It’s that time of year again. Summer is winding down, students and families are gearing up for the start of another school year. Seeing the stores filled with school supplies made me think about the assistive technology (AT) that students may need to bring to school. From low-tech to high-tech here are some AT products to help students.
Pencil Grips
Pencil grips help students develop proper handwriting and aid pencil grasp. They can strengthen fine motor skills, provide comfort for students as they write, and satisfy sensory needs for some children. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and textures.
Tablet Stand
For the student using a tablet on a regular basis, a tablet stand might be the solution. Tablet stands help keep the tablet in a comfortable position for the user. There are tons of tablet holders and stands available, but Belkin makes a stand that includes a storage compartment. This allows the student to keep tablet accessories and other school supplies easily accessible.
Magnifiers
Students with vision loss might find a magnifier helpful for everyday reading and work in the classroom. Depending upon what the student prefers, magnifiers come in a variety of options for use. There are hand held magnifiers, portable video magnifiers, and magnification apps.
Smartpens
Smartpens are a great learning tool. They record the audio of the classroom and allow the student to take notes as needed on paper. The student is then able to go back to the written notes, tap the pen to a particular spot and it will playback what was said at that point in time. Smartpens can greatly reduce stress by allowing students to easily review information and gather any details that may have been overlooked. There are several smartpens to choose from, here is an example of the smartpens available from Livescribe.
If you are interested in viewing or trying out the AT I’ve mentioned or if you want to explore other AT options for students, stop in to one of IPAT’s locations or call 1-800-895-4728