Assistive Technology

1. Assistive Technology Ebony L. Cash

2. What is assistive technology?

3. Assistive technology Assistive Technology (AT) is any device or service that helps a student with a disability to meet his or her individualized education program (IEP) goals and to participate in the general education setting to the greatest possible extent.

4. Assistive technology Students can utilize assistive technology to: • Communicate • Perform academic tasks • Participate in social and extracurricular activities • Move or travel around the school • Use proper seating and positioning • Access materials

5. Assistive technology Laws

6. Assistive Technology Act of 1998 Public Law 105-394 [29 USC 2201] The Assistive Technology Act, also known as the “Tech Act.” • Federal/state programs to provide low interest loans and other alternative financing options to help people with disabilities purchase needed assistive technology. • For a list of state projects funded under the Tech Act, visit http://www.ataporg.org/stateatprojects.asp

7. Types of assistive technologies • Hearing Impaired • Seeing impaired • Learning impaired • Physically impaired

8. Hearing Impaired FM Systems • FM systems use a wireless transmitter to broadcast a signal throughout a given area. The size of the broadcast area is determined by the power of the transmitter, with an auditorium typically being the maximum practical size. • Check out the video of a classroom teacher using an FM System transmitter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln8NHzVfJkQ

9. Seeing Impaired • Screen Readers Screen readers are software programs that allow blind or visually impaired users to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer. The following video shows other devices that can be implemented into the classroom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLaUx7BJ4r0

10. Learning Disabled Alternative Keyboards Abbreviation Expanders Electronic math worksheets Electronic math worksheets are software programs that can help a user organize, align, and work through math problems on a computer screen. Numbers that appear onscreen can also be read aloud via a speech synthesizer. This may be helpful to people who have trouble aligning math problems with pencil and paper. These programmable keyboards have special overlays that customize the appearance and function of a standard keyboard. Students who have LD or have trouble typing may benefit from customization that reduces input choices, groups keys by color/location, and adds graphics to aid comprehension. Used with word processing, these software programs allow a user to create, store, and re-use abbreviations for frequently-used words or phrases. This can save the user keystrokes and ensure proper spelling of words and phrases he has coded as abbreviations.

11. Physically Disabled Physical: Students with physical disabilities may require the use of braces, a cane or a wheelchair, may use prosthetic limbs, or may be dealing with muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or many other conditions, all of which can present accessibility challenges. Check out the video of students with disabilities in class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6kPuVeHbU

12. References • http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php • http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/assistive-devices.aspx • http://www.californiaearinstitute.com/hearing-device-center-listening-device-classroom-bay-area.php • http://www.afb.org/prodbrowsecatresults.asp?catid=49 • http://www.teachthought.com/technology/8-helpful-assistive-technology-tools-for-your-classroom/ • http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overview