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One must evaluate the student, the student's environment, the required tasks, and the available tools, to determine the appropriate assistive technology to use in any specific setting. Such evaluation is essential to the successful incorporation of technology.
Following these steps will help assure that the AT selected is appropriate to the needs of the situation:
• Determine student's specific difficulty;
• Identify student strengths; include student in selection process;
• Narrow down types of technology that are useful, based on strengths/difficulties;
• Examine the specific settings where the technology will be used;
• Think about portability when selecting AT;
• Select technologies that work well together;
• Support the student to foster independence.
It is important to "think smart" about how technology can best empower each learner. For example, without appropriate assessment, students may buy software without much thought as to their specific learning disability.
In addition to consulting support services for learning disabilities at college or elsewhere, it may be worthwhile to do some personal research by talking with other students with learning disabilities, investigating the wealth of online resources for learning disabilities, or going to conferences on technology and learning disabilities.
Students, parents and educators also need a system for referrals to local agencies or individuals, such as a campus learning disabilities support center or a parent information center. Other Resources can offer a starting point.
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