Mr. Rick Metheny's Presentation during the Block 2 Assistive Technology Seminar

1. Assistive Technology
allegany county public schools

2. Who
What
Where
When
Why
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 the functional
capabilities of children with disabilities.
Assistive technology, devices and services are provided to students withdisabilities
through an IEP or 504 plan.
Although assistive technology can be used in any setting, we focus on assistive
technology in educational settings.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 requires that assistive technology
be considered at every IEP meeting.
Assistive technology planning occurs when an IEP team member believes a student
cannot complete an IEP goal or other educationally relevant task without the use of one
or more tools

3. Is it Assistive Technology?

4. IDEA 2004 AT Device
34 C.F.R. § 300.5 Assistive technology device
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 the functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of
that device.
(Authority 20 U.S.C. 1401(1))
4

5. IDEA 2004 Consideration of AT
34 C.F.R. § 300.324 Development, review, and revision of IEP
(a) Development of IEP—
◦ (2) Consideration of special factors. The IEP team must—
◦ (v) consider whether the child requires assistive technology devices and services.
(b) Review and revision of IEPs—
◦ (2) Consideration of special factors. In conducting a review of the child’s IEP, the IEP Team must consider the
special factors described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412 (a)(1), 1412 (a)(12) (A)(i), 1414 (d)(3) and (4)(B) and (7); and 1414(e))
5

6. (a) Development of IEP—
(2) Consideration of special factors. The IEP team must—
(v) consider whether the child requires assistive technology devices and services.
Goals
Based on present
levels of performance,
the student is here.
In one year, we
anticipate the student
will be here.

7. Action plan for AT

8. AT Toolkit
acpsmd.org - Departments - Special Education - AT Toolkit

9. Reading
access to information

10. Early Literacy

11. Rhyming with Velcro

12. Picture
supported text
SymWriter
BoardMaker
News-2-You
Adapted books
Activities

13. Digital Text
mp3 players
CDs
Computers
Tablets
Browsers

14. Aligned to content media and materials

15. At a variety
of levels

16. Writing
showing what you know

17. Low tech to high tech approaches

18. Assess content knowledge – not fine
motor skills

19. Pencil grips, special paper,
stickers, slant boards…..

20. Supported writing – word prediction

21. Scaffold the
writing process

22. Speech to text

23. AAC – augmentative & alternative communication
talk about it

24. Manual communication boards
Highly portable
Never break down

25. Mid tech recorded
devices
Portable
Changeable
Intrude into the environment

26. High tech communication devices
Microprocessor based
◦ Computer
◦ iOS device
Pre-programmed or novel
communication

27. What we left out……..
Adapted recreation
Adapted toys
Adapted seating
Aids for daily living
Adapted clothes and dressing aids
Computer access
Mobility
Lots and lots of other stuff……

28. Questions