1. Assistive Technology Helping Students Increase, Maintain or Improve

2. Who I am?  Sean Kugler, skugler@fusd1.org, www.fusd1.org/atskugler@fusd1.orgwww.fusd1.org/at  Husband  Father  Assistive Technology Specialist  Teacher/Trainer  Coach

3. Overview  Definition of Assistive Technology  Examples of Assistive Technology  Why use Assistive Technology  AT Scavenger Hunt

4. Assistive Technology of Alaska Assistive Technology (AT) Defined? Any product or device… used by a person with a disability… to maintain, improve, or increase functional capacity. (off the shelf, modified, or customized)

5. So, exactly what is assistive technology?  Assistive Technology (AT) describes a wide range of tools used to Increase, ________, or Improve functional capability  These tools aid almost every functional skill area such as: vision, hearing, mobility, sitting, communication, accessing a computer, as well as  Every academic area  Employment site  Social setting  Tools range from high-tech (devices, computer software, etc) to low-tech (magnifiers, page fluffers, pencil grips)

6. The Continuum of Technology Assistive TechnologyNo/Low Tech Simple Little Maintenance Limited/no electronics Mid Tech Some Maintenance Some Training More Electronics High Tech Complex Electronics More Training More Maintenance

7. Assistive Technology: What exactly is it? Communication Device Keyboards

8. More Assistive Technology

9. Even More Assistive Technology

10. …And More Assistive Technology

11. But wait, there’s even more…

12. What makes it Assistive Technology?  It is used by someone with a disability to support their needs due to their disabilities.

13. Why use Assistive Technology?  IDEA 1988 was the first time that IDEA governed the provision of AT  Provides students with another way to access materials  May motivate some students more so than only using traditional means  May help the teacher distribute her time/workload  May help a student achieve and maintain employment  May help student to continue their education

14. Identify the Skill, not the Technology  When thinking about how best to implement technology it is necessary to determine what skill the student needs support in  After the skill has been identified, then the appropriate technology can be identified as well.  ADE has created a tool to assist teachers in properly identifying both the skill and the technology options to support that skill.

15. Highlighting Tape Simple solution to teach spelling patterns, parts of speech, etc.

16. More Examples Upper Elementary Lower Elementary

17. Natural Reader  Natural Reader Video Natural Reader Video

18. Scavenger Hunt…  Think of your Youngins… Andreah, Marianna, Staci, and Mitchell.  Go into the pseudo AT Lab (follow the signs to Project MATTERS) and write down 3 to 5 pieces of AT with a little description of how it might help.  Come back and share what you discovered with your teams.  Team share 3 or more pieces of AT.