Assistive technologies
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The technologies available to support learners encompass everything from a coloured acetate sheet to reduce glare when reading black text on white paper to sophisticated computer software. You may see them described as assistive, adaptive, enabling or access technologies.
You may find that your students bring a piece of equipment to a class, or you hear about a technology that they are using in their study. To give you an idea of what these are used for, we offer here an overview of the technologies themselves, with external links to show the range of products available.
This section links to EmpTech, an online resource providing independent information on assistive technologies that can support disabled people to work and study more effectively. EmpTech includes descriptions of a huge range of products together with information about what they do and how they can be used to assist access. It also has links to manufacturers and suppliers, and advice and training guides. Each category has brief notes to explain general functions, how the items are used in a learning situation and issues that might arise in their use.
An alternative resource, the TechDis Technology Database, also shows information and products that are available to assist disabled students and staff.