An introduction to the AT continuum

1. An Overview of Assistive Technology
SPE 545

2. Persons involved in AT:
• Parents, users, families
• Educational program administrators
• Educators of all types
• Social workers
• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
• Occupational therapists
• Physical therapists

3. Purposes of AT
 Increase productivity  Functional
 Improve life quality  Enabling
 Enable communication  Augmentative
 Facilitate learning  Efficient
 Independence and access  Adaptive
to the community
 Expanded control over
their environment
 Friendship

4. AT Continuum
High Tech
Light Tech
No Tech

5. AT No Tech
• Adaptation of common objects
• Does not have electronic components
• Can include an accommodation, change in the
environment, flexible scheduling

6. AT Light Tech
Examples:
• Slant Board
• Tape Recorders
• Changes in text size, in spacing, in background color
• Calculator
• Reading pen
• Highlighter tape
• Color filters

7. AT High Tech
• Word Processor
• Word Prediction Software
• Talking Word Processor
• Multimedia Software
• Voice Recognition Software

8. Resources
• U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services (OSERS)
• The National AT Reuse Center:
http://www.passitoncenter.org/
• Infinitec, Inc. (a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater
Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., Washington D.C)
http://www.infinitec.org/
• ISBE: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/SPEC-ED/html/assist_tech.htm
• Association of AT Act Programs http://www.ataporg.org/atap/index.php
• Illinois State Resources
http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/cerebral-palsy-assistance/illinois
• Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP)
http://www.iltech.org
• Illinois Life Span
http://www.illinoislifespan.org/index.asp