Supporting learning disabilities and special needs: Resources for learners (and their teachers)

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Supporting learning disabilities and special
needs Resources for learners (and their
teachers)

• Elizabeth Walcot, PhD.
• Presentation to the Quebec Provincial Association
  of Teachers
• Sponsored by The Centre for Literacy of Quebec
• with funding from Initiatives fédérales
  conjointes en matière dalphabétisation (IFPCA)

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Resources and Tools
Traditional Supports and Tools
What are they? Who are they for? Where we can
find them?
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Traditional Resources and Tools

• Books text books, information books, narratives
• Journals/magazines
• Film/video
• Pens/pencils/paper

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Where can one find traditional resources?

• Libraries local public and university
• Library and Archives Canada
• Bibliothéque et Archives nationales du Québec
• Resource Collections Centre for Literacy
• http//www.centreforliteracy.qc.ca/
• ATEQ Travelling trunks
• Online Articles

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Resources and Tools
Innovative Supports and Tools
What are they? Who are they for? How do they
support learning differently?
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What is assistive technology?

• Any device, piece of equipment or system that can
  enhance a persons engagement in accomplishing a
  self- or teacher- directed learning task.

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How do innovative resources differ from
traditional ones?

• Allow access to wider range of content resources
  at varying levels
• Provide teacher support for teaching persons with
  LD

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Content Websites
http//animals.nationalgeographic.com
Why Do Dolphins Rub Flippers? Researchers have
filmed dophins' behaviors, which include flipper
rubbing, to better understand the behaviors'
meanings. Watch Video
http//earth.google.com/rome/http//earth.google.c
om/rome/
In the Ancient Rome 3D layer, you can Fly
into Rome as it looked in 320 A.D. Tour the
interior of famous buildings. Visit the
sites in 3D such as the Roman Forum, Colosseum
and the Forum of Julius Caesar. Learn about
how the Romans lived.
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Content Websites contd
Grade 3-5 Mystery Nautical Charts Sea Floor
Mapping Grades 6-12 Tutorials Corals Currents Es
tuaries Geodesy Pollution Tides
http//oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/
Case Studies Prince William's Oily Mess The
Lionfish Invasion
Welcome to the WhaleTimes SeaBed! WhaleTimes
will take you on an adventure to the ocean. Do
you like whales, seals, sea lions, sharks,
penguins, and walruses? Then you're going to love
WhaleTimes. Find out how your favorite animals
survive in the sea. What they eat, where they
live and much more.
Ask Jake, the SeaDog Do you have
a question about whales, sharks, penguins - Ask
Jake!
http//www.whaletimes.org/whahmpg.htm
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Teacher Support Websites
http//www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Enroll Today! Over 100
professional development courses in Math,
Reading, Technology Integration and
moredelivered online. Learn more
Monarchy The Royal Family at Work and
explore the work of the Queen and her
family members.
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Teacher Support Websites contd
Water Cycle Song A digital story on the water
cycle. Dr. Loopy discusses Water Molecules
(Water Cycle)
http//www.teachertube.com/index.php
http//www.ldonline.org/start
Webcasts on teaching writing and on ESL learners
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Teacher Support Websites contd
SparkTop.org helps kids with learning
difficulties, including learning disabilities and
AD/HD, understand that they are smart, have
uniquetalents, and can succeed in school and life.
http//www.sparktop.org/teacher/
Adolescent Literacy in the Content
Area Choice-based Art Education Culturally
Responsive Technology Good Models of Teaching
with Technology
http//knowledgeloom.org/index.jsp
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Other Websites for Teaching

• For rubrics
• http//www.cesa8.k12.wi.us/tlcf/tips.htm
• For information on learning disabilities
• http//www.greatschools.net/content/specialNeeds.p
  age
• For teaching lessons / strategies
• http//www.thinkport.org/default.tp

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Other types of resources Webinars
http//www.iste.org
Virtual Field Trips Revolutionizing Instruction
for Autistic Students Utilizing Interactive
Whiteboards Google Earth Lessons Differentiated
Instruction Tech Powerful Learning Technology
for Non-readers (K-2)
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Innovative Tools

• Assistive Technology
• How do these tools differ from traditional tools?
• What are some specific examples of assistive
  technology?
• What do you need to know before using assistive
  technology?

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How do innovative tools differ from traditional
ones?

• Address different learning preferences e.g.
  reading versus listening
• Address different learning needs e.g. getting
  information at an appropriate cognitive or
  conceptual level
• Provide tools to structure learning tasks in
  comprehension and writing e.g maps
• Compensate for students area of weakness e.g.
  decoding or fluency

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Some Examples

• Screen readers and audio books
• Graphic organizers
• Speech recognition software
• Word prediction software
• Proofing software and spell checkers
• Reading and Writing Software

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Screen Reader
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Audio- and e-Books
Historical Horror Ghost Stories Lifestyles Love
Romance Movie or Television Tie-In Mysteries
Detective Stories

• http//www.audible.com
• http//www.eBooks.com

Children's Young Adult Fiction
Action Adventure Animals Boys
Men Classics Comics Graphic Novels Diaries
Journals Dinosaurs Fairy Tales Folklore Family
Religious Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic Short
Stories Social Situations Sports
Recreation Suspense
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Graphic Organizer
Inspiration
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Speech Recognition Software
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Word Prediction Software
http//www.wordq.com/
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Proofing Software and Spell Checkers
http//www.franklin.com/
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Writing/Reading Software
http//www.donjohnston.com/products/solo/
Cross-Curriculum - Ability Level Grades 3-9
Interest Level Grades 3-12
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What do teachers need to know?

• Students learning profile strengths/ challenges
• Students interest, skill and experience with
  technology
• Teaching goals
• Contexts in which assistive technology will be
  used
• Own skills in using the technology

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A Final Question

• Is it fair for some students to have specific
  resources and tools and others not?