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
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