BASIC Assistive Technology Workshop

1
BASIC Assistive Technology Workshop
Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK)
Opinions, materials and references to commercial
products do not necessarily reflect the opinions
or policy positions of the Department of
Education, and no official endorsement by the
department should be inferred.
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An Introduction... Assistive
Technology Tools for Children and Adults with
Disabilities
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Workshop Goals

• Define AT as a tool
• Introduce laws supporting AT
• Explore AT devices and features

4
AT Devices and Services
Two prong definition places equal value on
both AT services and equipment.
5
Federal Definitions
Assistive Technology Device 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 individuals
with disabilities.
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Assistive Technology Service

• Evaluation in natural environment
• Provide/purchase or lease devices
• Select, design, fit, customize, maintain, repair,
  etc. devices
• Coordination with other services
• Training for the individual and/or family,
  professionals, employers

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Technology is here to stay...

• 85 of US homes with boys ages 8-16, own a video
  game player
• The INTERNET is adding a million new users each
  month current membership is 20 million with
  5,000 discussion groups and 2500 newsletters
• In 1995, schools had 5.8 million computers 1 for
  every 9 students

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Technology as We Know It...

• Remote Controls
• Eyeglasses
• Automatic Bank Teller (ATM)
• Price Scanners
• Chalk/White Boards
• Telephone

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Technology Tools

• Extend physical abilities
• Make work more efficient
• Extend instruction and communication abilities

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Special Education Services

• Increasing numbers and percentages of students
  with disabilities
• Special education services provided in public
  schools
• AssistiveTechnology must be considered

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Adult Employment

• 2/3 of Americans with disabilities between the
  ages of 16 and 64 are not working
• Reasonable accommodation must be considered
• Assistive Technology must be considered

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AT is anything that makesthings easier to...

• move
• turn on read
• bathe eat
• learn
• play
• speak

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The Laws Assistive Technology

• 1973 The Rehabilitation Act Section 504
• 1988 Technology Related Assistance for
  Individuals with Disabilities (Tech Act)
• 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  (IDEA)

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Vocational Rehabilitation Act 1973

• Section 504 Basic civil rights protection to
  individuals with disabilities
• no otherwise qualified handicapped individual
  in the United States shall, by reason of his/her
  handicap, be excluded from the participation in,
  be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
  discrimination under any program or activity
  receiving federal financial assistance.

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Section 504 guarantees

• equal opportunities to students with disabilities
  
• protection to students with orthopedic
  impairments, not in special education
• access to all programs, activities and services

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504 Accommodations

• a way of modifying a task so that a person with a
  disability can participate in spite of whatever
  challenges the disability may pose
• A change in routine, method or approach which may
  be used by persons with or without disabilities

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504 Academic Accommodations

• extended time to complete a program
• adapting instructional methods
• substitute one course for another required course
• modifying or waiving certain requirements, so
  long as they don't compromise the knowledge base
  or competencies required for the degree program.
• part-time study

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504 Testing Accommodations
extended time separate room/setting use
of word processor or typewriter
reader/interpreter oral exam (or taped
answers) alternate testing format use of
aids during exam calculator, dictionary,
etc.
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504 Auxiliary Aids

• calculator
• spell checker
• taped/electronic textbooks
• readers
• note taking modes tape recorders, carbon sheets,
  photocopy from peer's notes, enlarged copies of
  hand-outs, typed lecture outline supplied by
  instructor

20
Tech Act 1988

• First act to support states to develop training
  and consumer-responsive delivery systems of
  assistive technology devices to individuals and
  their families.
• First to define AT device and service

21
ADA 1990

• Includes definitions of AT devices and services
• Reasonable accommodations to a job applicant or
  an employee with a disability may involve the
  acquisition or modification of equipment or
  devices
• Phone companies must provide relay services for
  TDD use

22
IDEA 1997

• Includes definitions of AT devices and services
• AT to be provided to student in order to receive
  a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as
  part of IEPs
• education goals
• related services
• supplementary aids and services

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Possible Funding Sources

• Medi-Cal
• Medicaid
• Dept. of Rehab
• California Childrens Services
• Regional Center
• School Districts

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Who Identifies the AT?

• IEP/support staff with AT experience
• school district staff specialists
• independent service providers
• resource group/service agency specialists

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How is the AT Identified?

• Students IEP Team AT Evaluators
• Student needs/activity tasks are identified (5
  Step Plan)
• Modifications are examined
• AT solutions are offered
• Evaluation plan is designed

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Where Does the AT Evaluation Take Place?

• students natural environment or,
• the site most conducive to the evaluation process

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Who Attends?

