EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MULTISENSORY LEARNING AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES ON SPECIAL EDUCATION

Sohaib Ullah, Marwa Zaib

Abstract


This paper explores how different educational interventions, that is, multisensory learning strategies, audiobooks, and assistive technology, can improve the academic participation and social inclusion of children with special needs. Quantitative research design was employed, and surveys were administered by educators, special education professionals, and parents of children with disabilities across diverse learning environments. In the results, multisensory learning strategies were perceived as the best intervention (mean score = 3.51), followed by assistive technologies (3.35) and audiobooks (3.28). There were also gender differences, with male respondents perceiving multisensory learning techniques more positively than their female counterparts. The findings indicate that participants perceived an integrated set of interventions as useful for supporting the diverse needs of children with disabilities and for promoting academic participation and social inclusion. The study suggests that participants viewed the combination of multisensory learning methods, audiobooks, and assistive technologies as a potentially comprehensive approach to supporting the developmental and educational needs of children with disabilities. Future studies are needed to understand the relationships among these interventions, gender disparities, and their long-term impact on inclusive education practices.


Keywords


multisensory learning; assistive technology; audiobooks; inclusive education; children with disabilities

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ahmed, S., Rahman, M. S., Kaiser, M. S., & Hosen, A. S. (2025). Advancing personalized and inclusive education for students with disability through artificial intelligence: perspectives, challenges, and opportunities. Digital, 5(2), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/digital5020011

Ainscow, M. (1991). Effective schools for all: An alternative approach to special needs in education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 21(3), 293-308. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764910210304

Al-Azawei, A., Serenelli, F., & Lundqvist, K. (2016). Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A content analysis of peer reviewed journals from 2012 to 2015. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 16(3), 39-56. https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v16i3.19295

Arvaniti, F. (2025). Τhe Effectiveness of Special Education Interventions in Promoting the Academic and Social Integration of Migrant Children. Knowledge-International Journal, 69(2), 431-436. https://ojs.ikm.mk/index.php/kij/article/view/7255

Belsky, J. (2001). Emanuel Miller Lecture: Developmental risks (still) associated with early child care. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 42(7), 845-859. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00782.

Beveridge, S. (2013). Children, families and schools: Developing partnerships for inclusive education: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Children-Families-and-Schools-Developing-Partnerships-for-Inclusive-Education/Beveridge/p/book/9780415279345

Blackwell, W. H., & Rossetti, Z. S. (2014). The development of individualized education programs: Where have we been and where should we go now? Sage Open, 4(2), 2158244014530411. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014530411

Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30. https://doi.org/10.33235/jarna.22.2.27-30

Carson, C. (2014). Rethinking special education's "least restrictive environment" requirement. Mich. L. Rev., 113, 1397. https://doi.org/10.36644/mlr.113.8.rethinking

Cummings, E. O. (2011). Assistive and adaptive technology resources. Knowledge Quest, 39(3), 70.

Erdem, R. (2017). Students with special educational needs and assistive technologies: A literature review. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology-TOJET, 16(1), 128-146. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1124910

Grigorenko, E. L., Compton, D. L., Fuchs, L. S., Wagner, R. K., Willcutt, E. G., & Fletcher, J. M. (2020). Understanding, educating, and supporting children with specific learning disabilities: 50 years of science and practice. American psychologist, 75(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000452

Haager, D., & Klingner, J. K. (2005). Differentiating instruction in inclusive classrooms: The special educator's guide: Allyn & Bacon.

Hinton, P. R., McMurray, I., & Brownlow, C. (2014). SPSS explained: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315797298

Hollings, S. (2021). Implementation barriers of inclusive education and their impact on stakeholders: A review of the literature. International Journal of Childhood Education, 2(1), 27-45. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000452

Kessels, U., Heyder, A., Latsch, M., & Hannover, B. (2018). How gender differences in academic engagement relate to students’ gender identity. In Gender and educational achievement (pp. 116-125): Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315622798-11/gender-differences-academic-engagement-relate-students-gender-identity-ursula-kessels-anke-heyder-martin-latsch-bettina-hannover

Kirby, A. V., Williams, K. L., Watson, L. R., Sideris, J., Bulluck, J., & Baranek, G. T. (2019). Sensory features and family functioning in families of children with autism and developmental disabilities: Longitudinal associations. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(2), https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.027391

Lamport, M. A., Graves, L., & Ward, A. (2012). Special needs students in inclusive classrooms: The impact of social interaction on educational outcomes for learners with emotional and behavioral disabilities. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 1(5), 54-69.

