Technology-Assisted Instruction in Special Education

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "Special and Inclusive Education".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 2237

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Education and Technology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua 500207, Taiwan
Interests: development and application of artificial intelligence systems; virtual reality and augmented reality for special education; digital technology and special education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a new Special Issue of Education Sciences titled “Technology-assisted Instruction in Special Education”. This Special Issue invites research exploring how technology addresses the diverse needs of students with disabilities, including autism, intellectual disabilities, and sensory impairments. These learners often face challenges with traditional instruction. The integration of assistive technologies, AI-based tutors, virtual and augmented reality, and adaptive learning systems enhances accessibility, engagement, and independence. This Special Issue aims to highlight innovative approaches supporting individualized education plans and inclusive learning environments. We welcome studies on system design, technology-based teaching strategies, and technology-enhanced interventions that improve academic, social, and life skills, fostering evidence-based practices to advance equitable and effective education for all learners.

The scope of technology-assisted instruction is broad and continually evolving. It includes the use of computer-based learning programs, speech-generating devices, virtual and augmented reality environments, mobile applications, AI technology, inclusive technology, and adaptive learning systems. These tools are integrated into individualized education plans (IEPs) and support a wide range of instructional goals—from basic skill acquisition to complex social interaction training.

Suggested themes:

  • AI-based adaptive learning systems in special education;
  • Virtual and augmented reality applications for students with disabilities;
  • Technology-enhanced social and behavioral interventions;
  • Inclusive and accessible design of educational technologies;
  • Teacher and caregiver training in technology integration;
  • Mobile and wearable technologies for special education;
  • Empirical studies on learning outcomes with technology use;
  • Emerging trends and future directions in the field.

Prof. Dr. Yufang Cheng
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • technology-assisted instruction
  • assistive technology
  • special education
  • inclusive education
  • virtual reality
  • augmented reality
  • AI-based education
  • educational technology design
  • wearable technology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 1152 KB  
Article
Building Capacity with Assistive Technology in Teacher Education
by Alicia M. Drelick and Brent Elder
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16030418 - 10 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Assistive Technology (AT) is legally mandated via the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), but remains unevenly implemented in K-12 schools, in part due to teachers having limited preparation for selecting and using AT in [...] Read more.
Assistive Technology (AT) is legally mandated via the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), but remains unevenly implemented in K-12 schools, in part due to teachers having limited preparation for selecting and using AT in inclusive classrooms. In this practice-oriented article, we describe how we designed two co-taught courses to systematically embed AT within a special education teacher preparation program. Guided by Disabilities Studies in Education (DSE) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), we organized instruction around the AT Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (AT-MTSS), positioning service teachers as being responsible for various assistive technologies. In this article, we outline course structures and assignments, including accessibility labs grounded in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG); structured labs for text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and AAC tools; field-based AT consideration and intervention using the SETT Framework; and an emerging focus on ethical consideration around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in special education. We describe an emerging co-teaching practice, “One Teach–One Tech” through which we pair methods-based instruction with a real-time model of AT. We argue that the intentional embedding of assistive technology in pre-service programs is critical to expanding technology-assisted instruction and realizing the access promised to students under policies (i.e., IDEA, Section 504, and ESSA). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technology-Assisted Instruction in Special Education)
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