Assistive TechnologyBy Jason W. Howland

What is Assistive Technology?

• Assistive Technology(AT) - is any device or service that helps a student with a disability to participate in the general education curriculum to the greatest degree possible.• Broadly speaking Assistive Technology is typically broken into two separate

but related categories: devices and services.• Assistive Technology can be used for a variety of functions including:

• communication • performing academic tasks • accessing materials • utilizing proper seating and positioning• moving around the school• participating in social or extracurricular activities

What is an AT Device?

• The Individuals with Disability Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) defines an assistive technology device as:

“§ 300.5 Assistive technology device. Assistive technology device means 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 the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.”

• From this definition, it is clear that the only key restriction on an assistive technology device is that it is not a surgically implanted medical device. This provision has most notably been interpreted to exclude cochlear implants for children with disabilities related to hearing.

Assistive Technology Devices

• The phrase Assistive Technology devices seems to conjure images of laptops, tablets, text readers, calculators and other electronic devices that can be used to assist student’s with disabilities. While the aforementioned items all could be utilized as AT devices, not all AT devices are nearly as complex. • Something as simple as a rubberized pencil grip, an ergonomic chair,

or a slanted desk is still considered an AT device.

What are Assistive Technology Services?• Assistive technology services are any services that assist a child with a

disability in the selection, acquisition, and use of an AT device. • Assistive Technology Services include:

• evaluating the functional needs of a child in their customary environment• purchasing, leasing, or otherwise acquiring AT devices for such a child• selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining,

repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices as needed to best accommodate the child

• training and technical assistance for the child and the family of the child using said AT devices

• training or technical assistance for teachers or other professionals who are otherwise substantially involved in the education or rehabilitation of the child.

Assistive Technology Laws – IDEA 1990 & 1997• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 established that

school districts, as a public agency, must ensure that AT devices and services are provided if required for a student to receive a free, appropriate, public education.• In 1997, IDEA was amended to state that AT devices and services must

be considered on all Individualized Education Plans(IEPs). • IDEA 1997, also recognized that AT may be needed to support a

child’s access to a free, appropriate, public education outside the school environment in the child’s home or other settings.

Assistive Technology in IDEA 2004

• In 2004, President Bush signed the Individuals with Disability Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) • IDEA 2004 kept most of the same federal mandates for the use of

assistive technology in public education. It still requires IEP teams to consider the needs of all children with disabilities. • IDEA 2004 requires schools to utilize AT devices and services, “to

maximizes accessibility for children with disabilities.”• IDEA 2004 also requires that schools provide AT training for the child,

parents, and teachers responsible for using AT devices.

Examples of Assistive Technology

• Assistive Technology comes in many shapes and sizes and supports the educational process for a wide range of individuals with disabilities.• Assistive Technology can be used to improve the educational

outcomes of individuals with:• Hearing impairment• Visual impairment• Learning disabilities• Physical disabilities

Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired• AT devices for the hearing impaired include:

• Hearing aids – Amplify sound in the room so that speech can be more easily understood

• FM Transmission System – Transmit sound directly into a students headphones so that other students will not be disturbed

• Microphones – Allow the teacher or students to amplify their voices when speaking• Visual lessons, pictures, objects and diagrams – Provide visual cues to replace or

supplement auditory lesson content.• Closed-Captioning Television – Provide a text based alternative for the hearing

impaired to watch television shows• Video subtitles – provide visual text for hearing impaired viewer to read the dialogue

of movies

Hearing Impaired AT - Hearing Aid

Assistive Technology for the Visually Impaired• AT devices for the visually impaired include:

• Braille – Uses tactile bumps to render textbooks, worksheets and all written material accessible to the blind

• Text-to-Speech software – Converts written text to audio so that blind or visually impaired students can hear what they would otherwise be reading and writting

• Electronic Magnifying Glass Software – Allows visually impaired students to amplify the size of text to compensate for impaired vision

• Electronic Braille Note Maker – Allows blind students to take electronic notes using a device that uses audio and tactile features to replace sight

• Talking Calculator – Repeats what buttons are pressed so that a student can be sure they have entered problems correctly

• Audiobooks – Replace visual text read with spoken text• Voice Recognition Software – translate the speakers voice into typed text to make writing

more accessible

Visually Impaired AT – Electronic Braille Note Maker

Assistive Technology for the Learning Disabled• AT devices for the learning disabled include:• Audiobooks – to assist with slow or low proficiency readers• Optical Character Recognition – to translate typed written text to speech to

assist with reading• Dictation Devices – to record answers verbally in place of writing• Portable Word Processors – to replace handwritten assignments with typing• Spell Checkers – to improve spelling proficiency• Adapted Communication Devices – to replace or communication with touch

or eyegazing in non-verbal students• Graphical Organizers – to help students develop or improve organizational

skills

Learning Disabled AT – Adapted Communication Devices

Assistive Technology for the Physically Disabled• AT devices for the Physically Disabled Include:

• Speech Recognition Software – to replace and supplement students with disabilities that affect their ability to move their hands

• Programmable Switches – buttons that can be programs to perform simple tasks for students with limited hand movement

• Mouth Stick – a straw that allows a person to control a computer or powered wheelchair using their mouth

• Head Wand – a headrest that allows a person to control a computer or powered wheelchair using their muscles in their head and neck

• Standing Desk – a desk that a student with lower limb paralysis can use to stretch the muscles in their legs while they complete schoolwork

• Power Wheelchairs – a wheelchair that is controlled by a student using a joystick, mouth stick or head wand to navigate throughout the school and community

• Smart Pens – Assist students who cannot take lengthy notes while in class

Physically Disabled AT – Powered Wheelchair

References

The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive Technology: An Overview. Retrieved on June 8, 2015

from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/

Mittler, J. (2007). Assistive Technology and IDEA: Regulations. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from

http://tamcec.org/pdf/AssistiveTech%20and%20IDEA%20Regs.pdf

Wright, P., & Wright, P. (2010, June 30). Assistive Technology. Retrieved June 8, 2015, from

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm