Assistive Technology

ED 505 – Kevin Everett

Assistive Technology

• Assistive Technology is any device or equipment that assist students with disabilities work around his or her challenges to communicate and/or function better.

• There are many kinds of Assistive Technology that help kids with learning and attention issues. These tools can help them work around their challenges while playing to their strengths. This helps them become more successful, productive students. At the same time, their confidence and independence can grow.

Tech Act – Assistive Technology Act of 1998

• Assistive Technology Act of 1998 Public 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.

• http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php

Hearing Impaired

• The assistive technology hearing aid is designed to clarify voice and reduce background noise and feedback. The more modern devices are quite small and maybe worn on a shirt collar.

• The devices usually come with batteries and a clip. Some devices require earphones to be purchased separately and have Table TV kits as well.

Vision Impaired

• Braille Note taker - are personal digital assistants for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Input is through a Perkins-style Braille keyboard or a standard QWERTY keyboard.

Learning Disabled

• Reading pens can be used to scan a word or a sentence, and the pen will read the text aloud so your child never has to guess when reading.

• As assistive technology, reading pens are particularly useful for older children who prefer to work independently, but are still working on learning basic reading skills. A reading pen allows your child to work with grade-level books in science, math, history, and literature because it reads those difficult words to your child.

Physically Disabled

• Voice recognition software turns speech into text without needing to use a keyboard or mouse.

• This allows students to dictate to the computer what they would like to say and watch their words turn to text.

• Students can use this software to compose documents, letters, emails, and collaborate with others in remote locations.

• This technology can help students with limited mobility and also allows them to control computer functions such as opening files and saving documents.

Reference

• Assistive Technology: Tools That Help With Learning. (2014, June 1). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics/assistive-technology-tools-that-help-with-learning

• The Family Center on Technology and Disability. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php

• 5173 Assistive Technology for Hearing Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://moleary31.blogspot.com

• Braille Notetakers. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.boundlessat.com/Blindness/Notetakers

• Assistive Technology Archives - Learning Abled Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://learningabledkids.info/tag/assistive-technology/

• The Adventures of An Evolving Educator. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from https://evolvingeducator.wordpress.com/category/utilization/3-3-implementation-and-institutionalization