ED 505 Melanie Shotts March 28, 2015 Assistive Technology ED 505 Melanie Shotts March 28, 2015

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology is any piece of equipment, tool, device, material, or service that can be used to help a student succeed in the classroom.

Assistive Technology can help students in the classroom to: Communicate with teachers and peers Complete assignments Access materials Increase mobility Participate in the classroom Participate in extracurricular programs

Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA ’04)

IDEA defines assistive technology as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child and specifically excludes a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device.”

Assistive Technology can be as simple as a rubber pencil grip or a highlighter marker to as complex as a computerized, voice controlled wheelchair.

Examples Low tech Mid Tech High Tech

Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired Audio or Hearing Loop Works with the hearing aid…you just flip the telecoil switch in the hearing aid or cochlear implant to amplify sound Students are able to hear instruction from the teacher, as well as, other conversations/ happenings in the classroom Works in any environment that has the universal magnetic signal No additional equipment or receivers are needed

Assistive Technology for the Seeing Impaired Screen Readers Supports the blind and visually impaired computer user by reading the text aloud Gives students with limited or no vision the ability to use computer software in the classroom Thunder is an option of free talking software for individuals with little or no sight. It is available for download on Windows 7, Vista, and XP in several different languages.

Examples of Screen Readers

Technology for the Learning Impaired Talking Calculator Assist students who struggle with math skills Built-in speech synthesizer to read aloud numbers, symbols, or operations pressed Auditory feedback to check accuracy of keys pressed

Assistive Technology for the Physically Impaired Alternative Mouse Trackballs Joystick Mouse control using a switch & body part movement Mouse control using head movement Mouse control using eye movement Mouse control using sip/puff mouth actions Enables students with limited hand use, the ability to use other movements/body parts to independently use computer software for instruction/remediation

Examples

References Assistive technology basics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from https://www.understood.org/en/school- learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www4.esc13.net/assistivetech Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gmck.org/accessibility/assistive_technologies/physical impairments.asp Frequent Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.hearingloop.org/fq_preferred.htm Hearing Assistive Technology | Hearing Loss Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing-assistive-technology

n. d. ). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www. gatfl (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://johannamsspc313.wikispaces.com/file/view/headstick.jpg/328438800/288x216/headstick.jpg (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpj0EUoCUAA8J4Q.jpg:large (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/01/38/2/images/feys-f03.jpg  (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.screenreader.net/

(n. d. ). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www. screenreader  (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us/cms/lib6/PA14000132/Centricity/Domain/12/Assistive Technology.jpg  Overview of Assistive Technology for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/overview-of-assistive-technology.html Tools for Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatfl.org/assistive.php