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Home  : Illness & disability  : Dealing with school  : Helpful tools for school

Helpful tools for school

A finger running over braille.

Tools that help people with disabilities lead more independent lives are known as assistive technology. Assistive technology tools that might help you at school include:

  • Refreshable Braille displays, which turns text on a computer monitor into Braille for a blind person to feel
  • Computer keyboards with Braille letters
  • Automatic page turners
  • Talking calculators
  • Grips to help you hold pencils
  • Computer monitors that show large print
  • FM loops, which include a microphone for the teacher and a receiver for a student who has trouble hearing

There are also computer programs that:

  • Check your spelling and grammar
  • Read textbooks to you
  • Recognize your voice and write what you say

Assistive technology doesn't have to be fancy and expensive. It can be something as simple as ear plugs that you use when you want to block out noise. That can be handy if you have trouble focusing on your homework.

How do you know what type of assistive technology you need? Someone with special training will test you at school or home and make suggestions to the school about the types of assistive technology that can help you learn. These will be discussed at your Individualized Education Program meeting. If people at the meeting decide that you need the device, the school will buy it for you. If you need to use it for homework, you'll even be able to take it home with you.

 

Content last reviewed February 16, 2011
Page last updated October 31, 2013

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