I could use this in my room in discussions to teach students that whoever has the microphone has the floor and others need to listen respectfully to their comment.