Assistive technology ashley bedwell edu505

2. Assistive Technology (AT)
• AT is any device or service that helps a student with a disability to meet
his or her individualized education program (IEP) goals and to participate in
the general education setting to the greatest possible extent.
• AT improves the functional performance of an individual with a disability.
• AT devices and services help restore lost capacities or improve impaired
capacities
• AT helps students overcome functional limitations

3. Assistive Technology (AT)
• AT includes 2 things:
• Devices-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 a child with a disability.
• Services-any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection,
acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
• All educations, not just special educators, need to be informed and
involved with assistive technology.

4. Laws Regarding Assistive Technology
• AT must be considered for any student that has an IEP
• The school system must provide AT if it is required for students to access general
education curriculum and to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
• AT includes both services and devices
• Here are some laws pertaining to AT
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act
• Section 505 of Rehabilitation Act
• Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act
• Section 501 of Rehabilitation Act

5. AT for Students with Hearing
Impairments
• Personal hearing amplifiers help an individual with hearing loss hear
better in small group settings and one-on-one conversations.
• PSAPs (Personal Sound Amplifiers) are discreet listening devices worn
in the ear to help an individual hear better in different environments

6. AT for Students with Visual
Impairments
• An example of AT for visually impaired students would be
the Eye-Pal
• The Eye-Pal is a portable USB scanner/reader that
instantly converts printed material into speech, txt or MP3
files or refreshable Braille

7. AT for Students with Learning
Disabilities
• AT for kids with LD is defined as any device, piece of equipment or
system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for an individual's
specific learning deficit
• An example of an AT kids version would be this LEAPFROG Audio Book.
• Students who struggle with reading would be able to comprehend this.

8. AT for Students with Physical
Disabilities
• A mouth stick is a device that enables users to control
input through a stick that they manipulate with their
mouth

9. References
• ATIA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from What is Assistive Technology?:
http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859#What_is_AT_
• (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from FCTD: http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php
• Wrights Law. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from Wrights Law: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm
• (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://ndrn.org/en/issues/assistive-technology/292-assistive-technology-
federal-law-and-regulations.html
Great Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from Great Schools: http://www.greatschools.org/special-
education/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs?page=all