3 Fun ways to use Assistive Technology in Special Ed. Classrooms

Using Assistive Technology in Special Education

Assistive technology (AT) is super important in special ed classrooms because it gives students the ability to communicate and access the curriculum. Although AT is important for academics, I love to use AT in fun interactive ways to encourage students to communicate and work with each other.

Greetings:
Greetings are an important social skill for all students to learn! I like to use a GoTalk9+ with students' pictures for students to greet a specific student/ staff member. We also use a BigMack (or any single switch) to record a single greeting. I change out the BigMac greeting daily and change the GoTalk greetings on a weekly basis. My students love when I say the greetings in silly voices.
Using Assistive Technology in Special Education

Jokes:
Jokes are so fun for the students AND staff in the classroom! For students who are non-vocal, I use a TwinTalk or BigMack  to tell jokes. For my students use a TwinTalk to tell jokes and we focus on sequencing the "first" and "second" part of the joke (the first part of the joke is recorded on "1" and the punch line is recorded on "2"). You can use printed jokes with picture supports for your students who can read.

Using Assistive Technology in Special Education

Using Assistive Technology in Special Education

SymbolWorld has a TON of free jokes you can download and print. You just have to create a free account. (To get to the jokes, click on "entertainment" and then "jokes".) You alsofind ideas ando download 20 free jokes for free from BreezySpecialEd here.

Cheers:
I was recently in a 3rd grade general ed classroom when I saw the students giving peers fun little cheers. I loved the idea and how excited the students were, but I had to find a way that my students could participate in the cheers. Since most of my students are non-vocal, I started using a GoTalk4 to record cheers. It's so fun because now my students can give other students cheers when they're working hard or got an answer correct!

Using Assistive Technology in Special Education

You can find some of Dr. Jeans amazing cheers here. Sugar Blossoms also has great cheer ideas with video examples!

What are some fun ways you use AT in your special ed. classroom?