Lendrum, A., & Humphrey, N. (2012). The importance of studying the implementation of interventions in school settings. Oxford Review of Education, 38(5), 635-652. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2012.734800

Lopatynska, N. A., Deka, I., Dobrovolska, N., Omelchenko, M., & Protas, O. (2023). The role of inclusive education in the social integration of children with special educational needs. Brazilian Journal of Education, Technology and Society (BRAJETS), 16(1), 135–142. https://doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v16.n1.135-142

Mantey, E. E. (2017). Discrimination against children with disabilities in mainstream schools in Southern Ghana: Challenges and perspectives from stakeholders. International Journal of Educational Development, 54, 18-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.02.001

Morales Jr, A., Elimanco, R. M., Tenerife-Cañete, J. J., Abelgas, L., Añora, H., & Pinili, L. (2025). Assessing the Impact of Early Intervention Programs on Students with Special Educational Needs (LSENs). British Journal of Teacher Education and Pedagogy, 4(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.32996/bjtep.2025.4.2.11

Nees, M. A., & Berry, L. F. (2013). Audio assistive technology and accommodations for students with visual impairments: Potentials and problems for delivering curricula and educational assessments. Performance Enhancement & Health, 2(3), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2013.08.016

Osher, D., Sprague, J., Weissberg, R. P., Axelrod, J., Keenan, S., Kendziora, K., & Zins, J. E. (2008). A comprehensive approach to promoting social, emotional, and academic growth in contemporary schools. Best practices in school psychology, 4, 1263-1278. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286336287_A_comprehensive_approach_to_promoting_social_emotional_and_academic_growth_in_contemporary_schools

Polyium, M., & Jongnantawat, P. (2024). How do multisensory teaching strategies enhance literacy skills among students with learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms? วารสาร สห ศาสตร์ ศรีปทุม ชลบุรี, 10(3), 1-10. https://www.chonburi.spu.ac.th/interdiscip/filepdf/202412261954701511.pdf

Rafiyya, A., Kraiwanit, T., Limna, P., Sonsuphap, R., Kasrisom, A., & Snongtaweeporn, T. (2024). Early childhood social-emotional development: An impact on a developing country. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 13(5), 3081-3089. http://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i5.29462

Rathvon, N. (2008). Effective school interventions: Evidence-based strategies for improving student outcomes: Guilford Press. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/PI

Raza, M. M., Alam, A., & Wara, M. S. M. K. Assistive Technology: A Game-Changer for Children with Learning Disabilities, Enhancing Independence and Well-being. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15222742

Reichrath, E., de Witte, L. P., & Winkens, I. (2010). Interventions in general education for students with disabilities: A systematic review. International journal of inclusive education, 14(6), 563-580. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/107332/

Shakespeare, T. (2006). The social model of disability. In The disability studies reader (pp. 16-24): Routledge. http://thedigitalcommons.org/docs/shakespeare_social-model-of-disability.pdf

Sri Takshara, K., & Bhuvaneswari, G. (2025). Empowering visually impaired individuals: The transformative roles of education, technology, and social connections in fostering resilience and well-being. British Journal of Visual Impairment. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196241310995

Tzivinikou, S., & Papoutsaki, K. (2016). Studying teaching methods, strategies and best practices for young children with special educational needs. Early Child Development and Care, 186(6), 971-980. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2015.1071101

Ugalde, L., Santiago-Garabieta, M., Villarejo-Carballido, B., & Puigvert, L. (2021). Impact of interactive learning environments on learning and cognitive development of children with special educational needs: A literature review. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 674033. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.674033

Volpe, G., & Gori, M. (2019). Multisensory interactive technologies for primary education: From science to technology. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1076. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01076

Zucker, G. H. (2010). Intervention Strategies for Pre-School Students with Special Needs. Paper presented at the Forum on Public Policy Online. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ912980.pdf




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12709/mest.14.14.02.29

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.