This document provides an overview of assistive technology for classroom teachers. It defines assistive technology and related terms, discusses who uses assistive technology and how to determine needs. It also covers types of learning disabilities that benefit from assistive technology and examples of technologies. These include non-technology, low-technology and high-technology devices that can help with issues like focus, motor skills, reading and writing. The document concludes by listing legal frameworks and resources for teachers to learn more.

1. Assistive Technology
for the
Classroom Teacher
By Katheryn Mickey

2.  Definition of Assistive Technology and related terms
 Who uses Assistive Technology
 How do you determine who needs Assistive
Technology
 Types of LD or conditions that benefit from AT
 Types of Assistive Technologies
 Sources of Assistive Technologies

3. “Disability is a natural part of the human
experience and in no way diminishes the right of
individuals to participate in or contribute to
society. Improving educational results for
children with disabilities is an essential element
of our national policy of ensuring equality of
opportunity, full participation, independent
living, and economic self-sufficiency for
individuals with disabilities.”
Public Law 108-446 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004; (c) findings

4. Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA)
The official federal law is:
"Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.“ (Pub. L. No. 101-476, 104 Stat. 1142).
“The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to
children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public
agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than
6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
disabilities.”
Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004, (2012) U.S. Department of Education

5. Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology (AT) is a term which refers to devices and/or services
that are utilized to help individuals with disabilities to be more successful at
accomplishing tasks, interacting with others, and functioning more
independently. There is a huge range of Assistive Technology devices and
services that provide support to persons with mild, moderate and severe
disabilities.

6. Assistive Technology Device
Assistive technology device.--
“In general.--The term `assistive technology device' means 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.”
“The term does not include a medical device that is surgically
implanted, or the replacement of such device.”
Public Law 108-446 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004; Sec. 602.
Note: 20 USC 1401, definition

7. Assistive Technology Services
“Assistive technology service.--The term `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. Such term includes--
a) the evaluation of the needs of such child, including a functional evaluation of the child
in the child's customary environment;
b) purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology
devices by such child;
c) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing,
or replacing assistive technology devices;
d) coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive
technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and
rehabilitation plans and programs;
e) training or technical assistance for such child, or, where appropriate, the family of
such child; and
f) training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing
education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide
services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions
of such child.”
Public Law 108-446 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004;
Sec. 602. Note: 20 USC 1401, definition

8. Individual Education Programs (IEP)
The Individual Education Program is referred to as an IEP. An IEP is an individualized
educational program of study for a student with special needs. Federal law dictates who,
how, when and why a student will receive an IEP. Generally, any student who is
determined to have a learning disability or special needs is eligible for an IEP, provided
that the disability affects their ability to function in the school environment. A parent,
teacher, or medical professional may request an evaluation of the student to determine
whether the child qualifies for special education. The child’s need may range from very
simple to complex intervention. A panel is formed which might include specialists in
therapy, education, sensory perceptions, as well as others. Once the request has been
made, the evaluation must be completed within sixty days. At the conclusion of the
professional evaluation, a comprehensive evaluation report or CER is created and it is
this document that is used to design the IEP. The parents can, and should, review the
CER and IEP so there is full understanding and support for their child’s IEP.

9. Types of LD or conditions Area affected by disability or condition
ADD Maintaining focus, following directions, completing tasks
ADHD Focus, sitting still, following directions,
Auditory Processing Hearing
Autism Communication, but varies with type and severity
Cerebral palsy Muscle control
Dyscalculia Math
Dysgraphia Writing
Dyslexia Reading
Dysphasia / Aphasia Language
Dyspraxia Fine motor skills
Visual Processing Vision

10. Assistive Technology Devices
AT devices and services that are “non-technology”
Non-technology devises are characterized as a assistive device that does not
incorporate electronic technology in order to function.
Study Carrel
This is particularly useful for
students who are easily
distracted, such as children with
ADD and ADHD. There are
various styles of carrels from
portable (pictured) to
permanent desks and grouped
carrels.
Image from Ergoedu.com

11. AT devices and services that are “non-technology”
Classroom Seating
Some students with auditory or visual impairments can benefit simply by
seating them at the front of the classroom where they can more easily
hear the teacher or see the instructions.
Image from creativeresearchcorner.blogspot.com

12. AT devices and services that are “non-technology”
Mouth Sticks and Head Sticks
Mouth sticks and head sticks are used by students, such as those with
cerebral palsy to utilize touch screens and keyboards. Although they are
used with high technology devices, the sticks are “no tech” items.
Image from eSpecialNeeds.com
Image from RehabMart.com

13. Assistive Technology Devices
AT devices and services that are “low-technology”
Low-technology devises are characterized as a assistive device that
use relatively low or simple technology to function.
Joy Stick and Mouse
These devices are simple and
easy to use. They are
especially useful to students
who have issues with fine
Image from traxsys.com motor skills or muscle
control.
Image from kmacomputing.webs.com

14. AT devices and services that are “low-technology”
Vibrating Watch
A vibrating wrist watch can
help children who have
difficulty with staying
focused, such as those with
ADD, ADHD as well as the
hearing impaired. The watch
can be set to specified
intervals with certain
messages.
Image from WatchMinder.com

