1. An Overview of Assistive Technology SPE 545

2. Persons involved in AT: Parents, users, families Educational program administrators Educators of all types Social workers Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) Occupational therapists Physical therapists

3. Purposes of AT Increase productivity Improve life quality Enable communication Facilitate learning Independence and access to the community Expanded control over their environment Friendship  Functional  Enabling  Augmentative  Efficient  Adaptive

4. AT Continuum High TechLight TechNo Tech

5. AT No Tech Adaptation of common objects Does not have electronic components Can include an accommodation, change in the environment, flexible scheduling

6. AT Light Tech Examples: Slant Board Tape Recorders Changes in text size, in spacing, in background color Calculator Reading pen Highlighter tape Color filters

7. AT High Tech Word Processor Word Prediction Software Talking Word Processor Multimedia Software Voice Recognition Software

8. Resources U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) The National AT Reuse Center: http://www.passitoncenter.org/ Infinitec, Inc. (a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., Washington D.C) http://www.infinitec.org/ ISBE: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/SPEC-ED/html/assist_tech.htmhttp://www.isbe.state.il.us/SPEC-ED/html/assist_tech.htm Association of AT Act Programs http://www.ataporg.org/atap/index.phphttp://www.ataporg.org/atap/index.php Illinois State Resources http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/cerebral-palsy-assistance/illinois Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP) http://www.iltech.org Illinois Life Span http://www.illinoislifespan.org/index.asp