Assistive

Technology
By Vivian Boyd

What is Assistive Technology

Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child and specifically exclude a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device is assistive technology. The Individuals w/Disabilities Educational Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 04).

Assistive Technology is utilized to:

Communicate Perform Academic Tasks Participate in Social & Extracurricular Activities Move or Travel Around the School Use Proper Eating & Positioning Access Materials

Examples of Assistive Technology:

Adaptive toys

Text reader/word prediction software

Book scanner/reader/magnifier Reacher/Grabber

Braille Book
Braille Writer

Examples of Assistive Technology:

Electronic Choice-Making Device
Audio Books Mathematical Equation Software

Braille Display/Input Device

Joy-stick Input Device On-Screen Keyboard

Federal Law

The Technology Assistance Act for Individuals w/Disabilities (Public Law 100407), 1998

Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997 (Public Law (08-17)

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act:

Heightened Accountability Enhanced Flexibility Local Control of Funds

Enhanced Parental Choice

Increased Use of Research-Based Instructional Methods

Study on Perception of Impact of NCLB:

Teacher & Paraprofessional Qualifications Use of Evidence-Based Practices

High Standards for All Students

Vannest, Mahadevan, Mason, and Temple-Harvey (2009)

Implications of No Child Left Behind:

Trends in Prevalence of Autism American Sign Language Trained Personnel Universal Design for Learning Web Accessibility

Learning Disabled:
Conditions that may impair cognitive abilities: Mild Cognitive Disabilities Reading Skills Writing Skills Math Skills Moderate & Severe Cognitive Disabilities

Physically Disabled:
Assessing need for Assistive Technology:
Occupational Therapists Physical Therapists

Rehabilitation Engineers
Assistive Technology Specialists

Hearing Impaired

Assistive Listening Devices: Designed to improve audibility in specific listening situations

Seeing Impaired
Technology for individual who is blind:

Canes & Sensor Technology

Tools to Convert Printed Information Screen Readers Technology for partially sighted Closed Circuit Television Text Information Enlarged Contrast Altered Screen Magnificator

Hearing Impaired:
The telecoil in hearing aids Telecoils are a mechanism inside the hearing aid which enable the hearing aid to be used directly with hearingaid compatible telephones and most assistive listening devices.

Seeing Impaired:
Refreshable Braille displays use a specialized hardware device that works in conjunction with a software program. The software program translates text from the computer screen into Braille and then displays the material onto an external hardware device called a Braille display. The Braille display consists of a strip containing a series of very small pins that emerge to form a temporary line of Braille text. As the reader moves from one section of text to the next, the pins shift, and the new data is displayed.

Physically Impaired:
Read and Write Gold Comprehensive Literacy software with features such as Text-to-Speech with highlighting, Word Prediction while typing, Study skills for organization and research, Scanning Documents & Books with OCR, highlighting and exporting with Bibliography, FactMapping and Brainstorming, and Web apps for the iPad. The features of Read and Write Gold are also available as an extension in the Chrome browser.

Cognitive Impairments
DAISY Audio Players There are several DAISY audio players available, such as the Bookport Plus, PlexTalk, and VictorStream. These audio book players are accessible to individuals who are Blind or Visually impaired, as well as those with print disabilities due to a physical or cognitive disability, such as TBI or Dyslexia. Download & Listen to audiobooks with Bookmarks, audio record, download MP3 music files, and more.

References:
Roblyer, M. D. (2000). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (6thh ed.). Boston: Pearson. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.assistivetechnologyforeducation.com (n.d.). Retrieved from Http://iris/peabody.vanderbilt.edu/at/chalcycle.htm (n.d.). Retrieved from Http://DhS.state.mn.us/us/main.idcplg (n.d.). Retrieved from Http://ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cb/assisitivetechnologyforeducation.asp .