Assistive Technology - E-readers

Many e-readers now read aloud.

At any given moment there may be a large number of visually impaired students in a classroom. “Among computer users in the United States, approximately 1 in 4 (27%) have a vision difficulty” (Microsoft, p. 14, 2008). The importance of vision cannot be overstated for reading is “a means by which students learn other subject areas” (Dell, p. 60, 2008).  Today teachers will attempt to engage students who have forgotten, broken, or refuse to wear their glasses, and other students whose eye examination is long overdue. The challenges of vision may range from students who are classified as legally blind to instructing students in a large and/or poorly lit classroom or auditorium. Often all students will benefit from teachers utilizing assistive technologies. What technologies would be best suited for the blind student?

The following Wiki link explores the use of e-readers as assistive technology devices:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/eBook

References:

Dell, A.G., Newton, D.A., Petroff, J.G. (2008). Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Microsoft. (2008) Accessible Technology: A Guide for Educators. Retrieved February 2, 2010, from http://www.microsoft.com/enable/educaton.