This document discusses assistive technology (AT), which are devices or services that help individuals with disabilities maintain or improve their functional abilities. It provides an overview of key laws supporting AT, such as the IDEA and ADA, and explains that AT can be devices or services. Common devices and services are described for individuals with hearing impairments, visual impairments, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. Examples include hearing aids, screen reading software, and adapted keyboards. The document concludes by listing references used.

1. Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology, or AT, is any item, piece of
equipment, software or product system that is used to
increase, maintain, or improve the functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities
(Assistive Technology: An Overview, 2014)

2. Laws regarding Assistive Technology
• IDEA- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-
ensures services to children with disabilities
• ADA-Americans with Disabilities Act-equal opportunity
for those with disabilities
• Section 255 of The Telecommunications Act of 1996-
telecomunications manufacturers to make products
and services available to those with disabilities
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998-provide funds for
schools to those that support assistive programs
(Assistive Technology: Federal Laws and Regulations, 2012)

3. • Assistive Technology can be used in two forms
• Devices
• Services
(Assistive Technology: An Overview, 2014)

4. AT Devices
• IDEA ‘04 defines an AT device as “any item,
piece of equipment, or product system, that is
used to increase, maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of a child and
specifically excludes a medical device that is
surgically implanted or the replacement of
such a device” (Petschauer, 2013).
• AT devices can be complex, or they can be as
simple as a modified pencil.

5. AT Services
• IDEA ‘04 defines an assistive technology services as
“any service that directly assists a child with a disability
in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive
technology device” (Assistive Technology: Federal Laws
and Regulations, 2013).
• For Example, constructing the classroom effectively to
ensure proper use of AT devices, making sure the
devices are working properly, and using the device in
all environments. These plans are made possible
through IEP’s set up by the teacher, special education
teacher, and parents.

6. Hearing Impaired
• There are three types of devices used for the
hearing impaired
• Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Alerting Devices
(The Iris Center, 2014)

7. Assistive Listening Devices
• These help to amplify the sounds. These can be
used with hearing aids or cochlear implants to
help hear sounds better
• Personal amplified systems
• Infrared systems
• FM systems
• Loop Systems
• Soundfield systems
(Assistive Devices for People with Hearing Disorders, 2011)

8. Augmentative and Alternative Devices
• Help people with
communication disorders to
express themselves.
• Unaided-gestures, body language,
and sign language
• Aided- using tools and equipment in
addition to using the body. For
example: paper and pencil,
communication books and posters,
or any aid used to help with
communication
(People with Hearing Disorders, 2011)

9. Alerting Devices
• These devices emit loud sounds or blink lights
to inform deaf people of something taking
place.

10. Seeing Impaired
• Technology has progressed tremendously for
those visually impaired. New and old devices and
services are essential for students to obtain a
quality education.
• AT for the visually impaired are:
• Programs for computers that can magnify the words on the
screen, as well as speak the text on the screen
• Stand alone- personal digital assistants (PDA’s), and
electronic book players
• Optical recognition systems- scan printed material and speak
the text. Also, braille embossers
(Assistive Technologies, 2013)

11. Learning Disabled
• Students with learning disabilities can struggle in
the area of schoolwork. By using Assistive
Technology, students with learning disabilities can
learn to become more independent learners.
• These devices do not cure or diminish the learning
disability, but they do focus on the strengths of
the learners.
• Devices used for the learning disabled:
• Scanners and screen reading software, voice recognition
software, talking calculators, and highlighting and note
taking programs
(Stanberry, 2014)

12. Physically Disabled
• Students with physical disabilities often have
limitations in their education. These disabilities can
include loss of limb(s), muscle control, or any
limitation in mobility.
• Assistive technologies have aided the potential of the
physically disabled to obtain a quality education.
• Examples of AT’s for the physically disabled include:
• Mouth stick-controls input through a stick the users
manipulate with their mouth
• Adaptive keyboard-compact, expanded, rubber, or ergonomic
• Voice recognition programs-entering text and using task on
the computer by using their voices
(Petschauer, 2013)

13. References
“Assistive Devices for People with Hearing Disorders”. (2011). National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Retrieved on March 26th from
nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing
“Assistive Technology”. (2013). American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved
March25th from www.afb.org
“Assistive Technology: An Overview”. (2014). The Iris Center. Retrieved March 25th
from iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu
“Assistive Technology: Federal Laws and Regulations”. (2012). National Disability
Rights Network. Retrieved on March 26th from www.ndrn.com
Hasselbring, Ted. (2014). “Technologies for Students with Hearing Impairments”.
The Future Of Children. Retrieved on March 25th from
www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren.
NCLD Team. (2014). National Center for Learning Disabilities:
Assistive Technology. Retrieved on March 26th from www.ncld.org
Petschauer, Diana. (2013). “Assistive Technology for Education”. Assistive Technology
for Education LLC. Retrieved on March 27th from
assistivetechnologyforeducation.com
Stanberry, Kristin. (2014). “Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An
Overview”. WETA Public Broadcasting. Retrieved on March 26th from
readingrockets.org
“What is ATAP?”. (n.d). Association of Assistive Technology Programs. Retrieved
March 27th from www.atap.org