Adapted Keyboard

I have already spoken about adaptive keyboards in a previous post, but today I wanted to dive a little deeper into the specific options you have for adaptive keyboards.  Here's a chart collecting the options and the characteristics of students who would benefit from them:

Type of Keyboard	Characteristics of Students Who Would Benefit
Expanded Keyboard (It is enlarged/oversized. Provides a larger surface area.  They can vary.  Can be QWERTY layout or ABC layout.)	Poor fine motor control (provides larger target) However, students need to have a sufficient range of motion to access all of the keys
Mini Keyboard (Smaller than a standard keyboard)	Only have use of one hand Motor impairments that: restrict their range of motion who have good accuracy within a narrow range of motion Typically neuromuscular conditions such as Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy
One Handed Keyboard	Good finger dexterity, but only use of one hand
On Screen Keyboard (Puts an image of keyboard on the computer monitor.  Allows user to click on letters, numbers, functions with a mouse.)	Students without motor control to type, but enough to control a mouse/joystick/trackball Students who have difficulty visually refocusing when they transfer their attention from the monitor to the keyboard
Customizable or Programmable Keyboard	Cognitive deficits Learning disabilities Any student! It is customizable! Can be used to block out distractions Can change color, size, font on keyboard