Assistive Technology

1. ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Joshua Sawyer
University of West Alabama
ED505

2. What is Assistive Technology
• Any device, piece of equipment or system that helps
bypass, work around or compensate for an individual’s
specific learning deficits.
• Also included in assistive technology is the process used
in selecting, locating, and using them
Telescoping mouth stick Braille keypad cover

3. Access of Assistive Technology?
• A tool that extends the ability of an individual in
ways that provide:
1. Physical access
a) Wheelchairs,
b) Braces,
c) Mouth sticks,
d) Head wand
2. Sensory access
a) Braille,
b) Closed captioning,
c) Screen magnifiers
d) One handed keyboard

4. The Law
• Children with disabilities in Alabama have a legal right to
free and appropriate programs of special education and
related services. State and federal law require teachers
and school administrators to work together with parents to
create individualized education programs to meet the
unique needs of children with disabilities. Thus, when
schools provide special education, they do so not out of
kindness, but because children with disabilities are
entitled by law to these services.

5. Hearing Impaired
• Closed Captioning
• Words would be at the bottom or top of a screen while watching a
movie, documentary, or presentation on a screen

6. Seeing Impaired
• Braille labels for keyboard
• Each key would have braille on it so seeing impaired students
could still use a keyboard

7. Learning Disabled
• Dyslexia
• Blue overlay
• Students would use a blue
overlay for papers printed out
by teacher or reading from
the book.

8. Physical Disabled
• Missing a hand or arm
• One handed Keyboard
• Provide high speed access to those who have the use of only one
hand
• All keys have been designed for freedom and no repetitive stress
that could create an injury

9. Resources
• Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview | Reading Rockets.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-
learning-disabilities-overview
• Assistive technology for sensory impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net/mountain2009/assistive-technology-for-sensory-impairments
• Braille Keyboard Cover (UK) | A2i. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.a2i.co.uk/products-
page/computer-access/braille-keyboard-cover/
• GMC | Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.gmc-uk.org/accessibility/assistive_technologies/physical_impairments.asp
• Maltron One-Handed Keyboard | EnableMart.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.enablemart.com/maltron-one-handed-keyboard
• Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H. (2013). Integrating educational technology into teaching.
Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon Publishers.
• t3h1onlineb - Wands and Sticks. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://t3h1onlineb.wikispaces.com/Wands+and+Sticks