Multisensory Educational Software

Assistive technology does not always have to be a device, like we've talked about before. It can include the software that you use with the devices or even a computer. 

Multisensory teaching is simultaneously using multiple pathways in the brain to reach your students. You must have at least two different sensory items to make it multisensory. All students could benefit from this type of teaching. The types of students that would mostly benefit from this are students with special needs and also could help students with different cultural backgrounds, English language learners, and urban and rural students.

A key thing to note is that teachers have to individualize the multisensory experience for each student. "Students with poor eyesight may be frightened by a "flying" bird in the Multi-Sensory Environments, while another whose vision is not impaired may be delighted by the same projected image.Music may be pleasurable for some clients, but too stimulating for others. In another situation, one who is tactile defensive will not want to touch or even have near them any tactile stimuli, and should not be pushed with this, but allowed to explore other aspects of the Multi-Sensory Environment (Especialneeds.com, 2013)." 

A popular math multisensory software program is Touch Math.

In this program the use of touch, hearing, voice and sight are used. The student touches each of the touch points on the numbers to add, subtract, multiply and divide. The program supplements any textbook and compliments the manipulative approach. (Touchmath.com, 2013)

http://www.touchmath.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.welcome&gPage=23

Extras:

I found this site really helpful if your school does not have the money to spend on multisensory products: http://www.heidisongs.com/Free_Downloads/assets/Multisensory_Tips_PhonAw-CVC.pdf

References:

Especialneeds.com (2013). What Are The Benefits Of A Multi-Sensory Environment (MSE)?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.especialneeds.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-multi-sensory-environment.html [Accessed: 21 Oct 2013].

Touchmath.com (2013). Welcome to TouchMath, Multisensory Teaching, Learning Math Tools Make Math Fun!. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.touchmath.com/ [Accessed: 21 Oct 2013].