What is Assistive Technology?

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 functional capabilities of a child with a disability. Assistive technology helps children use their strengths to compensate or "work around" weaknesses caused by the disability. Amy Plunkett

ED 505

What doesAssistive Technologylook like?

“For people without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities,

Dr. Katherine Seelmanwrightslaw.com

technology makes things possible.”

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

The IDEA 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) requires IEP teams to consider the assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities. The IEP team makes decisions about assistive technology devices and services based on your child’s unique needs so that he can be more confident and independent. The law requires schools to use assistive technology devices and services "to maximize accessibility for children with disabilities.” If the IEP team determines that a 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.

What does the law say aboutAssistive Technology?

Read More @http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2

VV-Talker is an electronic device designed for hearing impaired children who have difficulty speaking effectively. Although the education system for the deaf has improved considerably, many deaf children find it difficult to communicate fluently or learn things faster. The VV-Talker helps deaf children overcome their problem of listening.

Assistive Technolgy for the Hearing Impaired Student:

VV-Talker

http://www.tuvie.com/vv-talker-speech-assistive-device-for-vulnerable-deaf-children/

To read more about the VV-Talker, go to this website:

http://vimeo.com/22891103

copied onto the capsule paper to swell, resulting in an instant tactile graphic which the user can feel for alternate sensory input and recognition of diagrams, charts and other visual information.**Watch a video demonstration @

Assistive Technolgy for the Seeing Impaired Student:

Tactile Image Enhancer Using special

heat sensitive capsule paper, the Tactile Image Enhancer’s controlled heat source causes any black lines, letters or shapes that are drawn, printed or

http://www.unifiedav.com/satalight

The satalight® is a highly adjustable SMART Board designed for individuals with disabilities, bringing interactive learning into the hands of those who are physically or mentally challenged. Its innovative design makes lifting, lowering and tilting the whiteboard a snap, while its tip-resistant, four-wheeled locking design allows for easy movement from room to room.

Assistive Technolgy for the Physically Impaired Student:

Satalight SMART Board

Want to know more?

Assistive Technolgy for the Learning Impaired Student:

Talking CalculatorA talking calculator has a built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol, or operation key a user presses; it also vocalizes the answer to the problem. This auditory feedback may help a student check the accuracy of the keys he presses and verify the answer before he transfers it to paper.

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/953-talking-calculators.gs

Read more about talking calculators @

References

Assistive Technology. (2013). Wrightslaw. Retrieved March 23, 2014 from http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

Satalight. (2012). Unified AV Systems. Retrieved March 23, 2014 from http://www.unifiedav.com/satalight

Stanberry, M. (2010). Great Schools. Retrieved March 23, 2014 fromhttp://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/953-talking-calculators.gs

Tactile Image Enhance. Catsweb. Retrieved March 23, 2104 from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/953-talking-calculators.gs

Tactile Image Enhance. (2014). Vimeo. Retrieved March 23, 2104 from http://vimeo.com/22891103

IDEA 2004. (2013). US Department of Education. Retrieved March 23, 2014 from http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%

VV-Talker. Tuvie-design of the future. Retrieved March 23, 21014 from http://www.tuvie.com/vv-talker-speech-assistive