NCTE (National Centre for Technology in Education)

NCTE Special Needs & ICT Publications

Below you will find a list of NCTE publications relevant to special needs and technology. Some can be downloaded directly from this site, while others are a link to a site.

Information and Advice: Special Educational Needs and Information and Communications Technology
This beginner's guide to ICT provides general ICT advice for teachers working in the area of special needs. It addresses such issues as selecting and purchasing hardware/software, matching technology solutions to special needs and using ICT with students.

PDF Format (Click to view, Right Click and slect "Save Target As" to download).

Software Evaluation Guide
This guide produced by the NCTE in collaboration with TEEM (Teachers Evaluating Educational Multimedia) is designed to assist teachers in making informed decisions about educational software. It provides information on selecting and evaluating software for use with students and includes a section on evaluating software for special needs.

PDF Format (Click to view, Right Click and slect "Save Target As" to download).

Note: To view PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. To obtain a free copy click here.

Other Publications of Interest

Enabling Technologies: Guidelines for the use of Assistive Technology in Education Produced by SOLAS, one of the NCTE's Schools Integration Projects, Enabling Technologies attempts to provide a concise and practical outline of how Assistive Technology advances can be exploited for the benefit of pupils with unique needs. Ibasic information that will assist in making informed decisions on how to proceed with finding appropriate solutions for individual pupils. www.enabletech.ie
Computers and Inclusion: Factors for Success This booklet provides practical advice for teachers, learning support staff and parents on supporting learners with severe physical difficulties in using computers effectively in the mainstream classroom. It will be of particular interest to all involved in the inclusion of pupils with complex disabilities. Available through the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) Published 1999.Order no. B67006.
Dyslexia and ICT: Building on Success This booklet offers a toolkit of strategies to help learners with dyslexia, from simple word processors to speech recognition, CD-ROMs and the Internet. Using case studies it shows how selecting the right tools within an overall plan for teaching and learning can help to overcome specific problems and build pupils' self-confidence. Also included is a guide to choosing software to assess for dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. Available through Becta. Published 1999. Order no. B67007.
Voice Recognition Technology in Education: Factors for Success This booklet attempts to provide the reader with a number of issues and strategies to consider before attempting to use voice recognition with learners who have physical and communication difficulties. It will also be of general interest to anyone involved in the field of technology and special educational needs. Available through Becta. Published 2000. ISBN 1 90330 300 1. Order no. B67008
Learning to Read in the Computer Age - Anne Meyer & David Rose This book deals with computers in the teaching of reading, relating computers to theories of the brain and to the teaching of reading skills and strategies. It also shows how computers can enhance student motivation and engagement. Available through the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST).
Assistive Technology Journal This online journal is published twice a month and provides the latest news and resources in assistive technology. Every month, this service is updated with short articles, reviews, and announcements about the world of assistive technology for persons with disabilities.
Closing The Gap This journal highlights hardware and software products appropriate for people with special needs. It includes feature articles on technology implementation, reviews of software, and product profiles.
Journal of Special Education Technology (JSET) JSET is a refereed professional journal that presents up-to-date information and opinions about issues, research, policy, and practice related to the use of technology in the field of special education.
Special Education Technology Practice (SETP) SETP highlights assistive and instructional technology that have a practical focus for professionals working in special education. It includes news on developments in assistive and instructional technology, reviews of new software products and websites as well as summaries of interesting journal articles.