Assistive Technology Or is it Educational Technology for
everyone? Not just for students with IEPs!
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Presenters Kasie Hamman, General Education Teacher Sean Kugler,
Assistive Technology Specialist Laura Leff-Allen, Special Education
Teacher Amy Ronn, Special Education Teacher Valerie West, Speech
Language Pathologist Linda Wilkins, Occupational Therapist
www.fusd1.org/at
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Definition The term assistive technology device means any
"item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired
commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used
to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a
child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device
that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of that
device."[20 USCS 1401(1)(2)34 C.F.R. 300.5]. IDEA Statute: Title
I/A/Section 602
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The Continuum of Technology Assistive Technology No/Low Tech
Simple Little Maintenance Limited or no electronics Mid Tech Some
Maintenance Some Training More Electronics High Tech Complex
Electronics More Training More Maintenance
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Why Use Assistive Technology? IDEA 1988 was the first time that
IDEA governed the provision of AT Provides students with another
way to access materials May motivate some students more so than
only using traditional means May help the teacher distribute their
time/workload
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Identify the Skill, not the Technology When thinking about how
best to implement technology, it is necessary to determine what
skill the student needs support in. After the skill has been
identified, the appropriate technology can be identified as well.
ADE has created a tool to assist teachers in properly identifying
both the skill and the technology options to support that
skill.
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Examples of Assistive Technology
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Consideration Guide We will train staff on the guide.
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Breaking Down the Guide The Guide specifically addresses:
Reading Writing Spelling Math Listening Oral Communication
Activities of Daily Living Recreation and Leisure Prevocational and
Vocational Seating, Positioning and Mobility
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Tasks What you want the students to do Identify letters in
isolation and sequence Recognize/read name Read basic/primer sight
words Comprehend age/grade appropriate reading materials Read
material from a worksheet with comprehension Answer literal
questions regarding materials
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Standard Tools How the lesson is traditionally presented and
carried out. Worksheets Textbooks Workbooks Presentation software
Websites Printed testing materials
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Accommodations Adjustments to the lesson to meet a students
individual needs: Increased time Color code to emphasize key points
(highlight) Adding color background for student with visual needs
Adjusting the way things are printed Spacing for letters or lines
Size Color Font
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Modifications Changing a lesson for student compared to the
rest of the class to meet a students individual needs: Partnered
reading Using High-interest, low-reading level materials Increased
time to complete assignment Decrease length of assignment Simplify
complexity of Text Color code to emphasize key points (highlight)
Customize the vocabulary list Use symbol-supported text
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AT Solutions The items used to help the students achieve the
lesson goals. These will vary depending on the lesson. Slant boards
Overlays Audio books E-readers or E-text Text-to-speech software
Screen readers Mobile devices with a variety of applications
Speech-to-text software
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Exploring A Lesson Math Math Task: Task: Standard Tools:
Standard Tools: Accommodations: Accommodations: Modifications:
Modifications: AT Solutions: AT Solutions:
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Exploring A Lesson Cherry Blossom Festival Cherry Blossom
Festival Task: Task: Standard Tools: Standard Tools:
Accommodations: Accommodations: Modifications: Modifications: AT
Solutions: AT Solutions:
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Exploring A Lesson Christmas Christmas Task: Task: Standard
Tools: Standard Tools: Accommodations: Accommodations:
Modifications: Modifications: AT Solutions: AT Solutions: