Teachers’ use and experiences regarding assistive technology (AT) | No. 68 | % |
Types of disabilities among the students # |
|
|
Autism | 32 | 47.1 |
Intellectual disability | 24 | 35.3 |
Multiple disabilities | 15 | 22.1 |
Learning difficulty disability | 13 | 19.1 |
Physical disability | 7 | 10.3 |
Communication disability | 5 | 7.4 |
Vision and hearing disability | 2 | 2.9 |
Down syndrome | 2 | 2.9 |
Received formal AT training |
|
|
No | 58 | 85.3 |
Yes | 10 | 14.7 |
Types of training | n. 10 |
|
40 hrs. occupational therapy | 1 | 10.0 |
Bab-noor a platform to grow (an Arabic Tablet App) | 3 | 30.0 |
AT workshop | 6 | 60.0 |
The process of teacher’s engagement of AT training |
|
|
Enforced by a principal to attend the training (organization improvement desire) | 56 | 84.8 |
They search to attend the training (self-improvement desire) | 12 | 17.6 |
Ongoing commitment to continuing training | n.68 |
|
No | 39 | 57.4 |
Yes | 29 | 42.6 |
Type of commitment | n.29 |
|
On-Job training | 9 | 31.0 |
Attend workshops or seminars | 9 | 31.0 |
Attend a specialized course | 11 | 37.9 |
Types of AT available at teacher’s school | n.68 |
|
Nothing | 12 | 17.6 |
Low-tech devices (light pen to enhance writing area, pencil grips, adaptive desks). | 41 | 60.3 |
Mid-tech devices (Sticky keys, Iris pen, Neo 2 portable keyboard) | 8 | 11.8 |
High-tech devices (hearing aid and/or assistive listening device, word prediction programs, keyboard alternatives). | 7 | 10.3 |
Are the AT needs to be considered at the schools |
|
|
No | 26 | 38.2 |
Yes | 42 | 61.8 |
The students access to the AT |
|
|
No | 34 | 50.0 |
Yes | 34 | 50.0 |
Use/planned to use AT in student’s evaluation |
|
|
No | 46 | 67.6 |
Yes | 22 | 32.4 |
Teacher readiness—preparedness to AT services |
|
|
Not at all. | 10 | 14.7 |
Poorly prepared. | 15 | 22.1 |
Somewhat prepared. | 24 | 35.3 |
Adequately prepared. | 16 | 23.5 |
Extremely well prepared. | 3 | 4.4 |
Estimated level of AT knowledge (teacher’s self-evaluation) |
|
|
No knowledge | 12 | 17.6 |
Little knowledge | 20 | 29.4 |
Some knowledge. | 24 | 35.3 |
Good knowledge | 10 | 14.7 |
Extensive knowledge | 2 | 2.9 |
Teacher AT training satisfaction |
|
|
Yes | 53 | 77.9 |
No | 15 | 22.1 |
The preferred method for learning about AT |
|
|
Hands-on instruction in a group setting | 23 | 33.8 |
Mixed | 15 | 22.1 |
One-on-one individualized instruction. | 13 | 19.1 |
Attending workshops or conference sessions | 13 | 19.1 |
Formalized courses (i.e., for university credit) | 4 | 5.9 |