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What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities.
Laws of Assistive Technology The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. The law has four sections, or “Titles”. Title I addresses employment, saying that any employer who has 15 or more employees must offer “equal opportunity” to employment-related activities. Title II applies to state and local governments, and insists that people with disabilities be given equal access to public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, and other areas under their control. Title III addresses public accommodations that may be provided by private companies, including private schools, restaurants, stores, hotels, doctors’ offices, etc. Title IV addresses assistive technology specifically, as it requires that telephone companies provide the necessary services to allow people who are deaf or hearing impaired to use telecommunications devices.
Hearing Impaired Hearing impairment or hearing loss is a full or partial decrease in the ability to detect or understand sounds. This is caused by a wide range of biological and environmental factors.
Seeing Impaired Seeing Impaired people are classified under three criteria low vision, legally blind, and totally blind.
Learning Disabled Learning disabilities are neurological disorders that can make it difficult to learn certain academic and social skills. It affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store and respond to information.
Physically Disabled Physically disabled are people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily.
References Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching 6th edition. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.