Assistive

Technology
Proposal
Lindsey Berkheimer
 Student Background
Colin is currently a fifth grade student who will be transitioning to
the middle school this upcoming school year. Colin was
diagnosed with Autism prior to starting kindergarten. His most
recent IQ test score results indicate that he also has an
intellectual disability. Colin can communicate usually with yes/no
responses. He also speaks in 3-4 word sentences. To strengthen
his communication skills, Colin receives thirty minutes of speech
therapy services three days a week. It is difficult for Colin to write
and use a typical mouse due to his lack of strength and fine
motor development. He receives occupational therapy once a
month to strengthen his fine motor skills. Transitioning between
activities/ classrooms are sometimes extremely challenging for
Colin. If he isn’t finished with an activity and it is time to switch,
he becomes upset. Due to Colin’s intellectual disability, grade
level curriculum material is very abstract and difficult for Colin to
understand, so Colin receives modified curriculum delivered to
him in a learning support classroom. He currently has a one on
one aide who assists Colin with his daily routine and is available
to help with whatever Colin needs.
 Goals for Student
-Increase communication with peers
-Increase independence when using
a computer or Ipad
-Increase independence in general
while in an educational setting
-Decrease the number of tantrums
when transitioning between or from
activities/ classes
 Assistive Technology Team
Members
-Parents
-Special Education Teacher and/or
Paraprofessional
-Building Principal
-Occupational Therapist
-Speech Therapist
-Head of Special Education Department
-School Technology Paraprofessional
-School Psychologist
-School Guidance Counselor
 Assistive Technology Tools
1. Use of an IPad
2. Use of visual picture schedule to list
activities and classes in sequential order
for the day
3. Use of a Sounding Board App and other
apps to communicate with others
4. Use of an individual visual timer to keep in
his working area
5. Use of Social Stories Creator App to
strengthen social skills
Assistive Technology Tool
Explanations and
Individual Pricing
 IPad
Summary/ Classroom Use: Colin would use an IPad all
day every day in middle school. IPads are portable,
lightweight, and practical. He already uses one in fifth
grade as a reward incentive. In the middle school, an
IPad would allow Colin to strengthen his fine motor,
speech and language, language arts, math, as well as
his social skills. Apps can be easily downloaded to
supplement Colin’s curriculum. Colin can communicate
with his IPad, use his fingers to manipulate, have
curriculum be read aloud to him. He can use the speech
to text feature to communicate. Colin’s teachers can
use social stories apps to help him understand complex
social situations.
Cost: $600
Anticipated Ease of Use: 1
 Visual Timer:
Summary/ Classroom Use:
This timer gives students who need a visual
representation of how much time they have until an
activity transition. Certain leaners need advance
warning of switching to a new activity. Colin would
benefit from this and he could use a small individual
one around with him to each class. His parents could
also use it at home to ease with transitions.

Cost: $37.99
2 AA batteries required

Anticipated Ease of Use: 1

 Visual Schedules for Kids With
Autism: First Then Visual
Schedule App
Summary/ Classroom Use:
This app is vital for students who need a visual to understand. If a
student is able to see it they will be able to visualize what they
need to do. This app has an endless amount of pictures to create
visual schedules. It also gives you the ability to use your own
pictures. Ideally, prior to the start of middle school, Colin and his
family could walk around the new school and take photos of his
classrooms. Then they could create a picture schedule for the
school day. This would ease with the transition to a new setting
for Colin.

Cost: $14.99

Anticipated Ease of Use: 1

 Sounding Board
Summary/ Classroom Use:
This app turns your device into an instant means of
communication for people who have difficulty
communicating. The app has picture icons that
help create a storyboard for people to have
conversations to express feelings without actually
having to speak.

Cost: FREE in the App Store, additional icons are

available to purchase

Anticipated Ease of Use: 1

 Social Stories Creator and
Library
Summary/ Classroom Use:
Teachers/ paraprofessionals/ parents can use this app
with Colin to explain to him social situations through the
use of social stories. This app has premade social stories
to allow students to fully understand a social situation.
This app also can be used to create picture schedules.

Cost: $9.99
Full expansion pack: $24.99

Anticipated Ease of Use: 1

Total Cost
for District:

$687.96
Summary:
In conclusion, Colin would substantially benefit from all
of the assistive technology tools shared in this proposal.
Not all students learn the same way and as an educator
it is my goal to make sure everyone can feel successful.
It would be a disservice to Colin if he did not receive
these assistive technology tools that are available. Colin
has benefited from a one on one aide since he has
attended pre-kindergarten; at this time I feel that he still
be allowed the assistance from a paraprofessional. The
end goal is to build his independence as he transitions
throughout the middle school and eventually onto the
high school. Please consider these tools so that Colin
can feel just as successful as every other student
transitioning to middle school next year. Thank you for
your consideration.