On the Agenda…

What is A.T.?

The Continuum

In Action

Scenarios

Definition of A.T.

Assistive technology 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 the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

-- (Federal Register, August 19, 1991, p. 41272)

Low Tech A.T.

Anything you could buy at a local store

High Tech A.T.

Very expensive, computers, high end AACMidTech

A.T.

More expensive and usually ordered from catalog

Assistive Technology Continuum

Low Tech Tools toSupport Learning

Low Tech Tools

Can be anything from .39¢ pencil grips to under about $100 of technology

Easy way to think about it is that low tech is what we could go to Office Depot or Wal-Mart and buy

Pencil Grips Support poor writing due to a

lack of fine motor control and consistent pressure.

Helps to support hand and finger fatigue.

Try different styles with students to support improved grasp.

Most types are available from your OT or at The Learning Path

Raised Lined Paper

This unique paper actually has raised green lines! The raised line assists children by providing a physical bump to help “feel” where to stop.

This bright white paper 8 1/2 x 11” printed with green lines, comes in 2 widths. Wide rule, with a dashed line or narrow ruled

Page Ups

Used for positioning of items while

•Reading

•Copying

•Completing work

Post-It Note Collection

Use Post-Its to mark where to start and stop reading.

Use Post-Its to mark the Table of Contents, Index, and other reference points for quick access.

Use to locate a given chapter and assignments for easy location access.

Erasable Highlighters

Highlight key ideas and erase with ease.

Make note of unfamiliar words.

Supports “over highlighting” tendencies.

Highlighter Tape Removable & reusable

Easy to write on

Use a coding system Pink: important vocabulary. Blue: chapter questions. Yellow: dates Orange: facts/picture/maps Green: names to know. Words that they do not know, to

look up.

Webster's New Misspeller's Dictionary

"How can I look it up in the dictionary if I can't spell it?"

Handy dictionary alphabetically lists the most common misspellings of more than 15,000 frequently used words, and gives the correct spellings in easy-to-read boldface type.

Colored Overlays

Reading and Writing Guides

Magnifying Reading Guide with Color

Math line

Magnetic math

Time Timer

Other Low-Tech Tools

Knob Brush Set

Pre-K Pencil Grips and Adapted Scissors

Adapted Papers

Adapted BooksJack and the Beanstalk Let’s Get Ready for School

LeapPad

Base system

Headphones

AC Adapted (also works with batteries)

Pen for manipulating story (attached to book)

LeapMat

Interactive learning mat

Has 6 different options for learning

Includes manual with activities, bingo extension activity, and other learning materials

LOTTIE Kitswww.onionmountaintech.com

Basic LoTTIE Kit

LoTTIE Kit for Literacy (secondary)

LoTTIE Kit for Math

LoTTIE Kit for Little Fingers

LoTTIE Special Papers Kit

LoTTIE Colors Kit

•Collections of Low and Mid Tech Items

Mid-Tech Tools

Mid range in prices

Items can also be purchased at local stores or ordered through specialized catalogs

Examples include software, calculators, handheld spellcheckers

Coin-U-Lator Math Shark

AlphaSmart and Neo

Portable Word Processors give students access to word processing

Talking Calculator

Reading Support

Start-To-Finish Books

High-interest, controlled- vocabulary seriesthat gets struggling students reading.

www.donjohnston.com

Higher Tech Software and Tools

Idea Organizing Software

Inspiration and Kidspiration

www.inspiration.com Free 30 day trial can be downloaded for each

Talking Word Processors

IntelliTalkIII

www.intellitools.com

Write:OutLoud

www.donjohnston.com

Word Prediction

Co:Writer

www.donjohnston.com

Picture Support for Writing

PowerPoint Books

Aid in curriculum in a variety of ways Build pre-knowledge Provide reinforcement of skills As a writing task for older students, preparing books

for younger students (builds literacy for both groups)

Examples If you give…

Reading and Writing Support Word Talk

www.wordtalk.co.uk

Kurzweil

IntelliKeys

Switches

Communication

Boardmaker

Symbol software with multitude of uses Communication board PECS: Picture Exchange

Communication System Engineered Environments

Line drawings, Photos

PhotosBox photos

Classroom-based

Elementary

Manual Communication Book

Manual Communication Book

MCBs: Activity-based

Picture Schedules

Picture Schedules cont.

More AAC Devices

Turn N Talk

Hawk

Using a high tech AAC device

Higher end AAC devicesDV4 and MT4 from Dynavoxsys Pathfinder from Prentke Romich

Company

Dynavox Series 5

Let’s take this to real life…

Scenario #1

You are working with a student who has a lot of trouble getting words on paper. You talk with her, and she is able to express her thoughts pretty effectively.

What are some things you might try?

Scenario #2

You have a student who is fully included receiving services as a student with an significant intellectual disability. She has a lot of difficulty doing her work independently, and writing and math are hard curriculum areas for her to participate in…Her teachers are interested in things to try, especially on the computer.

What are some things you could try?

Scenario #3

You are asked to consult with a student who is twice exceptional – both Gifted and SLD. He can’t seem to follow directions to get his homework done at night, and it takes his 20 minutes or more to find things in his desk or backpack.

What are some things you might suggest?

Scenario #4

You have been working with a student who doesn’t have much verbal communication. The teacher has asked for help in setting up some easy ways for her to participate – answering questions, asking for help, etc…

What can you suggest they might try?

The Assistive Technology Referral Process

So, how does a student can access to assistive technology?

Occurs within an IEP team

Data collection

Website for more information

www.sbac.edu/~esewww.region2library.orgwww.fdlrssprings.org http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/