INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES

& RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Atilia BerryInstructional Technology Foundations

Georgia Southern UniversityFall 2015

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITES EDUCATION ACT

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.

IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.

WHAT IS SPECIAL NEEDS?The Individuals with Disabilities Act defines the following as special needs:

A hearing impairment (including deafness)

A speech or language impairment

A visual impairment (including blindness)

A serious emotional disturbance An orthopedic impairment, Autism Traumatic brain injury, A specific learning disability Mental retardation

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT The Assistive

Technology Act was first passed by Congress and signed by the President as the Technology-Related Assistance Act of 1988.

The Technology Act covers people with disabilities of all ages, all disabilities, in all environments (early intervention, K-12, post-secondary, vocational rehabilitation, etc.

The Tech Act is intended to promote people’s awareness of, and access to, assistive technology  (AT) devices and services.

Assistive technology enables children with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of life (home, school, and community) 

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE

TECHNOLOGY DEVICE?

The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 defines an assistive

technology device as 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. (29 U.S.C. Sec 2202(2))

enlarged computer keyboards

high-performance wheelchairs

automatic page turners & book holders

magnifiersvoice recognition software

voice amplifiersspeech recognition devices

adapted pencil gripsscreen enlargement

applications

WHAT IS AN ASSISTIVE

TECHNOLOGY SERVICE?

An assistive technology service is defined as any

service that directly assists an individual with a

disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an

assistive technology device.

An evaluation of the AT needs of an individual, including a functional

evaluation of how AT would help the individual

Purchasing, leasing, or providing an AT device

Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,

maintaining, repairing, replacing, or donating an AT device

Coordinating and using therapies, such as occupational therapy or physical

therapy, with AT devices under an educational plan or rehabilitative plan

Training or technical assistance for an individual with a disability, or his or her family members, guardians, advocates,

or authorized representatives

LOW TECH ASSISTIVE DEVICES

Pencil Grips Post-it Notes Slanted surfaces Raised lined paper Covered overlays Tactile letters

MEDIUM TECH ASSISTIVE DEVICES

Lights Buzzers Portable word processors Talking calculator Cd Players/Tape players American Sign Language

Software Electronic organizers

HIGH TECH ASSISTIVE DEVICES

E-readers Touch Screen

computers/devices Speech Recognition

software Computerized testing Word processors Progress monitoring

software

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY & IEP’S

IEP – Individualized Education ProgramsA written document that is developed for each

public school child who is eligible for special education.

The IEP is created through a team effort and reviewed at least once a year.

Focuses on a child's learning needs, the services the school will provide and how progress will be measured.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FUNDING

Schools systems pay for general special education learning materials as well as

technology specified in an IEPGovernment programs pay for certain assistive technology if it is prescribed by a doctor as a

necessary medical devicePrivate health insurance pays for certain assistive

technology if it is prescribed by a doctor as a necessary medical device or used for rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation and job training programs, whether funded by government or private agencies, may pay for assistive technology and training to help people get a

job

BENEFITS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Increases a student’s opportunities for education, social interactions, and potential for meaningful employment

supports a student’s participation in learning experiences in the least restrictive environment.

help the student benefit from the general education curriculum, and access extracurricular activities in home, school, and work environments

For more informationon students with special needs

and assistive technology check out

http://idea.ed.gov/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES• Assistive Technology. (2015, September 15). Retrieved October 2,

2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology • Considering Assistive Technology. (2010, December 1). Retrieved

October 2, 2015, from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ata/• Family Center on Technology and Disability. (2012). Assistive

technology 101. Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://ctdinstitute.org/library/2014-10-13/fact-sheet-assistive-technology-101

• Office of Special Education Programs’ (OSEP’s) IDEA website. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://idea.ed.gov/