Assistive Technology Increases Access to Education

June 2019 – The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) has embedded accessible efforts into their school infrastructure and operations. Recently, they added assistive technology (AT) consultants to their team of professionals. These AT consultants are using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework for the implementation of AT board-wide. The UDL framework removes barriers to learning to increase accessibility and empower students to learn in non-traditional ways. Teachers and students in this Quebec school system have access to direct support from AT consultants year-round. To further their support of students with disabilities, AT consultants also provide self-contained classrooms where specialized assistive technologies are consistently available. The hardware and technical support are coupled with specialized software to enhance learning such as WordQ/SpeakQ, Read & Write, Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, TouchChat, BoardmakerOnline, Proloquo2Go, and Clicker apps. These progressive steps help create inclusive environments. [Source: Wendy Singer, EMSB]