This document discusses assistive technologies. It defines assistive technology as any item that helps improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. It notes that assistive technology prominence rose after the 1998 Assistive Technology Act, which authorized federal funding for assistive technology services in schools. It also discusses the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology enhancing educator knowledge and student access to assistive technologies since 1991. The document then describes the assistive technology continuum from low to high tech examples and provides specific instances of low, mid, and high-tech assistive technologies.

1. Assistive Technologies
Dinshaw Anklesaria
ITEC 7530
Dr. Paynter
03.01.2014

2. Assistive Technology (AT)
 “Any item, piece of equipment, or product system used to
increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities” (Cennamo, Ross,
Ertmer. Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Page 409: Print)
 Prominence of AT rose after the passing of the Assistive
Technology Act of 1998: Authorized federal funding for statelevel initiatives to establish AT services and resources within
schools.
 Since 1991, the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology has
“enhanced educator knowledge of assistive technology and
increased student access to appropriate assistive technology
devices and services.

3. Assistive Technology Continuum
 AT range from low tech to high tech
 Low tech example: enlarging print and visuals
 Mid-tech examples: Audio/video recorders, talking
dictionaries, American Sign Language Software
 High-tech examples: text-to-speech software, word
prediction software

4. Low Tech Assistive Technology
 Note-Taking: Students can receive class notes via email if
they have not completed writing down all class lecture
notes from that day.
 At-home studying: For students who are visual learners,
they can be given video recordings from an iPad or other
smart device of various class sessions to re-watch the
teacher explaining mathematic problems.
 Writing: Microsoft Word and other writing applications
helps students with grammar, subject-verb agreement,
article/noun agreement and other grammar concepts.
Extremely useful for foreign language students at the I and
II levels.

5. Low Tech (standard) Assistive Technology

6. Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT)
 According to the American Speech Hearing
Association, “hearing assistive technologies (HATS)
helps one function better in their day to day lives”
 Various hearings aids such as cochlear implants are
designed to minimize environmental noise and restore
audio sensatory.

7. Visual Assistive Technology
 Communication Boards: Used in foreign language
classrooms to showcase seasons, verbs, days of the
week, numbers, emotions, and much more information
visually and colorfully
 Graphic Organizers: Spanish and French language
learners can use graphic organizers to classify verbs
ending in different letters (ar, er, ir, re)

8. Visual Assistive Technology: Graphic
Organizers

9. Educreations
 This assistive technology software entails personal
auditory tutorial explanations along with visual
demonstrations
 Excellent for mathematics, chemistry and foreign
language

10. WordReference.com
 A widely renowned online
dictionary for various
world languages including
French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Arabic and
Mandarin Chinese
 Learn not only the
individual word but
various usages,
conjugations and
commonly used
expressions