1. A SSISTIVE T ECHNOLOGY ITC

2. D EFINITION Any piece of equipment or product used to: Increase Maintain and/or Improve functioning capabilities of a person with a disability

3. W HAT CAN AT D O ? Help a child: Communicate Participate Play Move or sit up See or hear better With early learning

4. AT Q UESTIONS What does the child need to do that is difficult or impossible because of their disability? Where and in what situations does the child need to do these tasks? What is the child’s present level of development for that task? Are there any high or low tech AT devices that the team feels would help that child do the task?

5. T YPES OF AT No Tech – doesn’t involve any types of materials Low Tech – does not involve any type of electronic or battery operated devices Mid Tech – Battery operated devices and simple electronic devices requiring limited advancements in technology High Tech – Complex technological support

6. T HE IDEA OF LOAD / EFFORT Physical effort Muscle strength and control Cognitive effort Sensing, remembering, discriminating, analyzing sequencing, responding Linguistic effort symbolic interpretation Time does it take too long to accomplish the task?

7. T O TEACH SOMEONE TO USE AN AT DEVICE : Consider motivation – What does the person want/need to say the most? Start small – teach AT skills in a logical sequence Cause/effect Single switch Teach the caregiver about the device.

8. W HY AT CAN FAIL Improper match made based on load Time Physical Cognitive Linguistic Caregivers not being able to use the device. Device being hard or expensive to maintain.

9. http://www.rehabtool.com

10. N O T ECH Sign language Eye gaze Gestures

11. L OW T ECH Dry erase boards Clipboards 3-ring binders Manila folders Photo albums Photographs Highlight tape Colored paper Certain living aids http://www.flaghouse.com/

12. L OW T ECH Flip book Key chain Directions and stories with pictures Printed overlay Sentence strip T-shirts

14. M ID T ECH Voice Output Communication Aids Slim Talker Talking Photo Album Talking Buddy Big Mack switch Go Talk Battery interrupt Tape Recorder Switches http://www.gokeytech.com/bluebir d_ii.htm

15. EXAMPLES Dora the Explorer Frog Segway

16. H IGH T ECH IntelliKeys Writing With Symbols Touch Window Big Keys and Big Keys Plus Trackballs Software Computers and adaptive hardware Complex voice output devices Dynamic Display Eye gaze with a computer

18. R EFERENCES Beukelman, D. & Mirenda, P. (2005). Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting children and adults with complex communication needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Brookes Publishing Co. Susanne Oakey South Carolina Assistive Technology Project: http://www.sc.edu/scatp/ http://www.sc.edu/scatp/ F OR MORE INFORMATION