Assistive Technology AssessmentKate Ahern, M.S.Ed.

Agenda

Agenda• What is assistive technology?• A little contest• SETT Framework In Depth• Case Study• WATI Overview• Where to find AT Solutions

Legal Definitions

Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Assistive technology service means any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Assistive Technology, legally, must be considered at every IEP meeting.

A Little Contest

What do you know?• Divide into teams• Name as many assistive technology

devices as you can in two minutes

SETT Framework

• Create by Joy Smiley Zabala, 1995• A framework for assessment – NOT a set of

forms or a protocol• Designed to be used by interdisciplinary

teams to determine Assistive Technology needs

Aspects of a SETT Based Assessment

• Shared Knowledge: One of the major premises of the SETT Framework is that decisions about Tools–the devices and actions that are needed for the student and others to succeed–are most valid when they are made based not on the knowledge that one person has (or believes that they have) but based on an agreed-upon, mutually valid shared knowledge of the student, the environments, and the task.

• Collaboration: The SETT Framework is tool that both requires and supports the collaboration of the people who will be involved in the decision-making and those who will be impacted by the decisions. Collaboration is not only critical for the SETT Framework, it is also critical to gaining the buy-in necessary for effective implementation of any decisions.

• Communication: The SETT Framework requires that people communicate actively and respectfully. Shared knowledge can only be developed if the opinions, ideas, observations, and suggestions are respected and respectful.

• Multiple Perspectives: Everyone involved beings different knowledge, skills, experience, and ideas to the table. Although multiple perspectives can be challenging at times they are critical to the development of the accurate, complete development of shared knowledge. Not only are the multiple professional perspectives important to include, but also those of the student and the parents. This can make the difference between success and lack there-of.

From Zabala, 2005

The Student

• What is the functional area(s) of concern? What does the student need to be able to

• do that is difficult or impossible to do independently at this time?

• Special needs (related to area of concern)• Current abilities (related to area of concern)

The Environments

• Arrangement (instructional, physical)• Support (available to both the student and the

staff)• Materials and Equipment (commonly used by

others in the environments)• Access Issues (technological, physical,

instructional)• Attitudes and Expectations (staff, family,

others)

The Tasks

• What SPECIFIC tasks occur in the student’s natural environments that enable progress toward mastery of IEP goals and objectives?

• What SPECIFIC tasks are required for active involvement in identified environments? (related to communication, instruction, participation, productivity, environmental control)

Case Study

Student• Karen, age 14, ninth grade• Special Education since age 3, formerly received OT and SLP services• Cognitive abilities tested in average to low-average range• Diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity, on medication) and dyslexia• Difficulties with auditory processing, word retrieval, decoding and encoding text,

fluency, auditory and reading comprehension, spelling and visual motor processing• Teachers describe as “quiet”, “sweet”, “hardworking”• Very sensitive to “appearing different”• Enjoys using the computer• Karen self reports difficulties with organization, spelling , handwriting, moving through

the process of draft to final product• Karen’s mother agrees but also worries about math, general knowledge abilities and

life skills

Environment

• Lives at home with both parents, younger brother and a two dogs

• Currently takes most classes in the resource room (typing, physical science, life skills math, first aid, Wilson Reading, study skills and history)

• Every classroom Karen has classes in has a computer and she has a computer at home

Tasks

Karen educational need to meet her IEP goals are:

• Word retrieval when writing• Spelling• Handwriting• Composition organization• Organization• Attending in class

Tools

• Karen’s IEP currently lists a computer as assistive technology without reference to software or hardware adaptations

• In late elementary school Karen used an Alphasmart but abandoned its use do to “looking weird”

Where do you go from here?

As a group discuss Karen and her needs.

Do you have enough information to evaluate Karen for assistive technology?

What devices would you like to share with Karen or possibly trial with her and why?

Is there any other information you need and how will you go about getting it?

WATI

• A comprehensive guide to the process of assessing for assistive technology needs

• Inclusive of SETT• Views AT Assessment as an ongoing, team

process• The WATI Includes:

– The WATI Student Information Guide– The WATI Environmental Observation Guide– The WATI Assistive Technology Decision Making Guide– The WATI Assistive Technology Checklist

The Steps of the WATI

• Step 1: Team Members Gather Information• Step 2: Schedule Meeting• Step 3: Team Completes Problem Identification

Portion of AT Planning Guide at the Meeting (SETT).• Step 4: Prioritize the List of Tasks for Solution

Generation• Step 5: Solution Generation• Step 6: Solution Selection• Step 7: Implementation Plan• Step 8: Implement Planned Trials• Step 9: Follow Up on Planned Date

Finding AT Solutions

• Able Data: http://www.abledata.com/ • Adapted Solutions:

http://www.adaptedsolutions.org/ • AssistiveTechNet: http://assistivetech.net/ • Closing the Gap: http://www.closingthegap.com/ • MassMatch: http://www.massmatch.org/ • TechMatrix: http://www.techmatrix.org/ • UDL Tech Tool Kit Wiki

http://udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

Notes for this session available at:http://

intensivespedresources.wikispaces.com/Assisitive+Technology+Assessment

You may contact the presenter, Kate Ahern,at kahern@assabet.org or

katerahern@gmail.com