ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

The research paper discusses how Assisti ve Technology hardware and soft ware can be used to help students with communicati on problems, Att enti on defi cit hyperacti vity disorder (ADHD) dyslexia, visual problems and physical disabiliti es. Assisti ve Technology is important because it off ers an individual with disabiliti es increased opportuniti es for learning, producti vity, independence, opportuniti es that otherwise would not be available.

INTRODUCTION

According to the United States Assisti ve Technology Act of 1998, assisti ve technology (also called adapti ve technology) refers to any product, device, or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modifi ed or customized, that is used to maintain, increase, or improve the functi onal capabiliti es of individuals with disabiliti es. (CATEA, 2010). With the device, an individual with disabiliti es will functi on more independently. These devices extend the abiliti es of an individual in ways that provide physical access and sensory access such as wheelchairs, braces, Braille. Assisti ve technology is technology used by individuals with disabiliti es in order to perform functi ons that might otherwise be diffi cult or impossible.

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

Assisti ve technology can include mobility devices such as walkers and wheelchairs, as well as hardware, soft ware, and peripherals that assist people with disabiliti es in accessing computers or other informati on technologies. For example, people with limited hand functi on may use a keyboard with large keys or a special mouse to operate a computer, people who are blind may use soft ware that reads text on the screen in a computer-generated voice, people with low vision may use soft ware that enlarges screen content, people who are deaf may use a TTY (text telephone), or people with speech impairments may use a device that speaks out loud as they enter text via a keyboard. For more informati on, see the Access IT Knowledge Base arti cle what is accessible electronic and informati on technology?

 WHAT IS ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY?

Montgomery County Public Schools provides Assisti ve Technology Services provides support for students from birth–age 21. Augmentati ve communicati on and technology services support nonverbal students who are severely limited in verbal expression or writt en communicati on skills due to physical disabiliti es. These services are provided for students at their elementary, middle, or high school, whenever the individual need is identi fi ed. There are organizati ons such as High Incidence Accessible Technology (HIAT), Interdisciplinary Augmentati ve Communicati on Technology Team (InterACT) and The Vision Program.

STANDARD SIX:

Each of these programs provides supports, technology, collaborates to schools in the county.Watch this video to fi nd out what the county is doing about Assisti ve Technology (video):htt p://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/specialed/parents/services/video-assisti ve-technology.aspx

STANDARD SIX:

A SGD or communicati on device is used by an indiv idual to enable him or her to communicate more eff ecti vely with others. A device ass ists an indiv idual in communicati ng through pr inted words, speech or voice output, p ictures, or any combinati on of these. Devices range from having basic components and performing fundamental language functi ons to having the abi l i ty to perform computer- l ike functi ons and control household appl iances. SGDs are designed to be used as either a pr imary method of communicati on or a supplementary mode of communicati on to augment existi ng communicati on strategies and can be confi gured or customized to address most communicati on needs. (CATEA, 2010). A SGD or communicati on device is used by an indiv idual to enable h im or her to communicate more eff ecti vely with others. A device ass ists an indiv idual in communicati ng through pr inted words, speech or voice output, p ictures, or any combinati on of these. Devices range from having basic components and performing fundamental language functi ons to having the abi l i ty to perform computer- l ike functi ons and control household appl iances. SGDs are designed to be used as either a pr imary method of communicati on or a supplementary mode of communicati on to augment existi ng communicati on strategies and can be confi gured or customized to address most communicati on needs. (CATEA, 2010).

COMMUNICATION HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE:

COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Att enti on defi cit hyperacti vity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can conti nue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include diffi culty staying focused and paying att enti on, diffi culty controlling behavior, and hyperacti vity (over-acti vity). The behavior of children with ADHD can also include excessive motor acti vity.

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) :

Dyslexia is a developmental reading disorder that occurs when the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols and also called dyslexia. Developmental reading disorder (DRD), or dyslexia, occurs when there is a problem in areas of the brain that help interpret language. The disorder is a specifi c informati on processing problem that does not interfere with one's ability to think or to understand complex ideas. Most people with DRD have normal intelligence, and many have above-average intelligence. It may appear in combinati on with developmental writi ng disorder and developmental arithmeti c disorder.

DYSLEXIA

Each visually impaired student is unique and off ers his or her own set of strengths and challenges. Students' levels and types of visual impairment not only diff er, ranging from mild low vision to total blindness, but they might also have any number of other disabiliti es. General technology: such as computers, smartphones and cell phones, GPS devices, etc. can be used to help students with visual impaired disabiliti es. Assisti ve technology: items designed specifi cally to help people with vision loss or other disabiliti es, including everything from screen readers for blind individuals or screen magnifi ers for low-vision computer users, devices for reading and writi ng with low vision, to braille watches and braille printers can be used by the school. (AFB 2012)

VISUAL IMPAIRED:

SOFTWARE WITH VOICE

BRAILLE WRITER SOFTWARE

Braille Displays

MORE DEVICES TO HELP STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRED DISABILITIES.

Braille Embossers Braille Translation

Braille Paper

Digital Book Players

Daily Living Devices

Electronic Notetakers Screen Readers

Individuals whose physical impairments limit their mobility may need any of a number of devices to help them get around in the school building and parti cipate in student acti viti es. Mobility devices include such things as self-propelled walkers, manual or powered wheelchairs, and powered recreati onal vehicles like bikes and scooters. People with these disabiliti es oft en must rely upon asserti ve devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and arti fi cial l imbs to obtain mobility.

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES:

A tremendous variety of assisti ve technology is available today, providing the opportunity for nearly all people to access informati on technology. Teachers have to be aware of conditi ons and research on the diff erent disorders in order to fi nd ways of helping the students to learn under comfortable environment. Besides using technology, teachers can use these ti ps to help out on daily routi nes for the student. Work on the most diffi cult concepts early in the day; Give directi ons to one assignment at a ti me instead of directi ons to multi ple tasks all at once; Vary the pace and type of acti vity to maximize the students att enti on; and structure the students environment to accommodate his or her special needs. Assisti ve Technology hardware and soft ware used to help students with communicati on problems, Att enti on defi cit hyperacti vity disorder (ADHD) dyslexia, visual Impairment and physical disabiliti es have been discussed in this research paper.

CONCLUSION

AFB American Foundati on for the Blind (2012) Expanding possibiliti es for people with vision loss. 2012 American Foundati on for the Blind. All rights reserved. 2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10121Center for Assisti ve Technology and Environmental Access ( CATEA), (October 9, 2010) Argumentati ve and Alternati ve Communicati on. Georgia Insti tute of Technology (GT) College of Architecture (COA) .assisti vetech.net: Nati onal Public Website on Assisti ve Technology Robyler, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2010). Integrati ng Educati onal Technology into Teaching. (Fift h Editi on). Boston, MA: PEARSON Educati on.Wikipedia, (17 October,2012) Assisti ve Technology. The free encyclopedia. Wikipedia project. Powered by MediaWiki.htt p://www.enablemart.com/MobilityWhat is assisti ve technology?

REFERENCES