1. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
EDUC W200 Week 14

2. INTRODUCTION
•
All of you will have classes in your program that will deal
with special needs, and the purpose of session today is
not to teach you everything about assistive technologies
(AT), but to introduce them from a tech integration
perspective
•
Everyone of you will have to deal special needs as
teachers, and will be legally mandated to do so
•
There are tools that can make all of the difference in
what and how we learn, and this week is about some of
those tools
EDUC W200 Week 14

3. LEGAL BACKGROUND FOR
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
o Provide appropriate public education, designed to meet individual needs
of students aged 3-21 to anyone, regardless of special needs
•
Because of IDEA, all students with special needs, in order to
receive support, are required to have an IEP: Individualized
Education Plan.
o Teachers, administrators, and school/district staff work as a team to
help student’s individual needs.
o Selecting, justifying best technology can be part of the plan.
•
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of that provides support
for learning modifications to some students who do not fall
under IDEA (such as ADHD/ADD students)
EDUC W200 Week 14

4. IDEA OVERVIEW
•
According to IDEA an IEP (Individualized Education Program) must
be developed by a TEAM:
• Parent(s)/guardian of the child
• 1 or more classroom teacher for that student
• If appropriate, special education teacher/provider for the
student/child
• Liaison representing a public agency (represents the child’s needs
and understands public resources), such as a social worker or social
service provider
• An individual who can interpret evaluation results (1 of the people
listed above can fulfill this role)
• Administrators representing the school or school corporation
• The student/child (if appropriate)
EDUC W200 Week 14

5. WHY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Key Concept: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
o Minimize limitations by a special need
o Promote inclusive classrooms/minimize separating special
needs students from the general population
•
This is where technology can help students have the
appropriate LRE
EDUC W200 Week 14

6. RECAP: AN EXAMPLE OF IEP, LRE
EDUC W200 Week 14

7. IDEA OVERVIEW
• Equal access and IDEA
• The point is to accommodate everyone, to take away
emphasis on individual learning disabilities, need to provide
everyone equal access.
• That’s where Universal Design for Learning (UDL) comes in
EDUC W200 Week 14

8. UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING (UDL)
•
The role of Universal Design for Learning: A flexible
curriculum for all types of learning
o Link to 4min video. (2:32)
o Teachers and schools are being expected to apply a UDL
approach in their classrooms and school buildings/environments
•
Here’s the basics:
o What works for students with special needs could help many
others
o It is a more inclusive approach
o It has a focus on improving the learning of everyone, and not just
a few
EDUC W200 Week 14

9. UNIVERSAL DESIGN
The inspiration for Universal Design for Learning:
• Universal Design for Learning was inspired by the
Universal Design movement in architecture.
• The idea behind Universal Design for learning is the
same: design learning activities so they are
accessible to everyone.
EDUC W200 Week 14

10. UDL PRINCIPLES
• What are the goals? What are the barriers?
• Multiple means of Representation
• Multiple means of Action and Expression
• Multiple means of Engagement
EDUC W200 Week 14