Assistive Technology Tools and Strategies for Educators

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Assistive Technology Tools and Strategies for
Educators
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Session Goals

• Overview of assistive technology
• Consideration of AT in the IEP
• 5 Step Process of Considering AT in Writing,
  Reading, and Communication

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What is Assistive Technology?

• Assistive technology is a broad and inclusive
  term that can cover everything from computers to
  pencil grips.
• The legal definition of assistive technology
  includes any device that helps a person with a
  disability function in a given environment, but
  does not limit the device to expensive or high
  tech options.
• Assistive technology can include simple devices
  or low tech options such as laminated
  communication boards, removable highlighter
  tapes, reading guides and even Velcro.

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How is Assistive Technology defined in the law?

• Definition of AT includes both assistive
  technology devices and assistive technology
  services
• An assistive technology device is 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 the functional capabilities of
  children with disabilities.

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Assistive Technology Service

• An assistive technology service means any service
  that directly assists a child with a disability
  in the selection, acquisition, or use of an
  assistive technology device. IDEA 97

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Assistive Technology and the IEP

• Reauthorization of the Individuals with
  Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by Congress in
  2004- school districts must consider whether a
  child needs assistive technology devices and
  services (IDEA, 2004).
• Assistive technology services must be considered
  during the development of an Individualized
  Education Program (IEP) for any student receiving
  special education services.

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Who is eligible to receive assistive technology?

• All children with disabilities- birth -21 who are
  eligible for special education services must be
  provided with AT
• Students who do not qualify for special
  education, but are determined handicapped under
  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are
  eligible for accommodations assistive
  technology (Section 504 uses handicapped -
  IDEA uses disability)

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IDEA and Assistive Technology

• IDEA requires school systems to educate students
  3-21 with a free appropriate public education
  (FAPE) and be educated in the least restrictive
  environment (LRE).
• Parents can be involved in all decisions about
  identification, evaluation and placement.
• In the consideration of AT, decisions must be
  made with due consideration to FAPE, LRE,
  parental involvement and parents due process
  rights.

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Categories of functional need

• Reading
• Written Expression
• Math
• Communication
• Recreation
• Daily organization

• Seating positioning
• Hearing
• Seeing
• Self care
• Mobility
• Other areas

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What is under the AT Umbrella?

• Curriculum
• Written language communication
• Reading
• Math
• Access
• Mobility
• Wheelchairs, walkers or any device that helps a
  student move/interact with environment
• Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)
• Communication boards, devices, listening devices

• Environmental Control
• Daily living vocational aids, architectural
  modifications, and recreational technologies
• Sensory Hearing/Vision
• Hearing hearing aids, closed captioned TV
• Visual aids magnifying devices, cassette tape
  readings, computer adaptations, Braille writer

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Enhance Student Learning Continuum of Devices

• Consider impact of no technology low
  technology mid technology high technology
• Handwriting difficulty
• Pen/pencil grip
• Raised lined paper
• Answers tape recorded
• If no independence or success-portable word
  processor/computer with specialized software
• If low tech device meets students need, school
  is not obligated to purchase high-tech device
• IEP teams should explore all options, low to
  high, remembering that high end has requirements
  for training, maintenance, and repair

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Lets Revisit the AT Categories to Enhance
Student Learning

• Curriculum
• Reading and Writing
• Low tech accommodations
• Post-it notes
• Page up
• Erasable highlighters
• Magnification

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Reading Mid-Tech Accommodations

• Reading Pen/Iris Pen Scan and
• Reads individual words
• Defines
• Provides Auditory and Visual Feedback
• Increase reading fluency comprehension

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Reading and Writing High Tech Accommodations

• Software word processors
• Word prediction
• Talking word processor
• Screen reader
• Screen enlargement
• Writing With Symbols 2000
• Start to Finish Books
• Talking Word Processors
• WYNN
• Read Write Gold
• Kurzweil
• WriteOutloud
• Intellitools Suite

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Reading and Writing

• Access
• Enlarged keyboard
• Keyguards
• Trackballs
• Touch window
• Special switches
• Spell Checker
• Grammar Checker
• Inspiration/Kidspiration
• CoWriter 4000
• MS Office Accessibility Features
• Talking Word Processors
• WYNN
• Read Write Gold
• Kurzweil
• WriteOutloud
• Intellitools Suite

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Access-Hardware Adaptations

• Alternative Keyboard-Intellikeys
• Trackball/Joystick
• Touch Window
• Key guard
• Switch Access

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Enhance Student Learning in Math- Low Tech
High Tech

• Manipulatives
• Number Line
• Math Fact Sheet
• Calculator
• IntelliMathics
• Authoring program
• Virtual manipulatives
• Equation Editor
• View/Toolbars/Customize/Command/Insert/Equation
  Editor

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Mobility Accommodations

• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• Crutches
• Orthotics
• Standing Aids
• Auto Accessories-Mirrors

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Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)

• Picture communication books
• DynaMyte- portable touch screen with audio/visual
  capabilities
• ChatPC
• Message Mates

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Environmental Control Devices

• Amplified Photo Phone
• Utensil Holders
• Built Up Utensils
• Elastic Shoe Laces
• Velcro Button Tabs

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Sensory Aids Hearing and Visual

• Visual aids
• Magnifying devices
• Cassette tape recordings
• Computer adaptations
• Braille writer
• Hearing Aids
• Hearing aids
• Closed captioned TV

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Assistive Technology in the School

• Assistive technology must be considered when a
  childs IEP is developed, reviewed or revised
• All IEP team members need to know when where
  specific technologies are used to meet needs of
  the students educational program
• AT in the IEP can be listed in
• Supplemental Aides Modifications
• Provided in regular classroom to be educated in
  LRE
• Special Education
• AT will specifically relate to IEP Goals
  Objectives
• Using specific software to complete a task
• Related Service
• Supportive services that are required to assist a
  child with a disability benefit from special
  education
• Similar to OT, PT, Speech, counseling, mobility
  services
• IEP Goals must be developed when AT is related
  service

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Resources

• RESNA-Rehabilitation Engineering Assistive
  Technology Society of North America
  http//www.resna.org/
• Closing the Gap http//www.closingthegap.com
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
  http//www.ced.sped.org/
• Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
  http//www.atia.org/

• The Alliance for Technology Access
  http//www.ataccess.org
• Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative
  http//www.wati.org/
• AbleData http//www.abledata.com/
• Fidgets www.fidgets.com
• OnionMountain http//www.onionmountaintech.com/in
  dex.php