Software for Deaf Students

Certain types of computer software can aid in the educational settings of deaf students.

Deaf students are at a disadvantage if not supplied with aids that enable them to reach their maximum potential. Public Law 94-142, also known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997, remedied that disadvantage. Because of this law, deaf students are no longer left behind when it comes to language skills and other complex materials.

Types

Software for deaf students comes in three main types. Speech recognition software is activated through voice and automatically translates from a built-in dictionary. Transcription is similar to speech recognition but there is usually a hearing person translating into text what is happening in the immediate environment. Educational software uses visuals such as games to illustrate key concepts. These are provided in an engaging and visual manner to act as an aid in subjects such as reading, math and science.

Time Frame

In no way are these software types restricted to any certain age, gender or grade level. However, educational programs find their best audience during elementary school years. Speech recognition and transcription programs are used primarily during the high school and college years.

Function

Deaf students often use computer software in the classroom during lessons or at home during down time or homework time to grasp complex concepts through interactive games or lecture notes, in order to better understand the material being taught.

Effects

Deaf youths often have a better understanding of material in a given lesson when the material is illustrated as text or diagrams rather than spoken aloud.

Considerations

Speech recognition programs such as Dragon Naturally Speaking are not 100% accurate. They require much invested time from a user in order to "train" the program to recognize unique words and build a vocabulary.

References

• Deaf Children and Parents: Software for Deaf Children
• RIT: TEACHING SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS TO DEAF STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN INSTRUCTION AND TEACHER PREPARATION
• Residential or Mainstream? The Oral versus Manual Debate
• "Deaf Again"; Mark Drolsbaugh; 2008
• "Orientation to Deafness"; Nanci A. Scheetz; 2001