Assistive Technology

By: Irish Thornton

Table of contents

What is assistive technology?

Laws

Hearing Impaired

Seeing Impaired

Learning Disabled

Physically Disabled

References

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology is any device that helps a person with a disability complete an everyday task. Tasks such as:

Reading Typing Listening Turning the T.V. Walking And so much more!

Laws in regard toAssistive technology

Section 255 of the telecommunications Act of 1966: Ensures that the required equipment are accessible to those with a disability. Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information accessible to people with disabilities. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires Federal agencies to establish affirmative action plans for employment of those with a disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Prohibits discrimination of participation in federal programs and activities to those with a disability.

Hearing ImpairedTechnologyOne-to-one device: Used to eliminate outside noises so that the person can adjust the volume of the source accordingly.

Hearing aids: Devices that you wear behind your ear to make sounds louder.

Seeing ImpairedTechnology

Video magnifier: Used to increase the text size on any object for better seeing. This device can also be used for underlining and highlighting texts.

Optical character recognition system: Used to scan text and transport it to a computer system so that you are able to print and save items.

LEARNING DISABLEDTECHNOLOGY

Reading pen: Scans and reads word pronunciation to help increase comprehension skills.

Visual program that helps students explore, and understand concepts

Physically DisabledTechnology

Trackball mouse: helps gain better control and movement using technology.

Adaptive Keyboard: Helps motor impaired users.

ReferencesEat Smart for a Great Start Newsletter. (n.d.). PBS. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/strategies-for-learning-disabilities/assistive-technology/

Assistive Technology: Federal Law and Regulations. (2012, January 1). Assistive Technology: Federal Law and Regulations. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://www.ndrn.org/issues/assistive-technology/292-assistive-technology-federal-law-and-regulations.html

One-to-One Communicators. (n.d.). One-to-One Communicators. Retrieved June 4, 2014, from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/One-to-One-Communicators/Optical Character Recognition Systems. (n.d.). - American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved June 2, 2014, from http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/assistive-technology/optical-character-recognition-systems/1235