1. Cynthia Hutter – ED 505 Technology and Education
Assistive Technology
Cynthia Hutter – ED 505 Technology and Education

2. What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology includes the devices used by individuals with disabilities and the services that support the individuals or their caregivers. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines an AT device as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. AT services support people with disabilities or their caregivers to help them select, acquire, or use AT devices. Such services also include functional evaluations, training on or demonstration of devices, and purchasing or leasing devices.

3. What are the laws in regard to Assistive Technology?
State and federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandates school districts to make available assistive technology to all students with disabilities that are required to be the recipient of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). If assistive technology is deemed necessary by each IEP team, it will be added as a part of the student’s Individualized Educational Program. The law says, Each public agency shall ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services, or both, as those terms are defined in §§ , are made available to a child with a disability if required as a part of the child's - (1) Special education; (2) Related services; or (3) Supplementary aids and services.

4. Device for the Hearing Impaired
Frequency-Modulated (FM) Amplification Systems: FM amplification systems create a link between the teacher (with microphone) and the hearing aid for the HI student. This technology works effectively in the classroom by greatly reducing background noise and freeing the teacher to walk around the room. As a result, this is of most commonly used assistive technology devices used in schools because of it’s “versatility and portability for use in or out of the school building.”

5. Device for the sight impaired
Electronic magnifiers (EM’s) are sometimes called Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV’s) or Video Magnifiers. A camera captures an image and this is displayed on a built- in monitor, a TV or a computer monitor. The magnification can be adjusted to suit the needs of the student.

6. Device for learning disabled
A speech recognition program uses a word processor to do it’s job. The student speaks into a microphone, and the words he/she said show up on the computer screen as text.. A student that struggles with oral language would benefit from this device to help with writing skills.

7. Device For Physically Disabled
Dycem is a non-slip material that can be used to keep a cafeteria tray in place or keep books or electronic devices from sliding off the tray of a wheel chair. This assistive technology device is helpful to physically disabled students who struggle to grasp objects or have limb movements that may cause learning tools to be spilled or knocked to the floor.

8. References:
What is Assistive Technology? :: AAC-RERC - Spread the Word. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2015, from (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from The Special Ed Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from impairments Technology for Schools – 100 Recommended Tech Tools For Schools. (2012, December 26). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Our Services. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from on.aspx

9. References continued:
Use of Low Vision Devices. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Speech Recognition Software Programs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from speech-recognition-software-programs.gs (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from recognition-3.jpg (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from Teaching Students Who Are Deaf-Blind and Cognitively Disabled To Effectively Communicate Choices During Mealtime. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2015, from MED.jpg