ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

AMBER POIRIER

UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA

ED 505

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHOLOGY?

• Assistive technology is any device or service that helps a student with a disability of meet his or her Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.

HOW DOES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HELP STUDENTS?

Assistive technology can help students:

• Communicate

• Perform academic tasks

• Participate in social and extra-curricular activities

• Move or travel around the school

• Use proper seating or positioning

• Access materials

IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EXPENSIVE?

• Some assistive technology is high tech and can be very costly, but not all.

• Some assistive technology devices are low cost or even free!

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES?

• Slant board

• Magnifier

• Reacher

• Calculator

• Computer

• Amplification System

• Alternative Keyboard

• Text Reader

• Communication Device

• Braille Book

• Audio Book

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES?

• Evaluation of a student’s need for services

• Buying, leasing, or acquiring the device

• Coordinating services for the student who uses the device

• Providing training and technical assistance to the student, family, teachers, and any others who assist the student using the device.

WHAT IS THE LAW REGARDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 is the law that enforces use of assistive technology in public schools.

• IDEA defines an assistive technology device as, “any item, or piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child”.

• IDEA defines assistive technology service as, “any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, assistive technology device”.

• Assistive technology must be considered for all children with an IEP. ease, maintain, or improve a student’s capabilities then it must be provided.

• A qualified evaluator will complete an assistive technology evaluation, the required device will be acquired, and training will be provided for the child, teacher, family, and any others necessary.

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP STUDENTS WITH HEARING

IMPAIRMENT?FM Amplification System

• Fm Amplification systems change the speaker’s voice to FM frequency and then transmit it to headphones worn by the student. This can help eliminate background noises and the student can adjust the volume.

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP STUDENTS WITH VISION

IMPAIRMENT?

A video magnifier shows a magnified image of text on a screen. This can help students with vision impairment read text books and other materials for their classwork and homework.

Video Magnifier

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP STUDENTS WITH LEARNING

DISABILITIES?Optical Character Recogition Device

The student uses the optical charater recognition device to scan text. The text is then converted to audio and read aloud to the student. This helps students who have difficulty reading.

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE

PHYSICALLY DISABLED?Speech Recognition Software

• Speech recognition software allows a computer to be operated using voice commands. This can help students with physical disabilities use a computer to complete assignments.

RESOURCES

www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technology

PBS Parents. pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/assistive-technology/

The Iris center. Iris.Peabody.Vanderbilt.edu/at/chalcycle.htm