Assistive Technology Power Points Presentation

1. Assistive Technology
Robin Elmore
University of West Alabama / ED 505

2. Explanation of AT
Assistive Technology (AT) – Often referred as the
synonym for adaptive technology.
Definition of AT – an umbrella term that includes
assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people
with disabilities.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act – ensures that every
student must meet a level of achievement regardless of
abilities.
This places the focus of student achievement in the hands
of teachers and school systems to meet every student’s
need for success.

3. Law Information
Mainstreaming - introduced in the 1990’s which
allowed students with disabilities to spend the
majority of their time in regular classroom settings.
The process of inclusion all AT students the
opportunity to be involved in general classroom
settings and receive support services for success.

4. Law Information
Tech Act (1998) – affirms that technology is a
valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of
Americans with disabilities.
IDEA (1990) – outlined that school districts must
provide AT to students with disabilities.
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

5. Law Information
Teachers must set annual goals and short term
objectives for all students in order to maximize
student achievement.
It is the responsibility of educators to meet the needs
of every student and work hard for these students to
achieve success throughout life.

6. AT Images
AT Examples:

7. AT Descriptions
The following are some examples of different types
of assistive technology devices:
Access and Environmental Controls: Devices that
allow increased control of the environment or that
open up access to things in the environment. This
includes electronic controls like switches, special
keyboards or mice, and remote controls as well as
things that help people get around the community,
like ramps, automatic door openers, and Braille signs.

8. AT Descriptions
Aids to Daily Living:
Special tools for daily activities, like brushing teeth,
dressing or eating. This includes adapted utensils,
plates and cups, opening doors, non-skid surfaces,
and specially designed toilet seats and shower stalls.
Assistive Listening:Supports that help a student who
is either deaf or has a hearing loss. This includes
hearing aids, amplifiers, captions on TV, and typing
telephones.

9. AT Descriptions
Augmentative/Alternative Communication:
Supports that allow a child who cannot speak, or
whose speech is not understood by others, to
communicate. This includes picture boards, voice
output communication devices, communication
software and computers.
Computer-Based Instruction:
Software to help students with learning difficulties in
reading, writing, math and other subject areas.

10. AT Descriptions
Mobility: Equipment that allows a student with a
physical or visual disability to move independently and
safely through the community. This includes
wheelchairs, walkers, and adapted bicycles.
Visual Aids: Supports that give a student with visual
difficulties access to information. This includes large-
print books, books on tape, magnifiers, talking
computer software, and Braillers.

11. Hearing Impaired
Students with sensory disabilities have needs that
must be met for proper student achievement.
Hearing impaired students can use Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) software – this software
accommodate students with hearing impairments.
(screen readers)
For students with partial hearing impairments can
also use assistive listening devices

12. Seeing Impaired
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) – is software for
the blind.
Mobility Sensory Cane – this helps the student
navigate throughout the school easier.
Buddy System – Positive reinforcement of body
awareness
Braille - used to help the blind read (raised shapes
that allow the blind to read.

13. Learning Disabled
Information and ideas from a multidisciplinary
team, including the parents and student, are
important for developing an Individualized
Education Program (IEP) that meets the unique
needs of each student with learning disabilities.
A carefully developed multidisciplinary
approach will make classroom instruction
meaningful for students.

14. Learning Disabled
For students with short term memory problems (e.g.,
understand math processes, but have short term
memory problems that interfere with remembering
math facts), a table of facts or a calculator could be
provided.
For students who have difficulty with spelling, a
“misspeller’s dictionary” or computerized spell
checker can help make written materials readable.

15. Learning Disabled
For students who read below expected levels,
educational videos and films or talking books can
provide the general information that cannot be
acquired from the printed page.
For some students who read slowly or with difficulty,
a “read-along” technique may be used with taped
texts and materials to allow learning of printed
materials.

16. Learning Disabled
For students with memory problems or difficulty
taking notes, a fellow student might share notes; the
student might tape the lesson; or the teacher might
provide a copy of the lesson outline.
For students whose handwriting is slow, illegible or
includes many reversed letters, a cassette recorder
or a computer with word processing software could
be used for written work or tests.

17. Physically Disabled
Speech recognition is assistive software that allows
people to control a computer by talking to it. Instead
of using a keyboard and a mouse to control the
computer, a student speaks instructions into a
microphone that is connected to a computer.

18. Physically Disabled
For students who have difficulty using a keyboard or
operating a mouse, a device called IntelliKeys can be
used. IntelliKeys is a keyboard and overlay
combination that takes the place of a keyboard.

19. Physically Disabled
For students who have severe physical disabilities
and cannot use a keyboard, mouse or IntelliKeys,
there are devices such as the SmartNav 4. This AT
device allows a student to move the mouse by
moving his head slightly. A virtual keyboard is on the
screen that allows the student to enter text or
navigate on the Internet. This device is ideal for
students with spinal cord injuries, muscular
dystrophy, and other special needs .

20. Reference
http://edtech.bosestate.edu/doaks/541/integration/adaptive.html#ar
http://pluk.org/Pubs/PLUKATguide269Kpdf
http://www.uapat.org/resources/educ_sheetss/mobility.pdf
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/Winter-Spring-1998/cardon.html
http://kidsource.com/kidsource/content/challenging_gifted_kids.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_6514486_assistive-students-severe-mutiple.html