Why Assistive Technology?

1. Why Assistive Technology? Kathy RiellyAssistive Technology SpecialistIntegrated Center for Child DevelopmentCanton, MA Newton, MA

2. Assistive Technology devices and services help individuals with special needs: • see • hear • communicate • play • remember • read • work with numbers • write • use a computer • study

3. Why AssistiveTechnology? • promotes self esteem • improves quality of life • increases productivity • enhances performance • increases independence

4. Low-tech • pencil grip • adapted books • slant board • highlighters, tape • magnifiers • color coding • picture communication • sign language • picture schedule • extra time • peer support • Mid-Tech • word processor • text to speech • spell checker • calculator • digital recorders • organizers • e-books • adapted keyboard • adapted mouse • adapted toys • CCTV • High-Tech • computer • smartphones, smartpens • PDAs • OCR software • magnification software • speech output devices • switch, joystick access • scanning access • voice recognition • environmental control devices Assistive Technology and IDEAhttp://idea.ed.gov/ Assistive Technology Device ...any item, piece of equipment or product that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

5. Assistive Technology and IDEAhttp://idea.ed.gov/ Assistive Technology Service: Any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device, including: • Evaluation • Providing Devices • Selecting, Customizing, Adapting, Applying AT solutions • Coordinating AT with other providers’ services • Training and Technical Assistance - Individual and Family • Training and Technical Assistance - Professionals

6. Assistive Technology Evaluation: the SETT Frameworkdeveloped by Joy Zabala • SETT Framework is built on the premise that in order to develop an appropriate system of assistive technology devices and services, teams must first gather: • information about the student • information about the customary environments in which the students spend their time • information about the tasks that are required for the students to be active participants in the teaching/learning processes that lead to educational success

7. Assistive Technology Evaluation: the SETT Frameworkdeveloped by Joy Zabala • The Tasks • Specific tasks in the student’s natural environments that address IEP goals, objectives • Specific tasks required for active involvement in these environments • The Tools • Devices, services and strategies needed to help the student succeed • Analyze info gathered on Student, Environments, and Tasks • Is student unlikely to make progress toward goals without AT devices and services? • If yes, describe a useful system of AT devices and services • Brainstorm tools to address student’s needs • Select promising tools and develop implementation plan • Collect data on effectiveness and revise AT support plan as appropriate

8. Assistive Technology Solutions: Reading and Writing • Computer word processor with operating system level supports • Vision: color, size of icons, display options, zoom • Hearing: captions, visual alerts • Physical-Motor: keyboard-cursor options, automated tasks • Text to Speech • Operating system (Mac: Preferences: Speech, PC: Narrator) • Word Talk for MSWord on PC: http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk/wordtalk/index.html • Internet: Mac: speech controls, PC: Click,Speak (download,Firefox)) • Read the Words (upload, listen or MP3) • Classroom Suite, Clicker • Kurzweil (Kurzweil) Read & Write (TextHelp), both in USB versions now • WordQ (Quillsoft) • Recordings for Blind & Dyslexic, BookshareandRead OutLoud

9. Assistive Technology: Access to Reading Read the Words:

10. Assistive Technology: Access to Reading and Writing Word Talk:

11. Assistive Technology: Access to Reading Bookshare.org

12. Assistive Technology: Access to Reading Read OutLoud: Don JohnstonRead:OutLoud is an accessible text reader that provides below-grade level readers access to the general curriculum. Since 92% of students with IEPs are reading below proficient levels, a widespread solution is necessary. Up until now, it has been cost-prohibitive to provide technology to every student with an IEP.

13. Assistive Technology: Access to Writing bubbl.us:

14. Assistive Technology: Access to Writing Kidspiration

15. Assistive Technology Solutions: Reading and Writing • Organizers • Inspiration, Kidspiration (Inspiration): click to outline, export to document • FREE online- save, print, share: Exploratree.com, Bubbl.us • Speech-to-Text • MS Word, Powerpoint (Microsoft) • Dragon Naturally Speaking (Nuance), MacSpeech Dictate • SpeakQ (Quillsoft) • Word Prediction, Word Completion • autocorrect, form fill • CoWriter (Don Johnston) • Read and Write Gold (TextHelp), Kurzweil (Kurzweil) • WordQ (Quillsoft) • Classroom Suite (Cambium)

