Assistive Technology

1. Assistive Technology Kelly Balentine For Technology and Education

2. Assistive Technology (AT)—What is it? What is Assistive Technology? • Assistive Technology helps people with disabilities function with the obstacles their disabilities bring to their lives. • Assistive Technology can be anything that enhances, aids, or sustains a person with disabilities as they learn, cope and function.

3. Assistive Technology • What might it accomplish? • Communication • Mobility • Ability to Accomplish Educational Goals • Ability to complete classroom tasks • Ability to use academic materials • Social Interaction • Increased Function

4. Assistive Technology Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 or IDEA ’04 • IDEA defines Assistive Technology as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child and specifically excludes a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device” (Authority: 20 U.S.C 1401(1) or IDEA Amendments of 2004. P.L. 108-446, 20 U.S.C. S 1400 et seq., 300.5)

5. Assistive Technology Some Examples • Text Reader • Word Predictor • Book Scanner or Magnifier • Braille Reader and Writer • Non-Slip Surface • Joy-Stick Input Device

6. Pencil Gripper Grabber Digital Recorder Assistive Technology Surprising Examples Though the AT definition includes the idea of helping a student with disabilities, often AT devices can be beneficial to most if not all students.

7. Assistive Technologyfor the Hearing Impaired The hearing impaired are finding that technology is advancing as consumers want to be able to text by using voice only applications. While these applications help many of us who don’t have enough time to type text, the uses of this technology for the hearing impaired are even more valuable. As the technology is perfected, it will open doors making even advanced education more independently possible.

8. Assistive Technologyfor the Visually Impaired Augmentative Communication: These boards give the student voice output and electronic communication devices, speech synthesizers and more. However, the vendor warns that most AT for computer access requires up-to-date computers as the device will not run on older computers.

9. Assistive Technologyfor the Learning Disabled • Recorded books can assist students who have various difficulties with reading such as comprehension and decoding. The technology allows students to playback as often as needed and also allows students to mark passages for later study.

10. Assistive Technologyfor the Physically Disabled • The Tobii C12 is an incredible computer that accesses school work and can be operated with eye gaze control allowing students with severe physical disabilities more independent learning and more communication ability.

11. Assistive Technology Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 or IDEA ’04 Important Legal Issues • Penny Reed, who is an AT consultant, points out that if teachers don’t understand their student’s AT, the technology won’t be used to its full potential. • Students must also have services with their AT so that they, their familiy members and the professionals who work with them will be able to fully utilize the AT.

12. Assistive Technology An AT service includes any service that helps a student with a disability choose, get and use AT devices. --IDEA ‘04

13. Assistive Technology Services: • Deciding if a child needs an assistive device • Accessing the device • Choosing, fitting, adapting, repairing, and replacing the device to fit the child’s needs • Appropriating services to enable the child to use the device • Ex. Physical therapy to use a prosthesis • Training a child to use voice activated typing and word predicting software on an IPad • Training parents, family, teachers and staff to help the child use the device

14. Assistive Technology The Iris Center states that… • Services are as important in utilization of AT as the device itself. • Services are legally mandated by IDEA. • Over half the time the full spectrum of device and services is not fulfilled. • Without services that enable the child to use the device as well as training for those who help the child, most devices are useless.

15. Assistive Technology and Free Access to Public Education • As educators, we are legally mandated to supply AT devices, services and training. • Most educators want to give students everything they need to succeed. So, why doesn’t this happen?

16. Assistive TechnologyMaking it Happen • Educators often simply don’t know the options that are available. No one person has that much knowledge. How do we overcome this problem?

17. Assistive TechnologyMaking it Happen Utilize the IEP (Individual Education Plan) Team • Eachmember on the team observes and makes contributions to the solution. • The IEP team can pull in a physical or occupational therapist who will have much more informed knowledge of available options. • To meet IDEA mandates, we must have access to professionals who are fully cognative of the child’s disability and the options available in possible AT devices.

18. Assistive TechnologyMaking it Happen Guidance for the IEP Team: Wisconsin Assistive Technology Consideration Guide http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/modules/at/pdfs/at_04_link_WATI.pdf#content The guide (accessed above) gives the team assistance in documentation and consideration of the needs of the student as it addresses many aspects of the child’s disability and helps the team look more closely at the child’s needs.

19. Assistive TechnologyMaking it Happen IDEA ’04 says that IEP teams must consider whether AT devices and services are needed to accomplish individualized goals and objectives for students with disabilities. Two considerations for IEP teams as they look for options to help the child: Remediation: Would additional instruction help to make up for obstacles brought by the student’s disability? Compensation: Would the use of technology or different strategies help to make up for obstacles brought by the student’s disability?

20. Assistive TechnologyMaking it Happen • The goal is that the student be able to functionally complete a task. • Sometimes a disability makes a given task impossible. • Our path to success is to • Set goals • Consider challenges • Review all options • Implement for success

21. Assistive TechnologyOngoing Challenges • After the IEP team chooses an option, still other challenges must be addressed. • Implementation must be started slowly so as to ensure maximum student comfort and alleviate stress. • The child can be uncomfortable and even afraid of the new technology.

22. Assistive TechnologyOngoing Challenges • All members of the student’s implementation including teachers, staff, parents, family and anyone else who is in contact with the student must have training to understand and help the student use the new device. • A point of contact must be appointed to make sure implementation is proceeding in all areas and to address issues that will occur.

23. Assistive TechnologyOngoing Challenges • The IEP team must continually troubleshoot the AT. • The student and team must observe and make changes as the student finds new needs. • Documentation must be kept current in the student’s permanent records in case the student has to relocate.

24. Assistive TechnologySatisfaction • As the student and his or her team work together, AT can allow the student to reach goals he or she never believed possible.

25. Resources • Assistive Technology: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/cwrap/#content • Learning Begins with the Eyes. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/global/user-stories/cerebral-palsy/ulrich-and-his-p10-and-c12/ • Overview of Assistive Technology for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/overview-of-assistive-technology.html • Recorded Books AudioBooks - Playaway. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://recordedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rb.playaway • Speech recognition systems. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.hearinglink.org/speech-recognition-systems • Walmart. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.walmart.com/