Traditionally, colonization and other societal problems such as cultural attitudes and beliefs, negative perceptions, lack of funding, poor teacher education as well as a lack of significant viable legal mandates have culminated to hindering opportunities to help all persons with disabilities in Nigeria. To this end, the article proposes…

Today, technology has become an essential part of the everyday educational setting. Its use has proven to facilitate learning and communication of many students with and without disabilities. Assuredly, assistive technology (AT) has transformed education and empowered students with disabilities. In spite of the rapid changes taking place in all…

The professional literature continues to be an essential resource for scholars and practitioners for filtering and highlighting new advances in research and practice. However, the ongoing challenges associated with too much information, inadequate tools for managing information overload, and too little time for professional development demand that…

The purpose of this study was to examine how a Web-based software program impacted lower elementary students' composition of personal narratives when using a supported paragraph activity. The subjects in this experiment were first and second grade students in a multi-age classroom in a low socio-economic urban community. The participants were…

Research supports the importance of teaching skills within the contexts that they will be used (Falvey, 1989; Nietupski, Clancy, Wehrmacher, & Parmer, 1985), yet many school-based programs face resource constraints which limit the number of opportunities where instruction can occur in authentic, community-based settings. When community-based…

The primary telehealth technology described in these articles is interactive video teleconferencing (IVTC), which allows parties at both ends of the communication to see and hear each other. The author have used this application during the past decade for consultation with rural practitioners and schools, and it has become a primary focus of our…

Although the concept of assistive technology has been around for some time in the fields of study for rehabilitation, communication as it relates to speech and language (Bryant & Bryant, 2003; Church & Glennen, 1992) and medicine (Porter, Haynie, Bierle, Caldwell, & Palfrey, 2001), assistive technology pedagogy is relatively new to the field of…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Amendments of 1997) charts a clear change of direction for special education teachers in two areas: (a) access to general education curriculum standards and (b) the consideration of assistive technology (AT) when planning the individualized education program (IEP) of all students with…

Computer access has become increasingly important within special education due to the increased functional independence that computers can provide children of all ages. Children with disabilities, especially, have benefited from access to computers (Glickman, Deitz, Anson, & Stewart, 1996; Judge & Parete, 1998; Swinth, Anson, & Deitz, 1993).…

Given the increasing number of students with disabilities from diverse cultural backgrounds who are being served in special education settings (Harry, 1992), professionals have begun to focus attention on processes and strategies for ensuring culturally sensitive assistive technology (AT) decision-making (Parette, Huer, & VanBiervliet, in press;…

Transitioning from high school to employment or postsecondary education is a critical juncture in any person's life. For students with disabilities, the complexities associated with such pivotal decisions are compounded, increasing the need for transition preparation and ongoing support to develop self-determination, social, academic, and career…

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of word prediction software to increase typing speed and decrease spelling errors for students who have physical disabilities that affect hand use. Student perceptions regarding the effectiveness of word prediction was examined as well as their typing rates and spelling accuracy. Four students with…

The ability to explore unknown spaces independently, safely and efficiently is a combined product of motor, sensory, and cognitive skills. Normal exercise of this ability directly affects an individual?s quality of life. Mental mapping of spaces and of the possible paths for navigating these spaces is essential for the development of efficient…

This article describes and evaluates a new alternative: distance-based training using live video and audio courses transmitted via the Internet. This alternative may address each of the problems described above, that is, it may provide a distant expert who selects and delivers training to paraprofessionals in a cost efficient manner. Because the…

This document presents a description and explanation of the MUSE module, a multimedia, computer-supported, problem-based learning (CS-PBL) unit that provides users with a simulation of the special education referral process. The module, developed by Leafstedt et al. (2000) depicts an elementary Hispanic student who is limited in English…