Assistive Technology NICKOLAS HOWARD

JUNE 11, 2015

ED505

DR. MCMILLIN

Assistive Technology Explanation

Assistive technology (often abbreviated as AT) is any item, piece of

equipment, software or product system that is used to increase, maintain,

or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Assistive technology includes products and services to help people who

have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing,

hearing, learning, walking, etc.

Assistive technology includes a broad range of devices from “low tech” (e.g., pencil grips, splints, paper stabilizers) to “high tech” (e.g., computers, voice synthesizers, braille readers).

Assistive Technology Explanation

AT is any device or service that helps a student with a disability to

meet his or her Individualized education program (IEP) goals and to

participate in the general education setting to the greatest possible

extent. 

Students can utilize assistive technology to:

• COMMUNICATE

• PERFORM ACADEMIC TASKS• PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL AND

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• MOVE OR TRAVEL AROUND THE SCHOOL

• USE PROPER SEATING AND POSITIONING

• ACCESS MATERIALS

Assistive Technology Explanation

2 FORMS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Devices

Services

These forms go hand-in-hand because success for a student

is dependent on having access to a device as well as on

having the support and services needed to use it effectively.

What’s the Law?

Assistive Technology Law

Assistive Technology Act of 1998Public Law 105-394 [29 USC 2201]

The Assistive Technology Act, also known as the “Tech Act” provides funds to states to support three types of programs:

the establishment of assistive technology (AT) demonstration centers, information centers, equipment loan facilities, referral services, and other consumer-oriented programs;

protection and advocacy services to help people with disabilities and their families, as they attempt to access the services for which they are eligible;

Federal/state programs to provide low interest loans and other alternative financing options to help people with disabilities purchase needed assistive technology.

Assistive Technology Law

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA ’04) requires IEP teams to consider the assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities. The law requires schools to use

assistive technology devices and services "to maximize accessibility for children with disabilities."

The IEP team makes decisions about assistive technology devices and services based on the child’s unique needs so that he/she can be more confident and independent.

If the IEP team determines that the child needs assistive technology devices and services, the school district is responsible for providing these and cannot use lack of availability or cost as an excuse.

Assistive Technology Law

School personnel must make certain that students have access to needed AT if they are to ensure that all students have access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

The IEP team should:  

Level of functioning

Strengths

Areas of need

Strategies and accommodations that have been tried, successful or otherwise

Use of AT devices and services

Assistive Technology Law

The team may conclude that: The current interventions are working and nothing new is

needed. The current AT devices or services are appropriate. New AT is required. More information is needed.

Hearing Impaired

Students in the back of the classroom can

miss up to 40% of what's being said in a

classroom, effecting how much they are

able to learn.  Voice amplification can solve

this problem by making the teacher's voice

audible in every space in the classroom. 

This system can improve communication,

reduce teacher fatigue, and increase

learning. Classroom sound has never been

this smart. With the IR Speaker unit that

combines three speakers with an infrared

sensor, installations take about half the

time of four speaker systems, freeing

installers from hanging each component

separately - less time, lower cost. 

Seeing Impaired

ZoomText is a magnification and screen

reading software for the visually

impaired. 

There are two versions available

- ZoomText Magnifier, which will enlarge

and enhance everything on your

computer screen with perfect clarity,

making all of your applications easy to

see and use. ZoomText

Magnifier/Reader, which includes all the

great features of ZoomText Magnifier,

and will additionally read aloud anything

on your computer screen. 

Learning Disabled

Talking Word Processor is an easy-to-

use, fully-functional word processor with

text-to-speech capability. It's compatible

with all standard word processor files

including the latest versions of Microsoft

Word, standard text, and Rich Text

Formats (WordPerfect). Included with the

Talking Word Processor are such features

as word prediction,  talking grammar

check, Language Model Information

Summarization (LMIS), a 250,000 word

integrated dictionary, and highlight and

extract tools.

Physically Disabled

Alternative expanded

keyboards have larger keys

placed less closely together. Key

labels are usually bigger and

more clear. This way, the

number of typing errors is

reduced. Expanded keyboards

can help with learning the

alphabet or to use a computer.

They can also be operated using

toes instead of fingers in some

cases.

Works Cited

Assistive Technology. (2015). Retrieved June 10, 2015 from

http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/cresource/what-are-the-schools-responsibilities-regarding-assistive-technology/at_04

Assistive Technology Industry Association. (2015). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859

Educational Children’s Assistance Center- ECOC. (2015). Retrieved June 9, 2015, from

http://ecac- parentcenter.org/userfiles/PTI/Assistive%20Technology/Assistive%20Technology%20Laws.pdf

Keller, Katharin A. and Holt, Roger. (June 8, 2015). Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids (PLUK). Retrieved from http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/PLUK_ATguide_269K.pdf

Pathways to School Improvement. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te7assist.htm

Premier Literacy Reading Made Ez. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.readingmadeez.com/company/OrderingOptions.html

Wright, Peter W. D. and Wright, Pamela D. (June 10, 2015). Wright Law Retrieved from http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm/#content