Digital technologies have the potential to enhance the learning experience for learners with SEND when used appropriately. Understanding how to create accessible resources or being able to signpost learners to guides on how to change their own device to support their learning needs can really make a difference. This page brings together resources that will help you to use digital technology with SEND learners.
Making technology work for you
Phones, tablet and computers have loads of features built-in which can help you read, write and communicate. This interactive poster helps get the word out to learners and staff about these features. From the interactive poster you can access short videos on how to use the features. The videos are shown in topics: Great apps, My phone, Reading, Writing and Using the web.
The Enhance Digital Teaching Platform contains bite-sized training modules to help you learn the digital skills. The modules are mapped to the Digital Teaching Professional Framework which is a national EdTech competency framework which underpins the EdTech offer. It provides a set of professional standards for technology enhanced learning. EdTech has seven categories of resources and two of these specifically focus on accessibility and dealing with difference and diversity.
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has developed a series of free, online webinars and a guide to help teachers across the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector work remotely to support learners studying at home. Many of the webinars in the series highlight ways to make learning inclusive and support learners with SEN including:
- Making the most of online learning
- Delivering through a virtual classroom
- Adapting content quickly to deliver online
- Supporting learners in VLEs
- Engaging learners in VLEs
- Supporting learners with online reading skills
- Making webinars more inclusive
- Introduction to the Guide to EdTech and Essential Digital Skills Training to Support Remote Working
- Supporting learners with writing skills
- Supporting learners with low-level literacy skills remotely
- Relearning the genie - helping teachers and learners tap into the potential of the student's personal devices
Technology can help to make learning accessible to all learners, and particularly learners with SEND. Watch the Assistive technology to support learners with SEND webinar (52 minutes) to find out about specialist technologies, tools built into the software we use every day (e.g. Windows) and useful free apps and online tools that can really make a difference.
Take a look at the case studies and resources produced as part of the project which include an assistive technology assessment process map and an IT access assessment proforma.
Find out how to make simple changes to your computer settings with AbilityNet’s My Computer My Way website.
If you lack confidence or skills with your digital skills or how to apply them in teaching and learning. The Foundation offers a wide range of free online courses to improve your digital skills on Foundation Online Learning.