Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

Chapter 5 – Assistive Technology for Reading, Studying, and Math
Assistive Technology and Math
There has been “assistive technology” for math for years--only we didn’t call it that. The abacus and fact
sheets (or Smart Charts, as some are called) were excellent assistive tools for students with disabilities.
Now we have several new products that are also very useful.
♦ Abacus/Math Line-The Abacus and the Math Line products are simple manipulatives for
calculating early math problems. Math Line products are produced and marketed by Howbrite
Solutions, Inc. They come in different sizes with up to 100 rings for counting. Each time you move a
set of rings, the numeral they represent is exposed on the math line. They are color coded to assist
counting by fives and tens. There is even one in Braille and one with tabs for easy manipulation
using a head pointer or mouth stick.
♦ Enlarged Math Worksheets-For a student who has difficulty seeing the problems or writing in a
small space, simply enlarging the math problems using the copier may be as solution. This also helps
if the student needs to use rubber stamps to answer the problems due to difficulty with writing.
♦ Low Tech Adaptations for Answering-A variety of rubber stamps can be purchased or made for
the student who cannot use a pencil. Often they work well, especially in the elementary grades as
long as the space to stamp the answer is large enough. Another low tech alternative is to tape an
enlarged worksheet to a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan with a 1/2” lip and place magnets with
numerals on them on the cookie sheet. All the student needs to be able to do is select the correct
numerals and push them to the right place on the worksheet in order to answer. Another alternative is
to cover the floor of the cookie sheet with Memo Board removable Contact paper which turns it into
a dry erase board. The teacher can write out a math problem on the cookie sheet and again provide
magnets for the student to push into place to answer the problem. Onion Mountain Technology sells
a Magnetic Math Set that allows students to solve math problems without handwriting. Also, refer
back to Chapter 2 for low tech adaptations for handwriting.
♦ Math Smart Charts-Any particular math facts that a student is struggling with can be put on a chart
to help them. Multiplication tables, conversions from metric, conversions from Celsius, etc. can all
be helpful depending upon the content with which the student is struggling. These charts can be
easily created on your own or purchased from manufacturers like Really Good Stuff. They come in
assorted sizes and grade levels.
The Master Fraction Set sold by Onion Mountain Technology is a three-part set for teaching
fractions. The white plastic base of each shows four different shapes. Each clear layer divides these
shapes into progressively smaller fractions. One set starts with halves, another with thirds, and the
last with fifths. Another tool for teaching fractions is the Fractiongrams. Fractiongrams are
available from Onion Mountain Technology and consist of two sets of stamps – one set of one
complete whole and the other is a division of that whole to rectangles demonstrating 1,1/2’s, 1/3’s,
1/4’s, 1/5’s, 1/6’s, 1/8’s, 1/9’s, and 1/10’s.
♦ Tactile/Voice Output/Adaptive Measuring Devices-Talking measuring tapes, thermometers, and
other devices designed for individuals who are blind can also be useful to students with other
Assessing Students’ Need for Assistive Technology (2004) 147