The document defines assistive technology as any item or equipment that increases, maintains, or improves the functional capabilities of a child with disabilities based on the U.S. Department of Education definition. Assistive technology aims to increase student independence and self-reliance. Alabama law requires teachers to create challenging learning environments for all students and the Assistive Technology Act guides technology decisions to help people with disabilities reach their potential. Examples of assistive technology discussed include hearing assistance devices, Braille technology, customized keyboards, and adjustable pointers.

1. Assistive Technology
Cathi Bradford

2. What is Assistive
Technology?
According to the U. S. Department of Education
assistive technology can be define as follows:
Assistive technology device.--
(A) In general.--The term `assistive technology device' means
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.
(B) Exception.--The term does not include a medical device
that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such
device (U. S. Dept. of Education, 2015).

3. In Laymen’s Terms…
Assistive technology is technology of some sort
made available to a student the provides him/her
assistance in school to “increase, improve, or
maintain the functioning capabilities of a child”
within the classroom (U.S. Dept of Education, 2015).
The overall goal of the use of assistive technology is
to increase the student’s self-reliance and
independence.

4. What does Alabama Law Say
about Assistive Technology?
Alabama Code of Ethics for educators guides the
professional behavior and ethical conduct of all educators.
Standard 4: Teacher/Student Relationship, specifically calls
for the teacher to create, support and maintain “a
challenging learning environment for ALL students
(Alabama Code of Ethics, n.d.).
Alabama’s Assistive Technology Act program (1994)
guides all assistive technology decisions under the
Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004 (P.L.
108-364).
This resource enables “Alabamians children and adults with
disabilities to achieve their maximum potential at school,
home, work, and play through improved access to and
acquisition of assistive technology devices and services via
variety of statewide activities( STAR, Alabama’s Assistive
Technology Resource, n.d.).

5. Assistive Technology for the
Hearing Impaired

6. Assistive Technology for the
Hearing Impaired
A personal FM system, like the one pictured on the
previous slide, lessons the distance that a student
who is hearing impaired has to be able to hear. It is
an amplifier of sound for the hearing-impaired
student (Using Hearing Assistive Technologies in the
Classroom, n.d.). This past year, in my own
classroom, I wore a device on a lanyard that
amplified my voice for a particular student.

7. Assistive Technology for the
Visually Impaired

8. Assistive Technology for the
Visually Impaired
Braille books are only one option for the visually-
impaired student.
Braille display technology provides readable access
on a computer.
Braille printers print documents in Braille capable of
being read by the visually impaired.
And, Braille notetakers are small, portable devices
for notetaking (Braille Technology, n.d.).

9. Assistive Technology for the
Learning Disabled

10. Assistive Technology for the
Learning Disabled
Student who have learning disabilities may benefit
from a customizable keyboard. Grouping keys by
color and location aids in student comprehension
(Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning
Disabilities, n.d.).

11. Assistive Technology for the
Physically Impaired

12. Assistive Technology for the
Physically Impaired
The adjustable head pointer, as picture previously,
enables students with limited hand use, write, draw,
and use a computer thus opening several avenues of
independent learning.