Assistive Technology

ED 505Melanie ShottsMarch 28, 2015

What is Assistive

Technology?

Assistive technology is any piece of equipment, tool, device, material, or service that can be used to help a student succeed in the classroom.

Assistive Technology can help students in the classroom to:

Communicate with teachers and peers Complete assignments Access materials Increase mobility Participate in the classroom Participate in extracurricular programs

IDEAIndividuals With Disabilities Act

(IDEA ’04)

IDEA defines assistive technology as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child and specifically excludes a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device.”

Assistive Technology can be as simple as a rubber pencil grip or a highlighter marker to as complex as a computerized, voice controlled wheelchair.

Examples Low tech Mid Tech

High Tech

Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired

Audio or Hearing Loopo Works with the hearing aid…you just flip the

telecoil switch in the hearing aid or cochlear implant to amplify sound

o Students are able to hear instruction from the teacher, as well as, other conversations/ happenings in the classroom

o Works in any environment that has the universal magnetic signal

o No additional equipment or receivers are needed

Assistive Technology for the Seeing Impaired

Screen Readers Supports the blind and visually impaired

computer user by reading the text aloud Gives students with limited or no vision the

ability to use computer software in the classroom Thunder is an option of free talking software

for individuals with little or no sight. It is available for download on Windows 7,

Vista, and XP in several different languages.

Examples of Screen

Readers

Technology for the Learning Impaired

Talking Calculator Assist students who struggle

with math skills Built-in speech synthesizer to

read aloud numbers, symbols, or operations pressed

Auditory feedback to check accuracy of keys pressed

Assistive Technology for the Physically ImpairedAlternative Mouse

Trackballs Joystick Mouse control using a switch & body part

movement Mouse control using head movement Mouse control using eye movement Mouse control using sip/puff mouth actions Enables students with limited hand use, the

ability to use other movements/body parts to independently use computer software for instruction/remediation

Examples

ReferencesAssistive technology basics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from

https://www.understood.org/en/school- learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics

Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://

www4.esc13.net/assistivetech

Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27,

2015, from http://

www.gmck.org/accessibility/assistive_technologies/physical impairments.asp

Frequent Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://

www.hearingloop.org/fq_preferred.htm

Hearing Assistive Technology | Hearing Loss Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved

March 27, 2015, from http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing-assistive-technology

n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatfl.org/images/power-wheelchair.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://img.technospot.net/talking-calculator.png

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://it.adelphi.edu/files/2013/11/loop_sys.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0AAEGbVvV28/maxresdefault.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from

http://johannamsspc313.wikispaces.com/file/view/headstick.jpg/328438800/288x216/headstick.jpg (n.d.).

Retrieved March 27, 2015, from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpj0EUoCUAA8J4Q.jpg:large

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http

://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/01/38/2/images/feys-f03.jpg

 (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.screenreader.net/

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.screenreader.net/imagelibrary/thunder.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http

://thirdfloormadness.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/9/6/25969189/9351899.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http

://www.ver.com.co/ingles/images/stories/fotos/jawsbox5.jpg

 (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://

www.wiu.k12.pa.us/cms/lib6/PA14000132/Centricity/Domain/12/Assistive Technology.jpg

 Overview of Assistive Technology for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.).

Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://

www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/overview-of-assistive-technology.html

Tools for Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatfl.org/assistive.php