ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Heather Light

LINKS FOR RESOURCES

http://www.understood.org

www.pbs.org/parents/education

http://www.enablemart.com

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY? Assistive Technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities.

ASSISTIVE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING Alerting Devices: Alerting devices use a loud tone, flashing lights or vibrations to alert people with a hearing loss to various environmental sounds.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs):

Audio Induction Loop: Consists of a microphone, an amplifier, and a length of properly sized wire or cable which encircles the seating area.

FM System: A wireless system that transmits sound via radio waves. The speaker wears a compact transmitter and microphone while the listener wears a portable receiver. This receiver may have a headphone, neckloop or other accessories attached to it. This system is commonly used indoors or outdoors for group meetings, church settings and classes.

ASSISITIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BLIND Digital Talking Book Players: Digital Talking Books are not really things that you can hold, although they usually come on a CD-ROM today. Rather, they are files, which may also be available on the Web. To put it technically, digital Talking Books are well-organized collections of computer files.

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 or braille display. A screen reader is the interface between the computer's operating system, its applications, and the user. The user sends commands by pressing different combinations of keys on the computer keyboard or braille display to instruct the speech synthesizer what to say and to speak automatically when changes occur on the computer screen.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES Wheelchairs: There are a variety of wheelchairs specially designed for individuals with physical disibilities.

Stool Scooters and Standing Equipment: products developed for assisting with movement while promoting stability or when difficulty holding themselves in an upright position.

I.D.E.A.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.