assistive technology helping students increase, maintain or improve
TRANSCRIPT
Assistive Technology
Helping Students Increase, Maintain or Improve
Who I am? Sean Kugler, [email protected],
www.fusd1.org/at
Husband
Father
Assistive Technology Specialist
Teacher/Trainer
Coach
Overview Definition of Assistive Technology
Examples of Assistive Technology
Why use Assistive Technology
AT Scavenger Hunt
Assistive Technology of Alaska
Assistive Technology (AT) Defined?
Any product or device…
used by a person with a disability…
to maintain, improve, or increase functional capacity.
(off the shelf, modified, or customized)
So, exactly what is assistive technology?
Assistive Technology (AT) describes a wide range of tools used to Increase, ________, or Improve functional capability
These tools aid almost every functional skill area such as: vision, hearing, mobility, sitting, communication, accessing a computer, as well as
Every academic area
Employment site
Social setting
Tools range from high-tech (devices, computer software, etc) to low-tech (magnifiers, page fluffers, pencil grips)
The Continuum of Technology
Assistive Technology
No/Low Tech
SimpleLittle Maintenance
Limited/no electronics
Mid Tech
Some MaintenanceSome Training
More Electronics
High Tech
Complex Electronics
More TrainingMore Maintenance
Assistive Technology: What exactly is it?
Communication Device
Keyboards
More Assistive Technology
Even More Assistive Technology
…And More Assistive Technology
But wait, there’s even more…
What makes it Assistive Technology?
It is used by someone with a disability to support their needs due to their disabilities.
Why use Assistive Technology?
IDEA 1988 was the first time that IDEA governed the provision of AT
Provides students with another way to access materials
May motivate some students more so than only using traditional means
May help the teacher distribute her time/workload
May help a student achieve and maintain employment
May help student to continue their education
Identify the Skill, not the Technology
When thinking about how best to implement technology it is necessary to determine what skill the student needs support in
After the skill has been identified, then the appropriate technology can be identified as well.
ADE has created a tool to assist teachers in properly identifying both the skill and the technology options to support that skill.
Highlighting Tape
Simple solution to teach spelling patterns, parts of
speech, etc.
More ExamplesUpper
ElementaryLower
Elementary
Natural Reader Natural Reader Video
Scavenger Hunt… Think of your Youngins… Andreah, Marianna,
Staci, and Mitchell.
Go into the pseudo AT Lab (follow the signs to Project MATTERS) and write down 3 to 5 pieces of AT with a little description of how it might help.
Come back and share what you discovered with your teams.
Team share 3 or more pieces of AT.