Assistive Technology

By: Wendy Sammons

What is Assistive Technology?

• Devices and services that help individuals with special needs:

Seeing

Communication

Listening

ReadingRemembering

Assistive Technology Defined!

• Assistive Technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating and using them (WikiPedia, 2014).

Laws Regarding Assistive Technology

Any service that directly assists an individual with disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device, including:

• Evaluation

• Providing Devices

• Selecting, Customizing, Adapting, Applying AT solutions

• Coordinating AT with other providers’ services

• Training and Technical Assistance- Individual and Family

• Training and Technical Assistance- Professionals

http://idea.ed.gov/

Disabilities and Assistive Technology

The following are disabilities that can require the use of Assistive technology.

• Hearing impaired

• Vision impaired

• Learning impaired

• Physically impaired

Listening Devices for the classroom

Assistive

Listening

Devices

Augmentative

and Alternative

Communication

Devices (AAC)

Alerting

Devices

Listening Loop Systems

Help to amplify sounds Emits a blinking lightor loud sound

Helps those who can’t communicate express themselves

Amplified sound travels a loopcreating electromagnetic field andsent to a hearing loop receiver

Devices for Vision Impaired

Screen ReaderScreen Magnifier

Refreshable Braille DisplayBraille Translation SoftwareBraille Writing EquipmentClosed Circuit Television

Portable Note takerBraille embosser

ScannersAdaptive keyboards

Augmentative communication device

Assistive Devices for

Learning Disabilities

Abbreviation ExpandersAlternative KeyboardsAudio Books and PublicationsElectronic Math WorksheetsFreeform Database SoftwareGraphic OrganizersInformation/Data ManagersPersonal FM Listening SystemsTalking CalculatorsVariable Speed Recorders

Tools Used in the Classroom

Electronic Math Worksheets: These allow the user to access them on a computer screen, offer immediate feedback and remediation and audio explanations

Assistive Technology

For People with

Physical Impairm

ents

Mouth Stick: Helps those who haveno use of hands to typeor manipulate a mouse.

References Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders. (2014, July). Retrieved

from National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/Assistive-Devices.aspx

Assistive Technologies for people with Physical Impairments. (2014). Retrieved from General Medical Council: http://webaim.org/articles/motor/assistive#mouthstick

Assistive Technology Act. (2009, December). Retrieved from National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities: http://nichcy.org/laws/ata

Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: an Overview. (2014). Retrieved from Reading Rocket: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overview

Ed.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004: http://idea.ed.gov/

Principles of Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments. (2010, February 19). Retrieved from Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/assistive-technology.html

teach@thought. (2014). Retrieved from 8 Helpful Assistive Technology Tools for Your Classroom: http://www.teachthought.com/technology/8-helpful-assistive-technology-tools-for-your-classroom/

WikiPedia. (2014, August 27). Retrieved from WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology