Class # 1: Introductions: My name is Barbara Avery and I live in Guysborough NS. Presently my course load consists of Science 7,8 & 10 Biology 11 & 12 and do some Resource. This is my second Master of Education. My first Master of Education was in Curriculum Support: Supporting Diverse Learners from Mount Saint Vincent. Assistive Technology is any product devices, equipment or service (whether acquired commercially, modified or customized) designed to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities to build upon and enable independence.

What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology is about providing access to a task and improving performance of an individual. These days there is great diversity in the classroom. How will each student complete reading, writing, math etc type tasks? Some will need or benefit from similar assistive technologies will be learning about in this class. I remember when I first starting teaching 11 years ago and starting learning about assistive technology and implementing it within the class. The first type of programs I was introduced to were SpeakQ and WordQ, which at the time, was amazing at how much it could help students....however.....that was after all the leg work was done before hand. First one had to work on training of the voice and learning of the programs, fight for a computer or laptop in the class for the student to use instead of going to the resource room which required additional licensing, and still not available at home. In a short 10 years, technology has come a long way!! Using mobile devices students do not need to be tied to a desktop or even a laptop computer, the cost is much less when compared to the software used, more user friendly,transportable between school and home, gives the students more independence and enables dreams!