BY: SHELBY HUGHES

Assistive Technology

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology is specialized products that help children with disabilities so they can be successful and independent.

Two approaches you can use with assistive technology is remediation and compensation.

Remediation refers to learning and improving performance.

Compensation refers to using technology to accommodate for certain skills.

Laws regarding Assistive Technology

Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), passed in 1997, stated that every IEP (individualized education program) team must consider assistive technology when planning for an IEP for an individual with disabilities.

The Technology- Related Assistance Act for Individuals with Disabilities was passed in 1998 and it stated that it will provide assistive technology funding for statewide systems and services to students with disabilities.

Hearing Impaired

Individuals that are hearing impaired have trouble hearing.

Individuals with hearing impairments have the most assistive technologies without having a lot of modifications.

An example of an assistive technology for the hearing impaired is a FM amplification system. This involves a teacher wearing a wireless microphone that will amplify their voice to focus attention and help an individual hear better.

Hearing Impaired

Below is an image of a FM amplification system:

Retrieved from Google Images

Seeing Impaired

Individuals that are seeing impaired refers to people that struggle to see.

For an individual that is blind there are 3 kinds of technology to help facilitate.

1. Canes and sensor technology 2. Tools to convert printed information3. Screen readers

Seeing Impaired

An example of an assistive technology for the seeing impaired is a software called The Scan and Read Pro software that will scan information and read it to the individual .

Retrieved from Google Images

Learning Disabled

Learning disabilities are disabilities that affect someone’s learning abilities.

This affects an individual’s cognitive, academic, and social-emotional well being.

A teachers we need to develop assistive technology that remediate skills while creating activities for higher level thinking.

An example of an assistive technology for someone who is learning disabled is Quicktionary Reading Pen. This helps someone listen to information they cannot read.

Learning Disabled

This is an image of a Quicktionary Pen:

Retrieved from Google Images

Physically Disabled

Physically disabilities are disabilities that affect someone's mobility and agility.

This could involve a persons gross or fine motor movement.

An example of an assistive technology for someone that is physically disabled is a joystick on a power wheel chair.

Joysticks are handles that move in all directions.

These can be found on a wheelchair, or it can even be used for a cursor or pointer on a computer.

Physically Disabled

This is an image of a joystick:

Retrieved from Google Images

References:

Amazon. (n.d.). Scan and read pro. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Scan-And-Read-Pro/dp/B00014VWO8

High Tech Communications. (n.d.). Classroom amplifications. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.high-tech.on.ca/AssistiveListening

Lockelec Innovation. (n.d.). Rollee carer controlled bariatric wheel chair. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://lockelec.com.au/health-care/rollee-carer-controlled-wheel-chair/

Roblyer, M., & Doering, A. (2013). Teaching and Learning with Technology in Special Education. In Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (6th ed., pp. 403-409). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education.