Teacher-Created Electronic Books: Integrating Technology to Support Readers With Disabilities

• The Need:

No Child Left Behind data suggests that students with special needs still lag begind others

and remain a significant concern for teachers and administrators.

• The Solution:

One way to meet the needs of these students is to use assistive technology. This is defined

as anything that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of a child

with a disability. Assistive technology allows us to meet the needs of individual students

in the regular classroom.

• Electronic Books, either commercial or teacher-created increase the level of interactivity

and are an excellent way to use technology in the classroom.

• Through e-books students are exposed to sound, animation, and interactive activities that

scaffold learning. The students are able to master tasks that otherwise may not be

accomplished independently. (Students with disabilities often feel confident with the use of

technology to support learning.) NAECY suggests that technology should be employed as

an active part of the learning process.

• E-books support students with both physical and learning disabilities by enhancing the

format and the opportunity for multiple readings. E-books boost self-esteem while

providing access to texts that were previously out of reach.

• Through multiple readings of text, e-books support student vocabulary acquistion and

comprehension while modeling fluent reading.

Solution: Teacher Created E-Books

• Using Powerpoint insert photos, clip art and text to create an e-book.
• Record narration if desired.
• Use the students' natural language as accurately as possible.
• Allow students to record narration if possible

After listening to the student-generated e-book as a group, copy the final product and load

onto each of the desktop computers in the classroom. Encourage the students to view the e-books during independent reading time.