Low-Tech and Mid-Tech Adaptations to Assist Students with Disabilities in Completing Math Assignments

You might be wondering what types of adaptations you can provide your students with disabilities that do not require a computer. There are many products and resources available to assist teachers in the teaching of mathematic concepts. Some of these products include:

Low-Tech

·         Manipulatives (post pics) Most math programs today inlcude manipulatives. However, one could also use household objects such as beans and straws to accomplish similar tasks.

·         Rubber stamps (fractions, clocks, coins)

·         Number lines

·         Addition and multiplication tables

Mid-Tech

·         Talking calculators (great for students with visual impairments)

·         Large calculators with oversized buttons (fine motor difficulty)

·         See n’ Solve Calculators (allow students to see all parts of the problem as they are solving it.

Using manipulatives is a great way to incorporate UDL into your instruction. They not only engage students, but make learning more hands-on and provides a concrete representation of mathematic concepts for your students!

I frequently use manipulatives such as these in my classroom. Students love the hands-on approach to math and it really gets them thinking about the concepts they are learning! One suggestion is to let your students "play" with the manipulatives a few minutes prior to starting the lesson. This way they are less focused on touching them and more focused on you and the lesson!