15. AT devices and services that are “low-technology”
Audio Books
Audio books and publications
are an option for children
who have difficulty reading,
such as students with
dyslexia.
Image from
http://blogs.library.duke.edu/blog/2009/01/29/audiobooks/

16. AT devices and services that are “low-technology”
Low Vision Magnifier
Low vision magnifiers are
designed to help children
who have difficulty seeing
text due to vision issues that
corrective prescriptions
cannot overcome. The
equipment is designed to
enlarge the text and brighten
the background to create
greater contrast for easier
reading.
Image from humanware.com/

17. Assistive Technology Devices
AT devices and services that are “high-technology”
High-technology devises are characterized as a assistive
device that require complex programming to function.
Optical Character Recognition
Students with auditory processing issues
can benefit from this software that reads
the text aloud as it highlights the spoken
words.
Image from axistive.com

18. AT devices and services that are “high-technology”
Touch Screen Computers
Students who have difficulty with
dexterity and fine motor skill
issues would benefit from using
touch screen technology. It
provides a simply way to make
selections. Tablets are popular
devices but standard computers
can be outfitted with touch
screen monitors.
Image from ocde.us

19. AT devices and services that are “high-technology”
Voice Recognition Software
This software program is designed to convert the spoken word into text.
This will benefit students who have difficulty writing, whether it is due to
weak muscle control, dysgraphia, poor visual or other learning
disabilities that affects their writing skills.
Image from greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology Image from washington.edu/access computing

20. Resources for More Information about
Assistive Technology Devices
There are many resources available to students with disabilities.
Listed below are some online resources to learn more about
Assistive Technology devices and services.
LEGAL
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-108publ446/html/PLAW-108publ446.htm
Georgia Department of Education; Assistive Technology
http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-Technology/Pages/Assistive-
Technology-Devices.aspx

21. Resources for More Information
LEARNING DISIBILITIES ORGANIZATIONS
LD Online
www.ldonline.org/
Kids Health
kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html#
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
(NICHCY)
www.nichcy.org
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
hwww.ncld.org/

22. Resources for More Information
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
Speech Recognition Software Optical Character Recognition
Dragon Naturally Speaking ABBYY Finereader
iListen OminPage Professional
SpeakQ Presto! Chaos Conquered
ViaVoice Readiris Pro 10
TouchScreen Technology AudioBook Services
Apple iPad audible
Dell Audiobooks
HP Audio Books Corner
Touchscreen iMAC Recorded Books
Touchscreen Technologies simply audiobooks

23. AbilityNet GATE (2010) wikis by Wetpaint
(website) Retrieved from http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/page/Touchscreens+and+Tablet+PCs
Avoidance of an Environment – Classroom Example (blog) (April 20, 2012) Creative Research Corner
(website) Retrieved from http://creativeresearchcorner.blogspot.com/2010/04/affordance-of-environment-
classroom.html#!/2010/04/affordance-of-environment-classroom.html
Axistive (2001-2011) Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
(website) Retrieved from http://www.axistive.com/what-is-optical-character-recognition-ocr.html
Cennamo, Katherine S., Ross, John D and Ertmer, Peggy A. (2010) Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use, A
Standards-Based Approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Duke University Libraries (2010) Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
(website) Retrieved from http://blogs.library.duke.edu/blog/2009/01/29/audiobooks/
eSpecialNeeds (2009)eSpecial Needs, LLC
(website) Retrieved from www.eSpecialNeeds.com
KidsHealth (1995-2012) The Nemours Foundation
(website) Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html#
HumanWare (2005-2012) HumanWare Group
(website) Retrieved from http://www.humanware.com/

24. Sources - continued
KMA Computing (2010)
(website) Retrieved from http://kmacomputing.webs.com/physicalvisualdyslexia.htm
Learning Ally (2012) Learning Ally, Inc.
(website) Retrieved from http://www.learningally.org/
LD OnLine (2010) WETA
(website) Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/
Learning Ally (2012) Learning Ally, Inc.
(website) Retrieved from http://www.learningally.org/
Orange County Department of Education(2011)
(website) Retrieved from http://www.ocde.us/AdminUnit1/Pages/Assistive-Technology.aspx
Public Law 108-446 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. 20 USC 1400 note
(website) Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-108publ446/html/PLAW-108publ446.htm
ReadSpeaker (2012)
(website) Retrieved from http://www.readspeaker.com/
RehabMart (1999-2012) RehabMart.com, LLC
(website) Retrieved from http://www.rehabmart.com/product/head-pointer-21512.html

25. Sources - continued
Traxsys (2008) Traxsys Input Products
(website) Retrieved from http://www.traxsys.com/AssistiveTechnology/tabid/1087/Default.aspx
WatchMinder (2012) WatchMinder
(website) Retrieved from http://watchminder.com/about-us/what-is-the-watchminder-
Wikipedia (2001) Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike
(website) Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(multiple entries)

26. This concludes
the presentation on
Assistive Technology
for the
Classroom Teacher