Dynamics and Impact on the Learning of our Students ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

 Any technology that can help close the gap between a student’s disability and their academic potential.  Can be in the form of a device or service. WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

BROAD GOALS  Empowering students with disabilities to be… -Productive -Independent -Better learners SPECIFIC GOALS  Better communication with peers and teachers  Students developing initiative and confidence in academic and social tasks  Unrestrictive geography around the classroom for students WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

 Commonly used types… -Speech recognition programs -Audio books -Talking calculators -Video magnifiers -Brail text -Graphic organizers -Portable word processors WHAT TYPES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS?

 A team and utility built into the special education arm of the school to coordinate A.T.  Monitoring and evaluating to the available A.T.  Making progressive decisions based off quantitative data as to the effectiveness of the A.T.  Training in using A.T. for parents, students and teachers.  Funding WHAT SHOULD SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS CONSIDER WHEN IMPLEMENTING A.T.?

 A primary legal requirement for assistive technology is IDEA, or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  IDEA requires the following… - Building of A.T. accommodations into the IEP -Schools must provide A.T. training to teachers, parents, and students -Parents’ rights to request student evaluations for A.T. services  The Assistive Technology Act also provides legal reinforcement to A.T. This act supports UDL (Universal Design for Learning) which helps build equal learning opportunity into a curriculum including accessibility. WHAT LAWS SURROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

EXAMPLES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

 TDD, or telecommunication devices uses captioning to convert verbal language into words on a screen for the student. A.T. FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED

 Video magnifiers allow students magnify physical text into manipulative digital text. A.T. FOR THE SEEING IMPAIRED

 Alternate keyboards have customable keys. This allows teachers to pair letters and numbers to elements such as colors and patterns. A.T. FOR LEARNING DISABLED

 Eye tracking technology allow students to move objects on screens and make specific selections via preset eye movements. A.T. FOR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED

Assisstive devices for people with hearing, voice, speech, or language disorders. (2011, December). Retrieved from assistive-devices.aspx Assistive technology for people with physical impairments. (2015). Retrieved from assistive_technologies/physical_impairments.asp Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching 6th edition (p. 408). Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall Stanberry, K., & Raskind, R. (2010, February). Alternative keyboards. Retrieved from special-education/assistive-technology/957-alternative- keyboards.gs The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive Technology: An Overview. Retrieved on [1/20/15] from REFERENCES