Assistive technology is designed to help students with disabilities overcome barriers to learning and participate fully in the general education curriculum.

Assistive technology includes a wide range of devices and services that can help students with disabilities access the general education curriculum.

Assistive technology and accommodations are often used interchangeably. Both terms refer to tools and strategies that help students with disabilities access the general education curriculum.

Accommodations are changes to the way that instruction or assessment is delivered to help students with disabilities access the general education curriculum.

Assistive technology and accommodations should be considered for a student at any time when they are struggling to access the general education curriculum.

The decision of whether a student needs assistive technology or accommodations is made by a team of people, including the student's parents, teachers, and the school's special education team.

To ensure that assistive technology and accommodations are effective for a student, it is important to provide them as soon as possible, train the student on how to use them, and monitor the student's progress.

Students with disabilities may face a variety of challenges in accessing the general education curriculum, including physical barriers, communication barriers, and cognitive barriers.

Assistive technology and accommodations can help students with disabilities overcome challenges by providing them with tools and strategies to help them access information, communicate their needs and ideas, and learn new skills and concepts.

Assistive technology and accommodations can provide students with disabilities with increased access to the general education curriculum, improved academic performance, and greater independence and self-confidence.

Educators may face a variety of challenges in providing assistive technology and accommodations for students with disabilities, including lack of funding, lack of training, and lack of time.

Educators can overcome challenges and ensure that students with disabilities have access to the assistive technology and accommodations they need by advocating for increased funding, seeking out training opportunities, and collaborating with other educators and professionals.

Educators should keep in mind a number of ethical considerations when using assistive technology and accommodations for students with disabilities, including ensuring that they are used in a way that respects the student's dignity and privacy, avoiding the use of assistive technology and accommodations that are stigmatizing or discriminatory, and ensuring that they are used in a way that promotes the student's independence and self-advocacy.

Some of the emerging trends in assistive technology and accommodations for students with disabilities include the use of artificial intelligence to personalize assistive technology and accommodations, the development of more affordable and accessible assistive technology, and the use of assistive technology and accommodations in online and blended learning environments.

Educators can stay up-to-date on the latest trends in assistive technology and accommodations for students with disabilities by attending conferences and workshops, reading professional journals and articles, and networking with other educators and professionals.