Assistive Technology (AT)Lauren Mayo

According to the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, assistive technology refers to

"any item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain, or

improvefunctional capabilities of individuals with

disabilities“Watch this video to see how AT helps people reach their full potential!

Low-Tech Assistive Technology

High-Tech Assistive Technology

Importance of Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology allows students with impairments/disabilities to overcome barriers they face in the education and in life.

It allows these individuals to function at a level at which they otherwise would not be able to. Watch this video to see ho

w AT enables dreams to come true!

Assistive Technology in the School

AT allows special education students to receive instruction in the general education classroom (inclusion), where they can learn the material in a way they understand it.

AT helps eliminate barriers students may face that prevent them from being at the same level as their classmates

Making Cupcakes using ATA self -

contained special

education class makes cupcakes in

the classroom.

Students, no matter the disability, are able to participate using AT to complete the activity.

AT such as switches and wireless adapters allow all to participate and stay safe.

Laws Regarding Assistive Technology

The Rehabilitation Amendments: identified discrimination amongst individuals with disabilities and ensured that these individuals have the same access rights to technology and are provided with proper adaptations.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: broadened the definition of those who are considered to have disabilities and the adaptations that must be provided for them

Laws Regarding Assistive Technology Cont.

The Individuals with Disabilities Act: led to the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and mandated that assistive technology options be considered for students with disabilities/impairments.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA): maintains the right of all children with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. It is closely aligned with the No Child Left Behind Act and maintains that IEP teams should consider assistive technology for students with disabilities.

IDEAThe IDEA also describes services that a school might

need in place to ensure that the assistive technology is helpful to the student and that it aids in their educational success. Below is a list of these services.

Evaluation of the technology needs of the individual, including a functional evaluation in the individual’s environment.

Purchasing, leasing or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices for individuals with disabilities.

Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing or replacing of assistive technology devices.

Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions or services with assistive technologies or devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs (O.T., P.T., Speech).

Assistive technology training or technical assistance with assistive technology for an individual with a disability, or where appropriate, the family of an individual with disabilities.

Training or technical assistance for professionals, employers or other individuals who provide services to employ or otherwise are substantially involved in the major life functions of individuals with disabilities.

Example of AT for the Visually Impaired

Screen Readers are a software that can be installed to operate along side an operating system. Using a speech synthesizer, the program reads aloud all text that appears on the screen for the blind or visually impaired.

Screen magnifiers can also be attached to a computer monitor to enhance text that appears on the screen for visually impaired individuals.

Example of AT for the Physically Impaired

A tool that allows an individual who is physically disabled/impaired, such as a quadriplegic, the opportunity to interact with a computer. Manipulating the computer is possible through the use of a mouth stick, similar to a joystick, that operates by the user blowing air into the stick. The mouth stick and puffs of air work as a mouse and allow the individual to click on web pages, type, and perform various computer functions.

Example of AT for the Hearing Impaired

A personal FM listening system is a device that transmits a speaker's voice directly to the user's ear. By directly transmitting the sounds to the listener’s ear, other background noises and interferences are eliminated and allow the listener to focus on what the speaker is saying.

The speaker must wear a wireless transmitter that includes microphone and the listener wears an ear piece.

Example of AT for the Learning Disabled

Picture communication is an effective way of communicating with students who are learning disabled. For example, autistic children often do well with picture communication to follow the steps in a process, express emotions, or to refer to a schedule. Students can use pictures to also communicate when they are unable to process their words correctly or are non-verbal.

Assistive Technology At Work

The student shown above is visually impaired and has limited head and limb control. With his body strapped in the stander he is able to isolate movement with his left arm to hit a switch to make the monkey play music. He can not see the switch, but he knows it is there once we place his hand over it. It is a large 3” in diameter switch so he does not

need precision to activate it. The monkey plays 4 different songs. He does have his preferences. Some songs he will listen to and others he will skip through. The purpose of

this activity is primarily cause/effect for entertainment.

Assistive Technology At Work

This student is orthopedically impaired. We have hope that he will one day be accurate enough with his movements and switches to use one for communication purposes.

Currently he is using switches for cause/effect, choice between 2 things, and independent activities and entertainment. In one of these photos he is sitting up with

physical supports and he is racing two different animals. This is so he will begin learning that different switches and buttons control different things. The other photo is of him

holding a small 1” in diameter switch which is connected to a vibrating pillow. When he holds down the switch the pillow vibrates.

Assistive Technology At WorkThese are voice

recorders that will hold up to 10 seconds of speech. These are programmed currently with student names, the letter and sound they are working on, and day of the week. The students can push the button. To give a response in place of their voice since they are all non-verbal.

Assistive Technology At WorkThis is a bubble machine

which this student really enjoys. He has to hold down the switch for it to work. When you let up it stops. He not only enjoys the bubbles for himself, but it is a way for him to interact with his classmates by blowing bubbles for them

ReferencesAssistive Technology for Education, LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/

Doering, A., &, Roblyer, M. (2011). Teaching and learning with technology in education. Integrating

Educational technology into teaching. (6th ed.), (pp. 396-413). Upper Saddle River, New

Jersey:

Pearson.

Gold, M., & Lowe, C. (n.d.). The integration of assistive technology in standard classroom practices:

Practical recommendations for k-12 general educators. Retrieved from the University of

West Texas A & M University Website:

http://www.utamu.edu/webres/File/Journals/MCJ/gold.pdf

National Assistive Technology Research Institute. (n.d.). Assistive technology legal mandates.

Retrieved from http://natri.uky.edu/resources/fundamentals/laws.html

References Continued

National Assistive Technology Research Institute. (n.d.). What is assistive technology? Retrieved

from http://natri.uky.edu/resources/fundamentals/defined.html

Raskind, M, &, Stanberry, K. (2009). Assistive technology for kids with learning disabilities: an

overview.

Reading rockets. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33074

Teach Thought. (2013.). 8 Helpful assistive technology tools for your classroom. Retrieved from

http://www.teachthought.com/technology/8-helpful-assistive-technology-tools-for-your-

classroom/