Unit+12

Overview
This unit will present what is available for planning and developing curricula and using technology in ways that promote access, participation, and progress in the general education curriculum for all learners. 

Objectives
Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:
 * Identify the current laws pertaining to students with disabilities
 * Describe current hardware, software and peripherals that will assist students in delivery instruction
 * Identify resources of current and emerging assistive technologies

Topic 1: Current Laws Pertaining to the Disabled Student
[|Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)] is a nondiscrimination law requiring schools to accommodate the needs of children with disabilities to provide them an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the general education curriculum. News, information and resources on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) are available at: @http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html A Guide to the Individualized Education Program @http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html

Topic 2 - Software, Hardware and Peripherals for Disabled Students
Assistive/adaptive technologies refers any equipment, modification, or accommodation that can improve a person’s capacity to learn, communicate, to solve a problem or to complete a task through the use of a computer. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">The U.S. Census Bureau reports 7% of boys and 4% of girls ages 5-15 have some form of disability. An awareness of assistive/adaptive technology is valuable to each teacher committed to providing new learning environments in the classroom. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">There is a multitude of resources on assistive/adaptive technologies available from the textbook website. At the end of each chapter in your text there is a reference to the Assistive Technology Corner. Take the time to look at these. Also, at the companion website under each chapter is a link to the Assistive Tech Corner where you can find downloadable interactive Word files for you use.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Topic 3 -Resources of Current and Emerging Assistive Technologies
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">An excellent resource, NICHCY stands for the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, is the central source of information on: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">SEN Teacher (free special needs teaching resources) provides cost-free teaching & learning resources for students with special needs and learning disabilities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">research-based information on effective educational practices.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Another excellent resource can be found at DE streaming. Log into DE streaming first and follow the link below: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Teaching Through Technology #47: Assistive Technology at Elementary School, Assistive Technology at Middle School, Assistive Technology at High School <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">@http://www.unitedstreaming.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?guidAssetID=8C727FB1-5E63-4267-9752-247326C0D5FB

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">None.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Discussions **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Final Project information is listed on the Unit 3 assignment page. This is the final lesson plan that you created and tried out with your students and evaluated. Remember, look at samples on pages 380-394 in your text. Put your project in a table like you see in the text.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Final Project Assignment **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Please review the final project rubric for specific information.