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Assistive Technology

Presented to you by: Caitlin Bailey

Overview-

According to Wikipedia’s Definition, Assistive Technology is defined as….

“ An umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also included the process used in selecting, locating, and using

them.”

Assistive Technology promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly(or had great difficulty) unable to accomplish, by providing enhancements to the technology needed to accomplish tasks.

Difference Between AT Device and Service

Assistive Technology Devices are identified in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) 2004 as,

- Any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

As defined in IDEA as well, an assistive technology service is..

- Any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, and use of an assistive technology device.

Why is Assistive Technology Important?

Because…

Young children with disabilities need an enriched environment to promote their social and cognitive participation and technologies can play a role in this.

Assistive Technology tools make it easier for young children with disabilities not only participate in day-to-day activities, but also to do so independently.

Background of Importance

A national sample of service providers agreed that a significant

numbers of young children (45 percent) who may need AT are not receiving it at present.

Therefore, Assistive Technology devices are not being used to their fullest extent.

These devices and tools can make it easier:

for children to move (supports for both body positioning and mobility)

Communicate (Both receptive and expressive modes)

Use materials to participate (Utensils for meal times, drawing tools for creative expression, and storybooks for early literacy)

What is an IEP? Kids with delayed skills or other disabilities might be eligible for

special services that provide Individualized Education Programs in public schools, free of charge.

A child who has difficulty learning and functioning and has been identified as a special needs student is a candidate for an IEP.

Kids struggling in school may qualify for support services, for reasons such as:

Learning disabilities -Emotional disorders

ADHD - Cognitive Challenges

Autism - Visual impairment

Hearing Impairment - Developmental Delay

Identifying the NeedsIf your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the IDEA requires your child’s IEP team to determine whether AT is needed for your child to receive a “free and appropriate public education”…

Therefore, identifying AT solutions to support a child’s participation is best done as a team and includes Six Steps:

Step 1: Collect child and family information.

Step 2: Identify activities for participation.

Step 3: Identify an observable change in behavior that can indicate when intervention is successful?

Step 4: Brainstorm AT solutions. (easily the hardest step!)

Step 5: Try it out.

Step 6: Identify what worked and what may need adjusting.

Types of Assistive

Technologies

- Academic and Learning Aids

- Aids for Daily Living

- Assistive Listening Devices and Environmental Aids

- Augmentative Communication

- Computer Access and Instruction

- Environmental Control

- Mobility Aids

- Pre-vocational and Vocational Aids

- Recreation and Leisure Aids

- Seating and Positioning

- Visual Aids

Devices are available in a variety of categories to address functional capabilities of students with disabilities:

AT for Mild Disabilities

Includes:

No-Tech solutions include devices that are not electronic. For instance it could be as simple as items that help a student turn a book page.

Low Tech devices are electronic but do not include highly sophisticated computer components, such as voice recording.

High Tech devices utilize complex multifunction technology and usually include a computer or software.

Assistive Listening Devices

Hearing Assistive Technology Systems (HATS) are devices that can help students function better in day-to-day communication situations.

Examples include: Personal Frequency Modulation Systems Infrared Systems Induction Loop Systems One-to-One Communications

AT for Educational Purposes

Many students with disabilities use AT to enhance their participation and achievement in their educational programs.

AT solutions address student needs in all academic areas including reading, writing, and spelling, math and study and organization.

For examples of Assistive Technology for Educational Purposes, please visit this link: http://atfored.com/examples-of-assistive-technology/

For more information….

Please click the following picture, which will redirect you to the GA Department of

Education Georgia Project for Assistive Technology Site

References

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm

Behrmann, M. (2002). Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Disabilities. ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm

McSorley J. & Wilbur J. (2000). Assistive Tech. Retrieved from http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~wilbur/access/assistive.html

National Joint Committee for Technology Innovation and Center for Implementing Technology in Education (2015). Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088

Nemours Foundation (2015). Individualized Education Programs. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html

Wikipedia’s Definition of Assistive Technology. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology