title: Benefits of the use of ICT in school activities by students with motor, speech, visual, and hearing impairment: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to enhance participation in educational activities for students with physical disabilities. Even though incorporating ICTs into teaching and learning in education has become an important issue, it is unclear what evidence research has provided. The aim of this study was to investigate types of ICT items and how ICT is being used by students with physical disabilities, and describe the benefits of ICT use in school activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search, covering the period 2000-May 2012, was performed in the databases AMED, CINAHL, Eric, OTseeker, Psych Info, PubMed, and Scopus. Data analysis entailed extracting, editing, grouping, and abstracting findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 32 articles were included, 16 of which were intervention studies. More than half of the studies concerned students with motor impairments. Type of ICT used differed among impairment groups, and ICT seemed to be especially beneficial for writing, spelling, and communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though the review found heterogeneity across the studies students seemed to benefit from ICT use regardless of the type. For future research it is important to highlight intervention studies, especially for students with visual, hearing, and communication impairments.
authors: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University , Sweden.
authors: Helene
authors: H
authors: Lidström
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Hemmingsson
mesh_terms: D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003201:Computers; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012574:Schools; D012984:Software; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: assistive technology; children; disability; participation