Technology Tools used to Address Visual-Spatial and/or Motor Control Difficulties

As mentioned in my previous blogs, we are continuing the discussion with AT & Math. Just like there are many applications for assisting students with disabilities for Automaticity/Math Fact Fluency, there are also many applications that can assist students who have Visual/Spatial as well as Motor Control difficulties. 

There are an abundance of tools out there that can be downloaded to support this skill. I will, (for the sake of time and your eyes) just list a few that can help. 

*Feel free to check out the textbook Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities for additional applications. 

Some include but aren't limited to:

1.) MathPad(Cambium Learning), a talking math worksheet program that allows students to perform arithmetic computations with whole numbers on the computer in much of the same way they would use pencil and paper. Students with fine motor difficulties can demonstrate their skill by simply using the keyboard or clicking the mouse and students with severe disabilities can utilize MathPad's scanning features.

2.) Virtual Pencil Arithmetic is an educational application designed for students who are, as mentioned in the words of the publisher, "pencil impaired". Makes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals accessible to students with disabilities. It allows students to solve problems much in the same way that they would using a paper pencil.

3.) Number Navigator doesn't have specialized features such as speech or scanning, but for those who need a simple "math processor" to enter and solve basic math fact problems on the computer, this FREE program can be a good solution. 


Remember…….Please take the time to check out the textbook for more applications. There are sooo many that can provide for and do so much for your students who have these types of disabilities and impairments. Boy has our technology gone soo far!!!!!!!!

   (Check out this cool video of a math application called MathPad to assist students)
Resources:

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012).Assistive Technology in the Classroom:Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with DIsabiltiies. New Jersey: Pearson. (Original work published 2008)