Jodie Bojonca University of West Alabama29 October 2014

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

“AT is any device or service that helps a student with a disability to meet his or her individualized education program and to participate in the general education setting to the greatest extent”(Iris Center).

Anything that aids in removing learning barriers for students with IEPs is recognized as assistive technology.

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

Assistive Technology is used to for a myriad of purposes:

To aid in classroom learningTo assist with communicationTo aid in student mobilityTo allow students to participate in activities with their

classmates

WHY IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY USED?

IDEA 2004 is the law that requires Assistive Technology. The government requires that children with disabilities be provided with the assistive technology needed in order for them to receive a free and appropriate public education.

IEP teams are held responsible for deciding if a child needs access to assistive technology.

WHAT LAW REQUIRES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) can be helpful to the hearing impaired. This piece of assistive technology provides realtime captioning for students that have hearing disabilities. Students only need a computer in order to access the captions provided by the Remote CART AT. The sound in the room is recorded and put into subtitles for the student to read.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

The Prodigi Tablet handheld electronic magnifier is a tool that magnifies text for the visually impaired. This tablet allows the user to enlarge pictures as much as the user desires without losing image quality. This device can also read text aloud.

Audio books may be helpful to students with learning disabilities. If students have trouble reading, this technology could provide them with the opportunity to listen to text read aloud to them.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE LEARNING DISABLED

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED

Students with limited use of their hands may benefit from an alternative keyboard. This type of keyboard allows students with use of only one hand to type more quickly.

[Alternative Keyboard]. Retrieved September 28, 2014 from http:/ulva.com/Online-Store/Keyboards-Pointing- Devices/maltron-single-kb.htm[Book Covers]. Retrieved September 28, 2014 from www.audible.com[CART]. Retrieved September 28, 2014 from http://www.captionfi rst.com/CARTThe IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2012). Assistive

Technology: An Overview. Retrieved on October 28,2014 from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/Mittler, J. (2007). Assistive technology and IDEA: Regulations. In C.

Warger (Ed.), Technology integration: Providing access to the curriculum for students with disabilities. Arlington, VA:

Technology and Media Division (TAM)[Prodigi]. Retrieved September 28, 2014 from http:// store.humanware.com/hus/prodigi-tablet.html

REFERENCES