• Student and family members
• IEP/Support team members
• AT Evaluators

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The Evaluation
AT Solutions addressing specific needs are
examined
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AT Report

• Report includes
• reason for referral
• student needs
• AT recommendations
• and justification
• appended device cost lists
• AT training needs
• Sent to school district

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Range of AT Options

• High Tech

• Light Tech

• more complex electronics
• costly
• require training
• may be highly customizable

• simple tools and adaptations
• often readily available
• inexpensive
• require little training

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Light/Low Tech Examples

• Pencil Grips
• Special Scissors
• Hi-lighter Tape
• Rulers With Handles
• Adapted Books

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Hilighter tape
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Low tech examples
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Parts of a Computer

• Which ones can be adapted?

35
Microsoft Accessibility Features built into
Windows 98 and Windows 95
(Can be found in the Control Panel)
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Keyboard
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Sound
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Display
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Mouse Features
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General
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Areas of Modification

• Input
• Keyboard
• Mouse

• Output
• Monitor
• replace
• magnify
• filter
• Sound
• Printer

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Adapting the Keyboard

• Input Options

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Low-tech Keyboard Modifications

• Highlighters stickers, keycaps, labels
• Key guards
• Masks

Keyguard with key caps
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Modify the keyboard...

• Highlighters makes keys noticeable stickers,
  earrings, keycaps
• Keyguards helps to eliminate unwanted
  keystrokes
• Hidden keys cardboard masks help to hide
  unnecessary keys

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What types of AT are there?

AT Categories

• Cognitive
• Communication
• Hearing
• Physical
• Vision

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Cognitive/Learning
Adapted Computer Access
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Persons with Cognitive Impairment

• Design features may include
• buttons with symbols or pictures
• pre-programmed sequence (microwave)
• built-in memory (telephone)
• fewer choices

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Early skills promoted by technology use

• Choice Making
• Object matching
• Picture/object association
• Categorization/sorting
• Construction
• Pre-math and literacy

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Software Selection Criteria
Software should .....

• Be easy to Use
• Offer Several Levels of Difficulty
• Have High Child Interest
• Promote Independent Control
• Include Appropriate Responses

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Storybook Software

• Lapware
• Early literacy
• CD-ROM format
• Examples
• Just Grandma Me
• Dr. Seuss A,B,C

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Just Grandma Me
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Word Processing Software

• Beginning Writers
• Spell Check
• Sound output/talking programs
• Large letters

-Slide 32
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Promoting Efficiency

• Word Prediction Software

Co-Writer (Don Johnston, Inc.)
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TextHELP! Read Write
(Spell Checker)
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TextHELP! (WordPrediction)
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textHELP! Thesaurus
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Sample of Abbreviated Expansion
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Kurzweil 3000
Example of scanned in document
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E-Reader
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Alphasmart 3000
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Alphasmart 3000
The AlphaSmart is the easiest-to-use portable
writing tool in the world. "The AlphaSmart is a
word-processing toaster switch it on and start
typing. Turn it off, everything's saved. No
menus, no commands, no warm-up, no cord."
To find out more explore their web site
www.alphasmart.com
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Primary Uses of AT

• Communication
• Picture Board
• Speech Output

Augmentative Communication
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Persons with Communication Impairment

• Design features may include
• buttons with symbols or pictures
• pre-programmed sequence
• voice output
• Portable

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BIGmack Communication Device
By Ablenet
86.00
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Step-by-Step Communicator
129.00
Record a sequence of messages, up to 75 seconds!
By Ablenet
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Cheap Talk 4 
89.95
By Enabling Devices
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DynaMyte
Augmentative Communication Device
 5,995
By Dynavox
http//www.dynavoxsys.com/
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Pathfinder
By Prentke Romich
7,995.00
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Persons with Hearing Impairments

• Design features may include
• clear visual display
• volume control
• vibration alert

Vibrating Alarm Clock
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Persons with Physical Impairments

• Design features may include
• large grips, handles
• levers
• large buttons
• holders/ stabilizers

Trackballs
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Switches

• Reduce control to one key
• Large variety of switches controlled by any body
  part
• Use with battery-operated toys AND computers

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How Switches Work
3. Target is activated
1. User controls switch with any
movement
2. Switch Access
-Slide 4
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Switch Uses Examples

• Environmental Control
• Play and Exploration Movement
• Computer Access
• Communication

turn on radios, lights, TV, telephone,
fans single or multiple switches control
software use any battery-operated toy or
gamedirectionality scanning and selecting choices
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Switch Types

• Push/Touch Switch

Big Red
Plate
(AbleNet)
(Enabling Devices)
Plate (TASH)
Buddy Button
(TASH)
Elipse
(DJDE)
-Slide 9
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Switch Interface Options

• Battery Adapters/Interrupters transform any
  battery operated toy into a switch toy
• AAA, AA, C and D battery run toys

-Slide 21
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Switch Adapters
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Switch Activities Skill Domains

• Visual/perceptual
• Cognitive
• Social/emotional
• Motor

• tracking, discrimination
• cause/effect, choice making, intentional behavior
• sharing, turn taking
• coordination

