What are the major types of alternative keyboards?

The major types of alternative keyboards are Expanded keyboards, Mini-keyboards, One-Hand keyboards, On-screen keyboards, and Customizable keyboards. 

Expanded keyboards are enlarged keyboards, they offer students a larger area to type on. These are perfect for students with poor fine motor skills and need a larger area to hit their target on. 

Mini-keyboards are keyboards that are smaller than the tradition sized keyboard. They help students with motor impairments such as muscular dystrophy. 

One-Hand keyboards are keyboards designed for students with only one fully functioning hand. They work the same way a traditional keyboard works. Students that benefit from these keyboards are  students that have a good range of skill in one hand like I mentioned perviously.

On-screen keyboards are keyboard images that appear on the computer screen. Students then use the on screen keyboard the same way as a traditional keyboard. Students who do not possess the motor skills to use a tradition keyboard and also students with visual refocusing issues.

Customizable keyboards are keyboards made to meet each students own unique individual needs.  Students who benefit from custom keyboards are students that cannot use a traditional keyboard,  can use a mouse or mouse emulator, or students that have cognitive deficits. 

In the next blog, I will cover the major types of mouse emulators and the students who benefit from them. 

Assistive Technology in the Classroom Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities