Assistive Technology For All
Kailha Winter-Smith Assistive Technologist ,Student Accessibility Centre
Agenda
• What is Assistive Technology
• Goals of Assistive Technology
• Who are the Users?
• AT Assessment Process and the
SETT Model
• Assistive Tech Tools Overview
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Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of
equipment, software program, or product system that is
used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional
capabilities of persons with disabilities.
Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty
speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing,
hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different
disabilities require different assistive technologies.
WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
THE PRIMARY GOALS OF
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
• To enhance capabilities and remove barriers.
• Assistive technology with training and strategies is a step
towards independence.
• Assistive technology needs are related to a task, not a
disability.
• Assistive technology does not replace social and
academic skills.
• Assistive Technology selected should be the simplest
option without compromising the benefits.
Student’s with barriers around;
• Vision• Hearing• Neurodiversity• Learning• Mobility• Mental Health• Everyone!
WHO IS USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
My Assessment ProcessReview any assessments or previous notes from Medical professionals
Meet with the student one on one
• No need to take notes
• Education (What are they studying)
• Current AT/Technology using or have used
• Their Strengths
• I will ask the students to tell me what specific tasks in the following
areas they have barriers in or struggling with.
Reading
Writing
Math
Notetaking
Organization
Studying
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My Assessment Process continued…
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• Demonstrate Assistive Technology
• Set up trials and Free Assistive Technology that is available
immediately.
• Go over recommendations from Assistive Technologist
• Set up follow up appointment for training
• For follow up to the appointment, send an email about the
information discussed in the meeting, including links to resources.
If needed, begin to source products/quotes.
ALWAYS TRIAL FIRST WHEN
POSSIBLE!
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS
OneNotehttps://support.office.com/en-us/article/video-start-using-onenote-6f4d0683-9b32-4467-
9d38-76424d355673?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
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• OneNote a free Note taking tool that can support you
with taking notes in class as well as support your
organization of notes, projects, to do list etc.
• You can use it across all devices. It saves and stores
automatically, so no matter where you are or where
you log in, your notes will be there.
• A tool that can support all abilities and all students.
From this…
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To this…
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Smart Pen
• Aegir Smart Pen ( IOS, and Android)https://www.livescribe.com/site/aegir/
• Livescribe Smart Pen (IOS, and Android)https://www.livescribe.com/site/livescribe3/
• Echo Smart Pen ( Windows and MAC Computer)https://www.livescribe.com/site/livescribe-2/echo/
Aegir Smart Pen
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• All the storage for your notes, and more.
• 10 hours of Battery life• One smartpen multiple devices.• Handwriting made mobile• Super light• Desktop program coming soon!
https://www.livescribe.com/site/aegir/
• Record voice while you are writing• Your handwritten notes are searchable• Sync with cloud services ( Dropbox,
Evernote, Google Drive, and OneNote)• Handwritten to text with simple swipe• Share your notes in many formats (PDF,
SVG, Plain Text, DOCX and more) • Smart App ( Android and IOS)
Prizmo Go https://creaceed.com/prizmogo
Reading support on the Go!
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• Take pictures of text and have it read to you right away.
• Support individuals with low vision• Translates• Available on IOS only
Natural Reader https://www.naturalreaders.com/
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Free Version includes the following features;
• Text to Speech
• Works with PDF, Docx, TXT and ePub
• Change speed and speaker
• Floating bar to read text in other
applications
• Works with Windows and Mac Computers
• Natural Reader Web Version available
For either a subscription or one time payment
you can get the following added features;
• Extra Natural Voices included
• Text to Audio Files
• Read Web Pages directly
• Pronunciation Editor
• Batch File Converter ( Professional
Version only)
• 500 pages of OCR EBooks or 500 pages
of scanned documents (Professional
Version only)
• Unlimited OCR in (Ultimate version only)
Writing Support Ginger Software
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Ginger Software can help you….• Write with confidence• Correct your text as you Type• Improve your writing skills
Features included in Software;• Grammar Checker• Sentence Rephrase• Translation• Dictionary• Text Reader• Personal Trainer• Add it to Google Chrome for Free !• Works with Windows Computers
https://www.gingersoftware.com/
Writing Support Contd. Grammarly Software
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Grammerly Software can help you…• Compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing !• Save your valuable time• Write Effectively• Learn and improve as you go• Free Trial/download
Features included in software; • Critical grammar and spelling checks• Advanced checks for punctuation, context, and sentence structure• Vocabulary enhancement suggestions• Plagiarism detector • Plus some other features….• Works with Windows and MacOS
https://www.grammarly.com/premium
Microsoft Dictationhttps://dictate.ms/
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• Available in all Microsoft programs• You can dictate in different languages ( French, English, Spanish…)• No training required
Mac speech to texthttps://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202584
• Available on all Mac laptop and computers
• You can dictate anywhere once enabled
• No training required
IOS accessibility right at your fingertips…Iphone/Ipad
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These are some of the Accessibility features under learning and literacy, Reading Support • Dictionary• Speech• Safari Reader• Guided Access and Screen Time • Siri
There is also accessibility features that support; Vision, Hearing, and Physical and motor Skills, you can learn all about them in the link below.https://www.apple.com/ca/accessibility/iphone/
Android Accessibility at your fingertipshttps://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006564?hl=en
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• Android and Google based phones have many accessibility features to support you and your students needs.
• Screen Reader
• Change your Display
• Interaction Controls
• Use Braille Display
• Audio and on-screen text
• Android Accessibility Suite App
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback&e=-EnableAppDetailsPageRedesign)
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