What is Assistive Technology?

“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 functional capabilities of a child with a disability” (IDEA,2004)

Picture of 4 colored switchesPicture of colored pencil grips

Assistive Technology can be:

Low technology: products that are low cost, usually off the shelf, simple to use, and can be “homemade”

Picture of large button calculator

Picture of colored key cover for keyboard

Picture of colored overlays for reading

Examples of Low Tech

• Pencil grips• Slant boards• Graph paper for math• Large button calculator• Colored overlays for reading• Key covers for keyboards• Key guards for keyboards• Foot stool

Assistive Technology can be:

• High technology- products that are moderately to high in price that assist in gaining access

Picture of computer, smart phone, and tablet

Picture of AAC device

Picture of a motorized wheelchair

Examples of High Tech

• Computer systems• AAC augmentative and alternative

communication devices• Electric wheelchairs• Alternative switch access• Text to speech and speech to text• Screen readers and screen magnifiers• Portable keyboards

How is AT used in Education?

• Provides students with access to curriculum• Provides students with an opportunity to

participate• Provides students with communication• Provides with independence• Provides students with experiences and

exposure• Provides students with a level playing field

Who uses AT in education?

• Blind and visually impaired• Physically disabled• Students with communication disorders• Developmentally disabled• Deaf and hearing impaired• Learning disabled

Picture of tree with AT devices on braches

Blind and Visually Impaired

Examples of technology:•Screen readers•Screen magnifiers•Talking calculators•Braille displays•Braille printers•Electric braille note takers

Picture of a Braille note taker

Picture of Braille printer

Physically Disabled

Examples of technology:

•Computer access•Motorized wheelchair•Aides/devices used during Activities of Daily Living•Communication tools

Picture of dressing stick

Picture of student using mouth stick

Developmentally Disabled

Examples of technology:

•Computer and tablet computers•Word prediction•Text to speech•Computer access devices•AAC device•Daily living aids

Picture of ipad with apps flying out

Picture of modified shoe laces

Communication Disorders

Examples of technology:

•Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)•Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)•Communication boards

Picture of PECS symbols

Picture of an AAC device

Deaf and hearing impaired

Examples: •Hearing aides•FM systems•Captioning

Picture of hearing aidsPicture of notes written on white board

Learning Disabled

Examples:•Colored overlays•Portable keyboards•Spell checkers•Text to speech•Speech to text•Word prediction

Picture of spell checker

Picture of portable keyboard

How Assistive Technology Works

• 18 year old Lifeskills student• Requires assistance with many ADL skills,

including tying shoes• Many years of instruction/student struggled

for independence• Low tech solution: colored tape on shoe

laces

Colored tape on shoe laces

Picture of student tying shoes with colored tape

Success

Student is independent with ADL skills with use of low tech assistive technology

High Tech Solution

Student profile: •18 year old developmentally disabled female•Limited sight word vocabulary•Attending culinary program•Unable to keep us with classmates•High tech solution-iPod touch with flashcard app

Audio Flashcards

• Audio flashcards allowed the student to be able to hear and see vocabulary associated with recipes

Picture of peas

Assistive Technology at Work in School

• 9 year old visually impaired student• Unable to read traditional books from library

for independent reading within class• Student rejected large print books• High tech solution- iPad with Read2Go app• Student has access to over 150,000 books and

periodical

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology provides access for students to a full and active learning experience, it serves to level the playing field.

Student reading on an Ipad

Resources:

• http://idea.ed.gov