2. What is assistive
technology?
According to the South Carolina
Assistive Technology Program
(2012), Assistive technology, also
known as AT, is any device,
hardware, software, or product for
individuals with disabilities that
allows them to do things more
quickly, easily and independently.
3. It’s the law!
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
This law makes it illegal to discriminate against a
qualified person with a disability in programs
conducted and funded by federal agencies.
(eeoc.gov, n.d.)
4. What does The Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 mean in
education?• School districts must establish a standard procedure for student
evaluation who are believed to need special education and/or services
before labeling any student.
• Students cannot be discriminated against for their disabilities.
• School districts must provide a “free appropriate public education”.
• Technical assistance will be provided to qualified students.
• Related aids and services will be designed and provided to meet the
student’s individual educational needs, this allowing the student to be as
successful as nondisabled students.
• Assistive technology devices will be selected, designed, fitted, customized,
adapted, applied, maintained, repaired, or replaced for the individual with
the disability.
• Training or technical assistance will be provided for the individual with the
disability and for professionals, employers, or anyone who provides
assistance to the individual with the disability.
Information provided from the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
5. Hearing Impaired
REDMIKE®
REDMIKE, is a portable, lightweight
microphone that can be
comfortably worn around your neck
or attached to your shirt. REDMIKE
consist of an IR sensor, receiver,
amplifier, and speaker all in one
device. Students with hearing
impairments love that REDMIKE
gives them the ability to hear the
teacher much clearer and from far
a far away distance.
6. Seeing Impaired
FarView Handheld Video Magnifier
Students with seeing impairments can use
this portable video magnifier to view
materials up close or far away such as in
lectures or presentations. It can store up to
100 images for review. It is handheld and
very easy to use.
7. Learning Disabled
Talking Calculators
Talking calculators help students with
learning disabilities who struggle in
math. Talking calculators read aloud
functions to which the student presses
through the built in speech synthesizer.
This helps students with checking
the accuracy of keys they are pressing and allows them
to check for any errors before writing it down on paper.
8. Physically Disabled
The AlphaSmart 3000 keyboard
The AlphaSmart keyboard is an inexpensive electronic writing
tool that many students find simple and practical. Some of its
features include a spell checker and thesaurus. You can also plug
the AlphaSmsart into a computer, and it will upload your text
into any application. I have a
physically disabled child in my classroom
whose muscles grow tiresome from too
much writing due to his physical
impairment. . The AlphaSmart allows him to
keep up with the rest of the class when
note taking without becoming sore or tired.
9. Reference Page
Institute of Disabilities Temple University (2014) Assistive Technology. Retrieved from
http://www.ioddev.org/inventory_detail.php?equip_id=2774
Lightspeed (2010) Lightweight Teacher Microphone. Retrieved from
http://www.lightspeedtek.co.uk/redmike.aspx
Official Nebraska Government Website (2008) Assistive Technology in Education. Retrieved from
http://www.atp.ne.gov/techassistdoc.html
South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (2012, October 9) SC Curriculum Access through AT.
Retrieved from http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cdrom/atused.html
Stanberry, K, Raskind, M, Ph.D. (2010, February) Talking Calculators. Retrieved from
http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/953-talking-
calculators.gs
U.S. Department of Education (2013, December 19) Protecting Students With Disabilities.
Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
U.S. Department of Justice (2012, April 9) A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. Retrieved from
http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor65610
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (n.d.) Laws Enforced by EEOC. Retrieved from
http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/index.cfm
Wanderman, R. (2004, July 5) LD Resources: The AlphaSmart Keyboard and Learning Disabilities.
Retrieved from http://www.ldresources.org/2004/07/the-alphasmart-keyboard-and-
learning-disabilities/
