Technology-Supported Interventions for Students With Special Needs in the 21st Century

Groundbreaking innovations have paved the way for new assistive approaches to support students with special needs. New technological innovations such as smart mobile devices and apps, wearable devices, web-based monitoring and support systems, artificial intelligence, and more are changing the way in which care and support can be given to students with special needs. These technologies range from encouraging self-care and independent living to supporting the completion of academic work, accommodating cognitive disabilities, or even supporting communication and socialization. The applications of assistive technologies are widespread and diverse in the ways in which the technology itself can be utilized and the people it can support. The increasing developments in technology are bringing in a new way of interventions for all types of students with diverse special needs in the modern educational atmosphere.

Technology-Supported Interventions for Students With Special Needs in the 21st Century covers effective assistive modern technologies for overcoming specific challenges encountered by students with special needs for promoting their learning and development, educational attainment, social engagement, self-sufficiency, and quality of life. This book presents an overview of contemporary assistive tools and approaches integrated with digital technologies for students with special needs; shares findings of cutting-edge research on using digital technologies; provides evidence-based digital technology-facilitated tools and strategies for effective diagnosis, treatment, educational intervention, and care of students with special needs; and identifies promising areas and directions for future innovations, applications, and research. It is ideal for classroom teachers, special educators, educational technologists, intervention specialists, medical professionals, caregivers, administrators, policymakers, teacher educators, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the use of assistive technologies for students with special needs in the digital era.

About the Author

Xiongyi Liu is Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Research Methods in the Department of Curriculum and Foundations at Cleveland State University, USA. Dr. Liu received a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and previously held a research professor position at University of Maine-Orono. Her research interests include computer-supported collaborative learning, serious games in STEM education, self-regulation and motivation, and technology-facilitated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Liu has established international collaborations in many of her research endeavors.

Patrick Wachira is an associate professor in the departments of Mathematics and Teacher Education at Cleveland State University. His main research interests are in the preparation of teachers to teach mathematics with understanding facilitated by the appropriate and effective integration of technology. In addition, his research focuses on culturally responsive pedagogy.