“For children without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For children with disabilities, technology makes things possible.”
Mary Pat Radabaugh
Assistive technology for learning helps students work around learning challenges and build on their strengths.
Your child may need assistive technology such as word prediction, text-to-speech,
or speech recognition to fully participate in learning. While developing your child’s IPP, your child’s school team may trial a few assistive technology tools to collect information on its effectiveness and fit for your child’s strengths, needs, and preferences before implementing the most effective tools on a consistent basis to support your child’s learning, independence, confidence, and success.
The SETT Framework
The SETT framework (Student-Environment-Task-Tools) may be used by your child’s school team to make decisions about which specialized assistive technology tools and related strategies will make a difference for your child’s learning. Parents are key members of the SETT framework and if a SETT meeting is needed for your child, you will be invited to participate in the meeting and the decisions that are made from reviewing your child’s programming needs.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a set of tools and strategies that can be used to solve communication challenges. If your child has severe verbal communication challenges, division staff will support your child’s school team in assessing your child’s needs and determining an appropriate program plan including technology devices/options for trial. AAC devices may include PODD, iPad/Apps, or dedicated devices such as Nova Chat. If a communication device is needed and found to be successful, division staff will support families in applying to Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) to purchase the AAC device for your child.