Assistive Technology Assessment Evelyn Kelso, MA ATECH Consultant for Blind & Visually Impaired

Assistive Technology Assessment: What’s the Goal? Access to Literacy and Communcation In School, Home & Community

Access to Literacy and Communcation In School, Home &

Community

Assistive Technology Federal Mandate—IDEA, Tech Act 2004 Must Be Addressed In The Individual Education Plan (IEP) Expanded Core Curriculum for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Including Those With Multiple Disabilities

Federal Mandate—IDEA, Tech Act 2004

Must Be Addressed In The Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Expanded Core Curriculum for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Including Those With Multiple Disabilities

Three Types of Solutions: Low, Medium, & High Tech Never Underestimate the Power of a Simple Solution

Low, Medium, & High Tech

Never Underestimate the Power of a Simple Solution

Essential Background Information Medical Eye Condition & Other Diagnoses Functional Vision Assessment Learning/Literacy Media Assessment

Medical Eye Condition & Other Diagnoses

Functional Vision Assessment

Learning/Literacy Media Assessment

Environmental Considerations Lighting Positioning Glare Contrast

Lighting

Positioning

Glare

Contrast

Student’s Abilities AT—not an end in itself Plan ahead 2-3 years Create a toolbox of different solutions

AT—not an end in itself

Plan ahead 2-3 years

Create a toolbox of different solutions

Increasing Access to Print Font Choice Bold Color Size Layout

Font Choice

Bold

Color

Size

Layout

Optical Aids Eyeglasses Magnifiers Telescopes CCTV

Eyeglasses

Magnifiers

Telescopes

CCTV

Braille Slate & Stylus Perkins Brailler Portable notetaker

Slate & Stylus

Perkins Brailler

Portable notetaker

Auditory Recordings Talking Calculators, dictionaries etc.

Recordings

Talking Calculators, dictionaries etc.

Tactile Graphics: Literacy Is More Than Print Maps Graphs Diagrams Pictures

Maps

Graphs

Diagrams

Pictures

Computer Access Enlarging Software (ex. Zoomtext) Screen Reader (ex. Jaws) Tactile access (ex. refreshable braille)

Enlarging Software (ex. Zoomtext)

Screen Reader (ex. Jaws)

Tactile access (ex. refreshable braille)

AT for Students With Multihandicapping Conditions Switch access Schedules Communication systems

Switch access

Schedules

Communication systems

Technology is a tool to unlock learning and expand the horizons of students…Technology can be a great equalizer… It enhances communication and learning and expands the world of blind and visually impaired persons in many significant ways. Koenig, A. &Holbrook, C. Foundations of Education, 2 nd Edition, Vol. 2