assistive technology

Assistive Technology

By Matthew Taylor

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology devices are identified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 as:

Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

Individualized Education Programs

Students with disabilities may need an IEP

Reasons for IEPs include: ADHD, hearing impairment, Autism, and various other learning disabilities

The process of developing IEPs can be complex, but these programs are effective for positively shaping the learning process for children with disabilities

Before Implementing An AT

What type of disability does the student have?

Develop a method for evaluating the success or failure of the AT

Analyze multiple forms of AT as a team

Then, select the best AT for the case and try it out

Types of ATs for Different Disabilities

For Mild Disabilities:

Sending class notes to students via email

Translating print-based text to voice using a voice synthesizer

Videotaping class sessions for students unable to attend class


For Hearing Impaired:

Personal FM System – listener hears voice of speaker in their own personal radio headset

Infrared System – transmits sound using infrared waves

Induction Loop System – converts the sound of a speaker voice into electromagnetic signal that can be read by hearing aids


Touchscreen computers allow students with limited motor skills to operate computers without a mouse

Even young children understand the basics of look and point navigation

Touchscreens can stimulate the attention of ADHD students

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD affects more students than many other disabilities

According to the CDC, ADHD affect 9.5% of school-aged boys and 5.9% of school-aged girls

Important for educators to learn to work with these students


For ADHD:

Electronic math worksheet software like MathPad and MathTalk allow ADHD students to organize and work through problems on a computer screen

Talking Calculators – a voice synthesizer converts the operations typed into spoken words and lets attention deficit students know whether they typed the correct information before writing it down on paper


For ADHD

Audio Books – ADHD students that struggle with reading can improve reading comprehension and fluency by listening to books instead of reading them.

The Georgia Project for Assistive Technology

Funded as part of the Georgia Department of Education since 1991

The program’s goal is to enhance the educational environment of students with disabilities and increases students access to these technologies

You can contact the program manager, Gina Gelinas, by email at [email protected]

Resources

Raskind, M., & Stanberry, K. (2011). The best software and gadgets for adhd students. Retrieved from http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/6585-3.html

Gromisch, E. (2010, June 14). Adhd and assistive technology. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/74108.aspx

The rest of my information came from resources found in the Module 4 content area in ITEC 7530