How does Devonport High School provide assistive technologies?

Student needs, identified in their Individual Education Plans, guide the trial or purchase of assistive technologies (AT) and computer programs.

For some students, the types of AT and programs are obvious and for other students they are often discovered through trial and error or through comparisons to / or experience with students with similar abilities or disabilities.

The school is constantly trialling new AT with students and the Teacher Assistant regularly spends time researching and trialling programs. Many companies offer free trials of programs, so that schools can identify capabilities or shortfalls prior to purchasing. Sites such as Spectronics provide detailed information and prices for a variety of assistive technology and computer programs.

It is preferable to borrow equipment and devices before a decision is made to purchase it. Often it is only through students working with the AT that its potential for usability and success becomes apparent.

The LD online website has a useful article on the steps to follow in AT decision making for children, in particular the section titled ‘Six steps to finding a solution'.

Introducing the AT to the student

It is imperative that the student learns how to use programs with full support initially. By learning away from other students they can concentrate on the program without the noises and distractions of a regular classroom.

Voice activated equipment requires silence, to enable the computer to learn the voice of the student. Headphones are vital to enable children to hear speech from the computer without disturbing other members of the class.

When children have developed a thorough understanding and competence using the assistive programs they are then equipped to take part in regular classroom activities.

Organisation of computer-based assistive technologies

The school has purchased a number of laptops that are to be used by targeted students and also by TAs to learn about programs and to develop Clicker^® grids etc. The laptops are clearly labelled to ensure that the programs that are installed on them are suited to the student requiring them. For example, a student might be assigned a computer that has his or her voice-activated assistive programs installed on it.

Within the school’s main computer lab computers are labelled with stickers to allow teaching staff and students to identify which particular assistive programs are loaded on to them. After a successful trial and significant improvement in student outcomes, all school computers will be loaded with WordQ ^® after the purchase of a whole-school licence.

Local feeder schools Devonport Primary School and Nixon Street Primary School and the support school attend Links programs at Devonport High School and use the Assistive Technologies.