5 things you should know about technology to support your child with dyslexia and ADHD
How do we support kids with learning differences (such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and other learning disabilities) by using technology?
We know that there are lots of different compensatory strategies that we can use to help our kids/students/clients. Assistive technology is one of them that can be a huge asset to kids with learning differences. However, there are SO many different programs and tools out there, it can be overwhelming to understand what to use, and when to use it.
We hear so much about using technology in the classroom and technology in education in general, but there are an incredible number of options out there to use. Does it make your head spin a little just to think about it? Us too. But don’t worry, we are here to help - together let’s take some of the complexity out of using Assistive Technology.
We were thrilled to have Dr. Todd Cunningham, a clinical psychologist, join us on an SYT Learn Live Call to help us break down the details of which Assistive Technology will work best for our kids at home or at school.
Assistive Technology is a term used to describe a set of tools, resources, technology, hardware or software that will help a child to complete their work in a more independent and accessible way. However, as Dr. Todd shared, Assistive Technology is not about fixing the underlying problem that a student is having - this technology is not focused on improving the skill of a child. It is about bypassing the basic skill with technology to get AROUND the area of weakness that the child is experiencing.
We do know that Assistive Technology can provide a huge benefit. According to the Ministry of Education (Sider & Maich), “there is compelling long-term evidence that student achievement can be improved through the appropriate use of technology”. So what do we need to know about Assistive Technology before we jump in?
No ONE product will fix everything; there are different programs for different needs. We should see Assistive Technology as tools that we are picking and choosing from to help in specific areas.
Technology is not a magic cure. It will assist the user to be better able to access and complete the work, but they may still have a skill deficit that needs to be addressed. The technology is not necessarily helping them to work on the skill itself, it is providing a workaround.
There is an incredible number of tools that are available as FREE programs (and who doesn’t love free?). With the right resources (and knowing where to look!), it does not have to cost a lot of money to be able to access Assistive Technology.
There is an incredible number of apps that are available on devices that you already own (such as your smartphone, computer, iPad/tablet etc). The amazing options that we carry around or are housed on our desks might surprise you.
Assistive Technology needs to be taught - don’t just assume that your kids and students know how to use it (it is easy to assume in this age where kids seem so tech-savvy!). Teach them, and follow up regularly to ensure it is being used to its fullest.
There are an incredible number of possibilities (and so much potential!) for Assistive Technology. So how and where can we use technology, and how do we decide which option to choose?
Dr. Todd has created a tool, in collaboration with the OISE, (find out more in the Masterclass) which helps parents and professionals to select the appropriate Assistive Technology based on the task or skill via a series of questions and diagram maps. They have simplified, explained, reviewed and charted a multitude of options available to you.
This website allows, for example, for you to choose from an academic domain (reading, attention, math, writing, motor, organization, oral language, and sensory). From there, each of these domains is broken down into subcategories (based on the area where the child needs assistance), which will then lead to specific tools they can use (programs/resources available for those tools). This is an incredible process to take away some of the unknown about where to start with Assistive Technology.
We often hear from parents and professionals that they are not sure how to best support a child with a learning difference when it comes to technology. We think that this is a great resource!