-Slide 24
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Software by Judy Lynn
In Pop the Balloons, a dart will fly across the
screen and pop the balloon when the switch is
pressed.
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Animated Toys by Judy Lynn
Example of the player piano toy.When the switch
is pressed, the piano will play a short tune
while the colored notes move up and down.
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Switch Wars
(Simtech)
Example of the Settings Panel
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Switch Wars, by Bill Lynn (Simtech)
Example of Cross Scanning
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Example of linear scanning
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Head Pointing Systems

• Head movements control the pointer
• Receiver translates head movements
• Item is clicked with a switch or dwell

Receiver box
Head Master
Sip n Puff switch
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Onscreen Keyboards

• used with head pointing systems
• focus at single location
• can be moved and re-sized
• incorporate other features

WiViK Onscreen Keyboard
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Customizable Keyboards(Require special
software/hardware interfaces)
Customized Overlay for IntelliKeys (Overlay
Maker)
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Alternate Keyboards Touch Pads

• PowerPad
• Muppet Learning Keys
• KidKeys
• IntelliKeys
• Comfy Keyboard

KidKeys
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Touch Pad Benefits

• Larger key areas
• Fewer choices number can be increased
• Use of objects, photos or pictures on keys

IntelliKeys Keyboard
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Useful Software Utilities

• Key Repeat eliminates keyboard repeat
  functionnnnnn
• MouseKeys control the mouse via the numeric keypad

MouseKeys Controls
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TouchWindow

• Most direct method
• Central focus of all cognitive, physical, sensory
  and cognitive abilities
• Emulates mouse movement
• Used as touch pad

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Discover Switch
By Don Johnston
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Discover Switch
For students who need a switch to write.

• Easy to set up and use.
• Complete keyboard and mouse functions in a
  switch.
• Powerful for providing access to any application
  program.

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Trackballs

• Upside down mouse
• Variety of sizes and styles
• Used with mouthsticks and head pointers
• Other types
• SAM (switch adapted mouse)
• Computer crayons
• Easy Ball

Easy Ball
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SAM - Joystick (Switch-Adapted Mouse)
By RJ Cooper
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Joystick Training Software
By RJ Cooper
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Slo-Mo, by RJ Cooper

• Simply a way to slow down all, or selected,
  applications (especially games), which might make
  them accessible to persons with  
• Slow Motor Response
• LD
• Early Reading Skills
• And more...

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Slo-Mo Control Panel
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Voice Dictation Systems

• Computer commands open, save, print
• Written text size of voice dictionary
• Preferred future input

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Mobility
Seating and Mobility Systems
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Manipulation

• Everyday appliances
• Switch toys
• Environmental Control Units

Environmental Control Systems
100
Environmental Control Units

• Switch interface that transforms control of any
  AC device to switch access
• Other systems can control entire environments
  with telephone, VCR/TV control, etc.

• Single unit provides on/off only

PowerLink (AbleNet)
-Slide 22
101
The Ultimate Inclusion Tool
Now your child can

• Play games
• Pick class monitors
• Decide who goes next
• Be INCLUDED!

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All-Turn-It Spinner

• Lets students participate in regular classroom
  activities even if they don't understand the
  curriculum content
• Overlays made with Reusable Vinyl Stickers are a
  learning tool for basic concepts like numbers,
  colors and shapers, or skills such as matching,
  sorting and sequencing.
• So easy to set up, a student's peers can do it
• Flexible format makes it easy to customize to any
  classroom activity

103
Persons with Visual Impairments

• Design features may include
• larger features
• clear labels
• tactile labels
• speech output

Large button telephone
104
Visual Enhancements

• Optional (Large) Cursors

• Talking and Large Print Word Processors

• Talking Dictionaries and Spell Check

• Screen Readers

• Screen Enlargement or Magnification

• Braille Displays

105
ATA book
A wonderful resource!!!
106
ORDERING OPTIONS
Computer and Web Resources for People with
Disabilities may be ordered directly from the
Alliance for Technology Access by...

• Email the Alliance for Technology Access at
  atainfo_at_ataccess.org with your name, phone number
  and convenient time. We will call to take your
  order and VISA or MasterCard information.
• Fax the Alliance for Technology Access at
  415.455.0654 with your name, phone number and
  convenient time. We will call to take your order
  and VISA or MasterCard information..
• Phone the Alliance for Technology Access at
  800.455.7970 to place your order.
• Mail your order and payment to
• Alliance for Technology Access
• 2175 East Francisco Blvd, Suite L
• San Rafael, CA 94901
• Paperback 20.95
• Spiral Bound 27.95
• California residents add 7 1/4 sales tax.
• Shipping and handling (300 1st book, 1.00 each
  additional)

107
Ability without opportunity is like a seed
never watered.
108
For More Information on anything youve seen
today

• Sign up for a TECH Lab. (FREE to members)
• Sign up for a Guided Lab. (30/hr.)
• Sign up for a TECH Consultation. (80.00/2hrs)
• Call us at [phone] or email us
  taskca_at_yahoo.com.
• TASKs website address is www.taskca.org