16. Assistive Technology at Work:Universal Design for Learning http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

17. Assistive Technology Solutions: Reading and Writing Hardware • Language Master-Califone Card Master Califone (www.califone.com) • ClassMate Reader Humanware (http://www.humanware.com/en-new_zealand/products) • Neo, Dana Alphasmart Direct (www.alphasmart.com) • Fusion Advanced Keyboard Technologies (http://www.keyboardinstructor.com/) • Livescribe Smartpen Livescribe (Livescribe.com) • Kindle Amazon (now with text-to-speech option) • Rocket Reader AbleLink Technologies • Ipod Apple

18. Assistive Technology Solutions: Computer Access • Mac/PC operating system accessibility features • Alternative Keyboard, Layout, Keyguard • Programmable keyboard, onscreen keyboard • Modified Mice • Joystick • Trackball • Switch Access with visual or auditory scanning • Mouth Stick, Head Pointer, Sip and Puff • Voice Recognition • Touchscreen

19. Assistive Technology Solutions: Studying-Organization • web-based tools • CueCard (PC) Flashcard Exchange (Mac) excellent tools, online-print • Awesome Highlighter (http://www.awesomehighlighter.com/) wow! • Google: easy to access, organize, share documents, calendar, notebook • Delicious:save, share, access your bookmarks anywhere • Idictate: dictate documents by phone, receive them by email • Jott: dictate doccs, thoughts, reminders by phone, receive them by email • Evernote:capture info, access and search from anywhere • PDAs (SymTrend), Pocket Endeavor and DynaVox CoPilot (AbleLink Tech) • smartphones, smartpens (Livescribe) • pagers, cell phones • digital voice recorders (Olympus) • portable (mini-laptops), handheld, wearable computers

20. Assistive Technology Solutions: Recreation • adapted recreation • sensory input, reinforcement devices (Enabling Devices, AbleNet) • mainstream battery operated toys: switch access • adapted bowling, baseball, bubbles, art, music • reading: Bookworm, ClassMate, Kindle, Rocket Reader, books on CD, DVD • video: BrainPop, Discovery Streaming • online resources: literacy • Tar Heel Reader • Storyline Online • Starfall • MagicKeys • Literacy Center Education Network • Woodlands Junior School • StoryPlace • Reading A to Z and companion site- RazKids • Audible • Tumblebooks

21. Assistive Technology Solutions: Recreation • online resources: games, activities • Priory Woods • Zac Browser • Arcess • Do2Learn • PBS Parents • Help Kids Learn (Inclusive Technology’s site) • Other • Wii • social networking sites (Imbee, Toontown) • adapted Ipods, remotes, games (RJCooper) • Leap Frog: Tag books, Bookworm

22. Assistive Technology Solutions: Communication • PECS • communication books, boards, aprons • talking photo albums • leveled communicators: Step by Step • single message devices • Talking pockets, buttons • Minspeak systems: semantic compaction • Vanguard • Dynamic display pictographic devices • Dynavox: MT4, V-Max, Palm Top • Tango, Proloquo2Go • Other communication devices • Tech/Speak • GoTalk, Cheap Talk

23. Assistive Technology Supports: Autism • Vizzle • Facial Expressions Game • Emotions Game • Social Skills Builders • Visual Strategies • Autism Software by Mousetrial …links! • AT for Children with Autism • Simplified Technology …links! • Visual Supports • Article: Prescribing Communication Devices • Hiyah • Help Kids Learn • DT Trainer • Iphone-Ipod Apps: • Iprompt • Bloom • Behavior Tracker Pro • Proloquo2Go

24. Assistive Technology Considerations:what does this mean for parents? • Know the Law and the IEP: • IDEA, NIMAS • IEP: all teams must consider Assistive Technology (PLEP B) • limitations: impossible to consider what they do not have knowledge of • Pay close attention to these well intentioned, sometimes appropriate accommodations and modifications: • extra time! • peer assistance, TA support • reduced workload-fewer problems, sentences, etc. • consider…. could they perhaps do more, with greater independence, if provided with access to appropriately matched AT tools and strategies? • Assistive Technology recommendations require taking a closer look: • programming: specific tools and strategies in place • types and levels of support being provided • what does it “look like”?