What Are the Different Types of Special Education Software?

Special education software can teach children skills or help manage their education data in schools with special education programs. There are different types of programs to help children strengthen their reading, speaking and writing skills. Programs that help children enhance their math skills are also available. These programs include games and opportunities for children to practice skills that they will need in life as well as in school.

Math skills software can teach children through games or music. Special needs students can learn to count and learn basic math skills using interactive programs that allow them to manipulate objects on the computer. Multiplication, addition and subtraction lessons are typical in math skills software. Furthermore, children can practice what they have learned using workbooks that accompany the software.

You can further enhance your child’s experience with math skills software by hiring a tutor to guide them through the programs. It’s especially helpful to hire a tutor who is familiar with the student’s specific coursework, since they may be able to provide additional instruction that the software itself does not. For instance, algebra 2 tutors can support a student through the entire algebra 2-course curriculum using supplementary activities and special education software to help a student catch up to their classmates.

Keyboarding software helps children with physical disabilities type on the computer. This software can help children with dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and autism learn how to type. Depending on the child's disability, the program might teach typing in short drills, offering the child the opportunity to practice what he or she has learned. Children who are dyslexic can use software to help them practice typing without transposing letters. The software can also be effective in helping children who typically have trouble writing correctly.

Special education software for language arts skills might use music and speaking exercises to help children develop and enhance reading comprehension skills, pronunciation and grammar. Some programs use pictures and audio, which requires them to identify the pictures and pronounce words after they hear a prompt. Language arts software can teach children who have disabilities to use words correctly in complete sentences. Some language arts programs teach using interactive games in which children earn points by giving correct answers. Older children can learn to write essays with software designed to assist them with researching, organizing, writing and editing.

Teachers who work in classrooms where there are students with disabilities might use special education software to track goal achievement and accommodations and modifications that are required for each child. The software is often used to produce an individual education plan (IEP) for students in special education programs. Additional special education software packages can help children with behavioral problems or social problems.

The software often contains curricula that focus on developing problem-solving skills. Some of the software systems require children to watch multimedia presentations of stories and answer questions related to them. The children learn how to improve their decision-making processes. Functional skills such as asking for help, expressing a complaint or handling peer pressure are some of the skills addressed in functional skills software programs.