Home›Lesson Plans›Computer Science›Impacts of Computing · Grade 7

Assistive Technology

Seventh graders discover how computing can open doors for people with disabilities, learning what screen readers, captions, voice control, and other assistive tools do, and why building technology for everyone matters.

Grade 7Assistive Technology45 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know what assistive tech is.
  • ✓Name common tools.
  • ✓Link tech to access.
  • ✓Value inclusive design.
Essential Question

A person who cannot see can still read a web page, and a person who cannot use a mouse can still control a computer. How does technology make that possible?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Explore Assistive Technology · Interactive

Explore Assistive Technology

Project this and open each card to explore screen readers, captions, voice control, and other assistive tools.

♿ Explore how assistive technology helps people use computersTry it

The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Technology for Everyone

5 min

A person who cannot see can still read a web page, and a person who cannot use a mouse can still control a computer. How does technology make that possible?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a screen reader in action.
  • Ask how it helps.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Explore Assistive Technology

12 min

Students explore assistive tools.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Explore Assistive Technology.
  • Open each card.
  • Note the ideas.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explore.
  • Read.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Match the Need

13 min

Students connect a tool to a need.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a barrier someone faces.
  • Pick an assistive tool.
  • Say how it helps.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Pick.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Accessible Design

15 min

Students improve a design for access.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick an app or device.
  • Find one access barrier.
  • Add a feature that removes it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Find.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — Built for All

5 min

Students reflect on assistive technology.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What does a screen reader do?
  • Why should technology be designed for everyone?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
2-IC-20

Compare tradeoffs of how computing tools serve different people's needs.

CSTA
2-IC-21

Discuss how computing can increase access and equity for users.

CSTA
2-IC-22

Describe how inclusive design makes technology usable by more people.

ISTE
1.1.d

Empowered Learner: use technology to meet diverse learning needs.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Assistive-tool picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ helps someone who ___ .”
  • Explore one card at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with screen readers and captions.
  • Try turning on captions together.
  • Explore one idea before the next.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Match several tools to the needs they meet.
  • Test a device's accessibility settings.
  • Explain why inclusive design helps all users.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Assistive-tool cards
  • 💻Explore Assistive Technology
  • ♿A device with accessibility settings
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

assistive technologya tool that helps a person with a disabilityaccessibilityhow usable something is for people of all abilitiesscreen readersoftware that reads on-screen text aloudcaptionstext of spoken words shown on a videovoice controloperating a device by speaking to italternative inputa different way to control a device, like a switchinclusive designdesigning so more people can use somethingbarriersomething that makes a task hard or impossible for someone
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does a screen reader do?
It turns on-screen text into speech or braille, so a person who cannot see can read by listening.
QUESTION 2
Why should technology be designed for everyone?
Inclusive design removes barriers, so people with different abilities can all use the same tools and take part fully.
QUESTION 3
Name one assistive tool for someone who cannot use a mouse.
Voice control, a switch, eye-tracking, or an adapted keyboard.

Create: my accessible design.

Have students pick an app or device, find one access barrier, and add a feature that removes it, so designing for everyone becomes a habit. A printable assistive-technology worksheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Assistive TechnologyFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Assistive TechnologyQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Assistive TechnologyPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: accessibility, alternative input, assistive technology, barrier, captions, inclusive design, screen reader, voice control
  1. text of spoken words shown on a video
  2. operating a device by speaking to it
  3. designing so more people can use something
  4. something that makes a task hard or impossible for someone
  5. software that reads on-screen text aloud
  6. a different way to control a device, like a switch
  7. a tool that helps a person with a disability
  8. how usable something is for people of all abilities

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does a screen reader do?
  2. Why should technology be designed for everyone?
  3. Name one assistive tool for someone who cannot use a mouse.
Answer key — Part A: 1) captions · 2) voice control · 3) inclusive design · 4) barrier · 5) screen reader · 6) alternative input · 7) assistive technology · 8) accessibility
Part B: 1) It turns on-screen text into speech or braille, so a person who cannot see can read by listening. 2) Inclusive design removes barriers, so people with different abilities can all use the same tools and take part fully. 3) Voice control, a switch, eye-tracking, or an adapted keyboard.