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What is Assistive Technology Assistive technologies “…are specialized products that level the playing field by overcoming an impairment or deficit to make it possible to be successful and independent.” (Roblyer & Duering, 2013, p. 18)
Laws Dealing with Assistive Technology • Technology-Related Assistance Act for Individuals with Disabilities • This is a federal law that provides funding to states so that they can set up programs to provide assistive technology to students. (Roblyer & Duering, 2013) • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act • This is a federal law that requires schools to discuss the possible benefits of assistive technology for all students who have an IEP. (Roblyer & Duering, 2013)
Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired FM Systems According to the California Ear Institute, these devices aid students who have difficulties hearing. The teacher wears a transmitter with a microphone, or places it near an audio source. The student wears a receiver that picks up the signal from the teacher’s transmitter. The student’s receiver amplifies the voice of the teacher so that the student can hear. (Classroom Assistive Listening Devices, 2013)
Assistive Technology for the Seeing Impaired MagniLink Zip The MagniLink Zip is an assistive device for students who have low vision. This device enlarges images placed under the the magnifier. It automatically focuses the image and the student can zoom in so that the material can be read. (Low Vision-MagniLink Zip, 2010)
Assistive Technology for the Learning Disabled Readingpen 2 The Readingpen 2 is an assistive technology device for the learning disabled. This device assists students who have difficulties reading by allowing them to scan the text with the pen. The pen will read the material to the student, and even provide definitions for unfamiliar words. (Readingpen 2, 2013)
Assistive Technology for the Physically Disabled BigKeysTM The BigKeysTM Keyboard is designed to assist students that have a physical disability that prevents them from being able to press the keys on a standard keyboard. The keys on this keyboard are one inch square, and can be in the QWERTY format or or alphabetical order. (BigKeysTM, 2013)
References BigKeysTM. (2014). Ablenet. Retrieved March 22, 2014. from http://ablenetinc.com/ Assistive-Technology/Computer-Access/BigKeys-Keyboards Classroom Assistive Listening Devices. (2013). California Ear Institute. Retrieved March 22, 2014. from http://www.californiaearinstitute.com/hearing-device- classroom-bay-area.php Low Vision-MagniLink Zip. (2010). Vision Cue. Retrieved March 22, 2014. from http:// www.visioncue.com/low-vision/magnilink-zip.html Personal Communication Devices and FM Systems (n.d.). In Accessolutions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Retrieved March 22, 2014. from http:// www.hafcofamerica.com/adfm.htm
Readingpen 2. (2013). Wizcomtech. Retrieved March 22, 2014. from http:// www.wizcomtech.com/eng/catalog/platforms/01/default.asp? pCat=3&PlatformID=9 Roblyer, M. & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.