ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

BY JESSI WAID

EXPLANATION

• ACCORDING TO THE IRIS CENTER, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT) IS, “ANY DEVICE OR SERVICE THAT HELPS A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY TO MEET HIS OR HER INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) GOALS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION SETTING TO THE GREATEST POSSIBLE EXTENT.”

• IRIS ALSO EXPLAINS THAT WITH AT STUDENTS CAN BETTER “COMMUNICATE, PERFORM ACADEMIC TASKS, PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, USE PROPER SEATING AND POSITIONING, AND ACCESS MATERIALS.”

• WITH AT, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN PERFORM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAWS

• AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA): ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY CENTER ON TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY, THE ADA “PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, COMMERCIAL FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS.”

• INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA): ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY CENTER ON TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY, THE IDEA “GUARANTEED THAT ELIGIBLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES WOULD HAVE A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO THEM, DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.”

• SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT: ACCORDING TO THE FAMILY CENTER ON TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY, SECTION 508 “REQUIRES THAT ALL ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED AND USED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.”

• NOTE: THERE ARE MANY OTHER LAWS IN REGARDS TO ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND I ONLY INCLUDE THESE THREE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST KNOWN IN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY.

HEARING IMPAIRED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• THIS SMALL DEVICE IS CALLED AN “ARIA”, IT IS AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE THAT VIBRATES TO ALERT THE STUDENT THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY.

• IT COULD ALERT THEM ON SUCH THINGS A SCHOOL BELL, SMOKE ALARM, AND PHONE CALL.

• IT IS DONE THROUGH A RADIO FREQUENCY SIGNAL SENT TO THE ARIA ALERTING ITS INTERNAL PNEUMATIC SYSTEM.

SEEING IMPAIRED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• THIS IMAGE IS FROM AN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CAMP WHERE THEY HELP STUDENTS FIND INDEPENDENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY.

• THEY ARE GIVEN ALL THE TECHNOLOGICAL NECESSITIES SUCH AS COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS.

LEARNING DISABILITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• THIS IMAGE IS OF A CHILD WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY EXPLORING THEIR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, A COMPUTER AND HEADPHONES IN ORDER TO COMPLETE WORK AT THE BEST OF THERE ABILITY.

• STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES CAN USE COMPUTERS TO HELP WITH DYSLEXIA AND DYSGRAPHIA BY TEXT-TO-SPEECH AND SCREEN MAGNIFIER.

PHYSICAL DISABILITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• THIS VERY SPECIAL IMAGE, AND MY FAVORITE SO FAR IS OF A CHILD WITH A BRAIN INJURY USING A TALKING DEVICE.

• THIS WILL HELP HER SPEAK AND TRANSFER HER NEEDS IN HER OWN VERY SPECIAL WAY WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO LEARN AT THE BEST OF HER ABILITY.

REFERENCES

• ADVANTAGES OF USING TECHNOLOGY. (2011). ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://ED551BRANDMAN.PBWORKS.COM/W/PAGE/23399976/ADVANTAGES%20OF%20USING%20TECHNOLOGY

• ENVISION. ENVISION ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CAMP. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://WWW2.ENVISIONUS.COM/FOUNDATION/CONTENT/ASSISTIVE_TECHNOLOGY_CAMP.ASPX

• THE FAMILY CENTER ON TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY. (2015). ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAWS. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://WWW.FCTD.INFO/RESOURCES/TECHLAWS.PHP

• THE IRIS CENTER FOR TRAINING ENHANCEMENTS. (2010). ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://IRIS.PEABODY.VANDERBILT.EDU/MODULE/AT/

• LOHUD. (2008). WESTCHESTER INSTITUTE BRINGS NEEDED EQUIPMENT TO DISABLED CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://WWW.LOHUD.COM/APPS/PBCS.DLL/ARTICLE?AID=/20080508/NEWS02/108070001

• MAY WILSON DESIGN. (2013). ARIA ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. RETRIEVED ON JANUARY 24, 2015 FROM HTTP://MAYWILSON.COM/?WORKS=ORBIT