assistive technology in higher education:
DESCRIPTION
Assistive Technology in Higher Education:. Connecting Students to their World. Presented April 28, 2010: Mary Gebbia-Portice, Michigan State University College of Education, M.A. Educational Technology, anticipated 2012. What are the students saying?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Assistive Technology in Higher
Education:
Connecting Students to their
World
Presented April 28, 2010: Mary Gebbia-Portice, Michigan State UniversityCollege of Education, M.A. Educational Technology, anticipated 2012
What are the students saying?
Nikki from the UK and her experiences at University
Putting it all together
How?
Who?
What? Assistive Technology
University Students
ADA
AACReasonable Accommodations
Faculty and Staff Disability Specialists
IDEA ATA
Step 1: Definitions and examples
What?
What is assistive technology?
“any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether
acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities
of individuals with disabilities.”1
Low Tech Assistive Technology
“The Writing Bird” manufactured by
North Coast Medical
High Tech Assistive Technology
JAWS Screen Reading Software from Freedom Scientific
High Tech Portable Assistive Technology
Reading Pen from Wizcom
Defining AAC
What?
What is an augmentative and alternative
communication aid?
“an AAC aid is a device, either electronic or
non-electronic that is used to transmit or receive messages.”
Low Tech AAC
Word Board for use in a hospital found on the ISAAC website (Int’l Society for
AAC)
Defining Reasonable Accommodations
What?
What are reasonable
accommodations? • “The term "reasonable accommodation" may include making existing facilities readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
• “The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability at any federally funded institution. This covers admissions, recruitment, programs and services. This law requires program accessibility.”
• Examples: “Appropriate auxiliary aids and services may include services and devices such as qualified interpreters, assistive listening devices, notetakers, and written materials for individuals with hearing impairments; and qualified readers, taped texts, and Brailled or large print materials for individuals with vision impairments.”
Step 2: Recognizing the People Involved
Who?
Who are we talking about and what are
their roles?
University Students:- First time on their own- Need transition support- How many students at MSU are
listed as having one or more disabilities?
What are the students saying?
Patrick and Matt and their thoughts on going to University
The Facilitators
Who?
Who does the student first interact with to
obtain specific services?
Faculty and Staff- Without faculty and staff to guide the
student and help work out the accommodations, it would be nearly impossible to provide appropriate services
- Faculty are often the first person the student interacts with regarding accommodations
The Experts
Who?
Who actually recommends and
approves the services?
Disability Specialists-Experts who assess, approve and enable students to receive accommodations-Are students required to self-identify with the University?-Is documentation of the disability required?
Step 3: The Regulations
How?
How does this all come together?
Rules and laws create the
framework for the process: ADA, IDEA,
and ATA.
Federal Law
How?
ADA = ADAAA = “Americans with Disabilities
Act Amendments Act” of 2008
effective Jan. 1, 2009 Amends the ADA of 1990 and includes a conforming amendment to the Rehab Act of 1973
Two key terms: “reasonable accommodations” and “qualified individual”
K-12 Regulations
How?
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
-Covers K-12 education-Requires access to a “Free Appropriate Public Education”-Has more mandates, such as making sure that a student’s hearing aids are working properly-School is required to assess and provide accommodations, including any necessary AT
Assistive Technology Regulations!
How?
ATA = Assistive Technology Act of 1998, amended 2004
Assistive Technology Act
-Covers people of all ages, all disabilities, all environments- Promotes awareness of AT and access to devices and services-Seeks to provide individuals with AT devices and services-Provides funding to states for AT
When it all comes together
How?
Who?
What? Assistive Technology
University Students
ADA
AACReasonable Accommodations
Faculty and Staff Disability Specialists
IDEA ATA
POST QUIZ ANSWERS
1. Which of the following would be considered a personal device and which would be something that the university would be required to provide? (circle/underline the appropriate categorization) a. Writing Bird: personal device? university required to provide?
b. TTD/TTY: personal device? university required to provide?
c. DynaVox: personal device? university required to provide?
d. JAWS: personal device? university required to provide?
POST QUIZ ANSWERS
2. Which of the following are laws that apply to students with disabilities in a higher education setting? (circle all that apply)
a. IDEAb. ADAc. ATAd. AAC
POST QUIZ ANSWERS
3. Are students in a higher education setting required to self-identify as disabled students AND provide documentation of their disability?
a. Yes, so that statistics can be kept regarding enrollment of disabled students.
b. No, this information is protected by HIPPA laws.
c. Yes, but only if they are requesting accommodations.
d. No, they have to self-identify but they don’t have to provide documentation.
POST QUIZ ANSWERS
4. What percentage of students at MSU are listed as having one or more disabilities?
a. 10%b. 2%c. 13%d. 7%
POST QUIZ ANSWERS
5. What percentage of individuals in the general populations are considered to have disabilities? a. 10%b. 2%c. 13%d. 7%
For additional information and resources on Assistive
Technology in Higher Education, please see:
Assistive Technology Presentation and Resources (https://www.msu.edu/~mary/more_here.html)
THANK YOU!
GOOD LUCK ON FINALS AND
WITH YOUR PROJECTS!