Assistive Technology in Special Education: Resources for Education, Intervention, and Rehabilitation

by Joan Green

Families, teachers, and therapists who are searching for an update about how to use the latest technologies to help individuals who struggle with communication, literacy, and learning will benefit from the wealth of practical, well-organized information in this second edition of Assistive Technology in Special Education. The indexed update presents an overview of the uses of technologies to help readers zero in on specific, powerful, cutting-edge resources they can use to enhance success. The book features new tools to improve and compensate for challenges relating to speaking, understanding, reading, writing, thinking and remembering, as well as strategies to help students become more organized and efficient. The use of tablets such as the iPad and smartphones, as well as cloud-based products, are highlighted. Online resources and social networking tools are presented to empower readers to learn about new products as they become available.

Genres: Education, Teaching

275 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Dean Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is a good resource for employees who work with Students in an education environment and want to have access to information on resources for people who are differently abled or have learning disabilities.
Assistive Technology in Special Education would also be a good resource for Families who have members who have learning disabilities as well as teachers, and educational therapists who need a recommendation of online resources that can help their students/clients. That being said the book is specifically written for the professional and not in terms that it may be easily used to anyone who is not a learning professional. (I would not let that stop parents from purchasing it though, just be warned that it won't be necessarily user-friendly for you.)
This work is an update from the previous two versions, and be aware of this if you attempt to get it and see earlier versions, this one may have more accurate usable resources. (As many of the resources are online.)
As an Academic Librarian this work was not wholly useful for me but did include many items that I could recommend to my students and I could happily recommend this book to my students who are studying education.)

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, particularly for a subject that can be very daunting, is a great starting point for resources. Terms and definitions that are not common knowledge in general are well clarified. In addition to lists of technologies that may be helpful, there are brief examples and a summary of the subject for each field of learning. The book is written in such a way that it would be simple to just read and still benefit from knowledge on one subject.

[Snik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free on LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

This book seems to be written with the lay person in mind, though it has suggestions of resources that could still benefit someone who has knowledge and experience in a specific area of special education. Terms and concepts that are generally not common knowledge are well explained. For each area of learning, there are brief explanations and overview of the topic in addition to lists of technology that may be helpful. Any given item on a technology list gives information such as name, company, hyperlink, compatible operating systems (such as iOS or Android), cost, and features. There are many of these lists and some of them take up most of its chapter. The book is written in such a way that it would be easy to just read information on one topic and still benefit. This book is a great starting place for resources, especially for a topic that can be very overwhelming.

I received a physical copy of the book, which I do prefer. However, it would be nice to have an online list of the hyperlinks available in addition to the physical book. I saw on the book’s website that there are alternate electronic versions available, but they cost extra. Maybe people who have paid for the physical book could also receive an access code to just a list of the hyperlinks from the book? This would also allow links to be updated as they changed and more easily shared with readers.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent reference tool that I am sure I will be able to use in many of my classes (and beyond). It is organized well and the information is presented in an easy-to-understand manner. The book also features a thorough index, something that was missing from a similar book I was using last term.
In addition to detailing the types of assistive technologies available, this book provides excellent advice on how they could best be used when dealing with populations that experience communication difficulties.
I would definitely have to recommend this guide to any one who deals with the needs of an individual, or individuals, with learning/speaking/understanding difficulties. Chapter 14, which deals with "Helpful Online Resources and Learning Tools" (Green, 2013) is also very helpful in finding other sources of beneficial information and programs online. I would definitely give this book 5-stars!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this via goodreads first reads giveaways. This is a great resource book. I love that all of the web sites are given and even prices of items are listed. Highly recommend for anyone in field of special education or speech therapy.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome reference book for ATs organized by major and minor disabilities. Also contains several helpful frameworks for evaluating the effectiveness of existing and emerging ATs.