For Everyone!

 

Image Creator: Rachel Kruzel 

Although I hit a lot of walls trying while investigating my school district's assistive and adaptive technology resources and implementation, I learned a great deal about what my school's media center could benefit from and other ways I can support the integration of various technology through student discussion and reading. 

Here is a brief summary and links for reference: 

Suggestions from Discussion Post

• Librarians can also work with the aides of students who have special needs to ensure library-vocabulary is loaded onto a student’s chrome book if a student uses a voice-speaking device for communication
• Large, colorful communication board/signs posted to students to point to, symbols for key items
• Low-Tech assistance like pencil grips, slant boards, triangular crayons with easy grips available at any station designed for art work or school work.
• Quiet areas designated for students who need special quiet areas.
• Wide aisles and entryways to make wheel chair accessible
• Low shelving for students in wheel chairs
• Signage with easy images for unspoken rules in the library, such as a sign with a volume meter and an arrow showing where on the meter the appropriate noise level should be
• A sign at check-out with an image of students standing in line to remind students to keep arms to themselves while standing in line
• A sign at a table used for collaboration or group work to show that the noise-meter can be a little higher, and it’s okay to work together at work-tables with peers
• Workshop that covers built-in features of the iPad (older, but still valuable)
•  VoiceOver on iPad
• Keyboard shortcuts and commands https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/use-voiceover-with-an-apple-external-keyboard-ipad9a246749/ipados
• Read and WriteLinks to an external site. tool, a Google extension
• BookshareLinks to an external site. - an online library with audiobooks
• SoraLinks to an external site. also has a Book Reader tool
• Google KeepLinks to an external site. allows students to pin the webpage of a research and add notes. It also lets them add a collaborator, great for when they work in pairs. 
• Seeing AILinks to an external site. - is a camera that reads for the visually impaired. And, it reads for you. 
•  Postlight ReaderLinks to an external site. - this google extension gets rid of all the extra noise on the page, such as advertisements, etc. I particularly liked this one!
•  reading magnifiers and lenses with lights in the library for anyone who would like to use them, and she reminded me about the built-in accessibility in the students’ chromebooks, which can be customized at any time. 
• Text-to-speech and read & write accommodations already have that built into their own devices that stay with them or with an aide.  He also said the best thing to do is ask the appropriate staff about students that will use the library.
• color coding book genres 
• wide aisles and low shelving
• a supply of audiobooks and e-books
• a supply of headphones 
• a large digital clock
• having a bin of fidgets
• individual signs that might need to be made for a select few students
• Read & Write for Google ChromeLinks to an external site.
• SoraLinks to an external site.
• NoodleToolsLinks to an external site.
• Book Creator for Google ChromeLinks to an external site.
• TouchScreen Chromebooks
• *Check if district has SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) 
•  Worcester Talking Book LibraryLinks to an external site.

Resources to Reference: 

Universal Design Checklist for Libraries (Project Enable)

Boston Public Schools Access Technology Center- Assistive Technology Continuum

Universal Design for Learning

Janet Hopkins: 2 articles School Library Accessibility/Assistive Technology: 10 Things To Know

Project Enable: https://projectenable.syr.edu/ 

Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology 

Rebecca Hogue Wojhan article, "Everyone's: Ways to make your library more welcoming to children with special needs."