Assistive Technology

Chelsea Rowell

ED 505 Technology in Education

What is Assistive Technology?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (also called IDEA 2004), defines Assistive Technology as:

“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.”

Assistive technology can range from low-tech to high-tech a meet a variety of needs for students with disabilities.

What is assistive technology

Assistive technology can also be defined as any device or service that helps a student with a disability meet his or her individualized education program’s goals and participate in the general education setting to the greatest extent.

The goal of assistive technology is to improve functional performance of individuals with disabilities while helping them to:

• Communicate

• Perform academic tasks

• Participate in social or extracurricular activities

• Move or travel independently around school

Assistive technology services

Assistive technology service is defined as “any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.”

-IDEA 2004

laws regarding assistive technology

The IDEA of 2004 is the most important set of laws and guidelines in place to deal with assistive technology in the educational setting.

IDEA requires IEP (Individualized Education Plan) teams to “consider assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities.”

If the team determines that a form of assistive technology is needed to help a student meet his or her education goals, it must be provided for the student, without cost to the student’s family.

Cost to the school district cannot be used to deny student access to assistive technology.

IDEA 2004 also mandates training

IDEA requires schools to provide assistive technology training for teachers, paraprofessionals, families, and children.

This training helps to insure that the assistive technologies are properly maintained and used in the ways intended to help a student meet his or her individualized education goals.

Examples of assistive technologies

Hearing impaired Physically Impaired

Seeing impaired Learning Impaired

Assistive technologies for hearing impairment

There are many assistive technology devices available to students who have hearing impairments.

These devices can be used to help students amplify the teacher or speaker’s voice, block out background noise in a noisy classroom, and better participate in conversations.

Personal FM systems (Frequency Modulated Radio Transmission) can be used in class or at home. The speaker wears a microphone that transmits to the student’s personal device, either through headphones, or special devices that transmit the amplified sound to coils in a hearing aid.

Personal FM systems have been proven successful in helping students with hearing impairments focus and hear better in the classroom.

Personal FM Devices

• Speaker wears the microphone device.

• Student can wear the neckloop, which transmits amplified sound to coils in hearing aids, or the headphone receiver.

Amigo Brand FM devices

Assistive technology for vision impairment

Assistive technology helps students with visual impairments increase their access to general curriculum and improve academic performance.

The goal of assistive technology for visual impairments is to provide greater independence in the classroom, both in academics and interactions with the teacher and peers.

One example of AT for visual impairments includes a refreshable Braille display.

Refreshable Braille Display

• Refreshable Braille displays are electronic devices that connect to computers or tablets to produce tactile Braille output from what is shown onscreen.

• Braille displays are connected via USB or serial cable, and produce Braille output with small plastic or metal pins that move up and down to display Braille text characters for the reader.

Assistive technology for learning disabilities

Many types of assistive technologies are available for students who struggle with learning disabilities.

Assistive technologies can aid in listening skills, math, organization and memory, reading and writing.

AT for learning disabilities can help to compensate for deficient areas to help with student learning, confidence, and independence.

Portable word processors are a type of assistive technology that can make a difference to students with learning disabilities, allowing them to capitalize on strengths and bypass or strengthen areas of difficulty.

Portable word processor

• Portable word processors are easy to transport for students who have trouble writing and editing work by hand.

Neos, Quickpads, and Fushions (shown) offer a variety of features to students, such as:

Text-to-speech Abbreviation expansion

Spelling practice Easy organization

Keyboard instruction Printing

Calendar

Math practice

Assistive technologies for physical impairments

Computer use can increase independence in the classroom, and help students to learn at their maximum potential.

However, many physical disabilities can make movement, especially classroom and computer use very difficult.

Assistive technologies have been developed to help students with disabilities have better access to computers.

Adaptive joysticks can be used to move the cursor on the computer screen. Joysticks can be moved with parts of the body other than the student’s hands, such as their head or neck. FaceMouse is an interactive software that is programmable so that students could use their head, neck, and facial expressions to act as a joystick.

Adapted joystick

• Joysticks offer different types of control, and respond to the distance and speed of the user.

• Buttons can be programmed to meet individual needs.

• Some joysticks work with software created especially for that type of input device.

The Rock ™

Resources

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http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

Assistive Technology: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/cr_assess/#content

Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved

March 28, 2015, from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-

technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overview

Resources

Fusion Features. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://

www.writerlearning.com/special-needs/fusion-features.php

IntroducingAlta2. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http

://www.oticon.com/products/wireless-accessories/amigo-fm/

Portable Word Processors. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://

www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/961- portable-word-

processors.gs?content=961

Resources

Refreshable Braille Display. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://

www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/for-job-seekers/careerconnect-virtual-

worksites/retail-worksite-for-blind-users/refreshable-braille-display-3652/12345

Rock™. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.ablenetinc.com/Assistive-

Technology/Computer-Access/Rock-Adapted-Joystick

8 Helpful Assistive Technology Tools For Your Classroom. (2013, May 15). Retrieved

March 28, 2015, from http://

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

/

Resources

Tech it Out! - Intellectual Disabilities & Developmental Delay. (n.d.). Retrieved March

28, 2015, from https://sites.google.com/site/at4idanddd/home/helping-hands