Week 2 assignment for ED505

1. ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Jennifer Robbins
ED505
Fall 2014

2. What is Assistive Technology (AT)
 Any device or service that helps individuals with disabilities to participate and
benefit fully from their educational setting .
 Devices or services can be used to help the individual:
 Perform certain tasks
 Communicate
 Participate in social or other activities
 Be mobile in their environment
 Have better access to materials
 Use proper seating or positioning
 Can be low or high tech

3. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAWS
Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)

4. Assistive Technology Laws
The Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) states that Assistive technology
is to be provided for children to help maximize accessibility for these children.
This statute defines what assistive technology is and its importance.
Statute: TITLE I / A / 602 / 1
(1) Assistive technology device.--
(A) 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.
(B) Exception.--The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the
replacement of such device.
(Building the Legacy: Idea 2004, 2014)

5. Assistive Technology Laws (page 2)
The following discusses the Assistive Technology Services:
Statute: TITLE I / A / 602 / 2
(2) 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.

6. TYPES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

7. AT for Individuals with Seeing Impairments
Braille Display with Feature Pack
This lets the user take full control of a PC or
Smartphone. This 40-cell braille display
provides full braille access to mainstream
applications allowing you to read and write
braille anywhere on practically any device! And
with internal note-taking functionality and a 4GB
flash memory, you can create and store
documents, books and much more directly on
the device! This has wireless connectivity and
allows the use to also connect the BC640
w/Feature Pack to an iPad or iTouch for ultimate
portability. A truly modern solution for
accessing braille.

8. AT for Individuals who have Hearing Impairments
Speech generating Devices
This helps individuals communicate easier
with those around them. This has a
capacity of generating 163 messages.
There are also devices that allow the user
to type and people can speak back and
the software converts the speech to
typing so that the student can
communicate without signing. These are
speech to text devices and software.

9. AT for Individuals with Learning Disabilities
Big Button Communicators –
A message or instruction can be recorded
and the student just has to tap the button
to hear the needed instruction as many
times as they need. This provides
independence.

10. AT for individuals with Physical Disabilities
Writing Bird –
This device helps people who have
trouble holding a pen or pencil.

11. References
Assistive Technology Industry Association. (2014). Retrieved August 28, 2014, from What is Assistive Technology?:
http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859
Assistive Technology (AT). (2014). Retrieved from Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program: http://adap.net/ATlink.html
Baker, Helen. (2014). Assistive Technology Centers. Retrieved from Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services:
http://www.rehab.alabama.gov/individuals-and-families/star/assistive-technology-centers
Blind and Low Vision. (2014). Retrieved from Able Data:
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=13134&deep=2&trail=22&ksectionid=19327
Building the Legacy: Idea 2004. (2014). Retrieved from ED.Gov:
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cstatute%2CI%2CA%2C602%2C1%2C
Microsoft. (2014). Microsoft Accessibility. Retrieved August 29, 2014, from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx
National Website on Assistive Tech. (2014). Retrieved from assistivetech.net: http://assistivetech.net/
PBS. (2014). Assistive Technology. Retrieved from PBS Parents:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/strategies-for-learning-disabilities/assistive-technology/