Assistive software for special education is any software that provides a teaching or learning aid to those with special education needs. This software can be designed with regard to specific areas of study, or it can be broad, covering many school subjects. It can also be made to focus on overcoming individual learning difficulties or specific medical diagnoses presented by the learner. Which of these programs are best? In an effort to shine some more light on the subject, let’s take a look at five of the most popular assistive software programs for special education.
Proloquo2Go
Autistic learners often have difficulties in English, speech, and communications skills in general. Proloquo2Go is a mobile app that helps to break through these barriers in autistic learning. The app is designed specifically for this area of the special education world.
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Users of the program can follow through a self-paced program to help understand and master skills in communication and English. Ease of use is a theme found throughout the app as well as vocabulary expansion. In addition, the app is made by AssistiveWare, a company solely concentrated on the development of programs of the assistive nature.
iComm
Yet another offering in assistive software for special education purposes comes to us in the form of the mobile app. This time it is courtesy of mobile developer, Bappz. iComm is a completely customizable communication program that can be used to communicate with those suffering from even the most difficult learning disabilities or impairments..
Users can essentially design any teaching approach they want with the app. This is done through user input of recordings, pictures, and other media for playback and practice. The learner can then go on to interact with and learn from the input that was setup beforehand. This all allows for maximum versatility through precisely targeted avenues of learning.
Access to Math
Access to Math is an excellent option in math-based, assistive software for special education. It is a comprehensive program, covering all aspects of elementary-level math via a system of virtual, talking worksheets. From the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, all the way through pre-algebra concepts, elementary math is well represented here.
Used by many special education teachers and parents, Access to Math provides entertaining rewards for persistence and custom-paced learning sessions. Spoken math and constructive feedback also contribute to this successful learning tool. All attributes considered, Access to Math is possibly the most all-inclusive, best designed, math-teaching system for children with or without special needs.
LiveScribe
LiveScribe is a combination of some very unique software and hardware combined into a very special smartpen. This smartpen is specifically designed for students with learning disabilities. While it works to assist in math and science work, reading and writing are the real areas of benefit when it comes to using this innovative product.
The pen works by essentially reading aloud any text it is physically passed over. A student can then go on to write words or sentences and have the pen remember them and even read them back on command. Playback speed is also controlled for maximum comprehension. Big results have been seen through the use of the LiveScribe.
Big Calc
We finish off our list of assistive software for special education purposes with Big Calc. In the program, Big Calc is the name of the big, quirky, and very entertaining calculator that the learners use to do math work. Rather than always typing though, students can choose to speak their math into the fun program.
Another great benefit of the program is its customizable layout. From screen and calculator layout, to learning style and speed, the entire program curtails itself to the needs of each individual learner that uses it. In addition, external, play-and-learn toys can be connected to the system, bringing learning through physical interaction to the forefront of the game.
Learning disabilities come in countless shapes and sizes. Accordingly, the responsive educational approach might include any number of diverse tools and plans. These five, assistive programs are just a few examples of the many helpful tools designed for and used by this important niche in modern education. For more authoritative information on assistive software for special education, we highly recommend you visit Reading Rockets.
