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Powerpoint presentation on assistive technology.
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Assistive Technology Stacy Anderson ED505 Technology and education
Assistive Technology • Assistive technology is any device that helps students participate in a general education classroom. Assistive technology helps improve the performance of students with disabilities by providing the tools necessary for students to function as needed in the classroom. Assistive technology can assist students in: • Communication • Performance on academic tasks • Social and extracurricular activities • Moving around the school • Proper positioning and seating • Accessing materials • (Assistive Technology, 2010)
Assistive Technology cont. • Assistive technology is not only devices. It can also be services students with disabilities receive, referred to as AT services. This support can consist of services such as; help selecting the device, buying or leasing the device, providing training in how to operate or use the device, and coordinating any training or therapy needed to use the device. • (Assistive Technology, 2010)
The Law Regarding Assistive Technology • According to the law, assistive technology is 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 a child with a disability. • IEP teams should consider assistive technology for students with a disability. If it is determined that a student needs some kind of AT the school system has to ensure the student has access to what is needed. • If it is determined that a students needs AT the school should then form a team of people responsible for planning and implementing the needed assistive technology. After AT has been implemented the team will need to meet again to evaluate the AT that was put in place. • (Assistive Technology, 2010)
Hearing Impaired • Hearing aids are an example of assistive technology for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. There are many different kinds of hearing aids, and it is important that the right choice of hearing aid is made for each individual student. A hearing aid is worn behind or in the ear, and it helps make sounds louder. It has three main parts; a microphone, amplifier, and speaker. • (Hearing Aids, n.d.)
Seeing Impaired Many times, eyeglasses are all that are needed for seeing impaired students. However, there are many other types of AT available for students who are blind or have low vision. Another AT example for these students is large print books. Large print books and magazines have larger than normal print to make them easier for visually impaired people to see (Recorded Books, 2015).
Learning Disabled According to Stanberry (2015), “word prediction software can help a user during word processing by “predicting” a word the user intends to type. Predictions are based on spelling, syntax, and frequent/recent use. This prompts kids who struggle with writing to use proper spelling, grammar, and word choices, with fewer keystrokes.”
Physically Disabled • An oversized trackball mouse is easier for people with motor disabilities to use than a regular mouse. Due to the larger size it is easier to manipulate, and can even be manipulated with a foot if necessary. “Someone with tremors in the hands may also find this kind of mouse more useful because once the person moves the mouse cursor to the right location, there is less danger of accidentally moving the cursor while trying to click on the mouse button” (Motor Disabilities,2015).
References • Hearing Aids. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/pages/hearingaid.aspx • The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive Technology: AnOverview. Retrieved on June 8, 2015 from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/ • Recorded Books and Large Print Material. (2015). Retrieved June 8, 2015 from https://lowvisioninfo.org/ • Stanberry, K. (2015). Word prediction software programs. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.greatschools.org/ • Motor Disabilities: Assistive Technologies. (2015). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://webaim.org