This document discusses assistive technology and its importance for students with disabilities. It defines assistive technology as any item that helps increase, maintain, or improve the functions of individuals with disabilities. The document outlines laws like the ADA and IDEA that protect students' rights to assistive technologies. Common disabilities that may require assistive technology are also listed, along with professionals who can diagnose learning disabilities. Guidelines for choosing assistive technologies are provided, and examples of specific technologies and resources like the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology are described.

1. Assistive Technology
Bridgett Hill
ITEC 7530
Summer 2014
Dr. Carlson

2. Background
• Educators will often encounter students with disabilities that will require
some type of special device for assistance.
• Students can have mild, moderate, or severe disabilities
• It is the school system’s and educator’s responsibility to ensure success for all
students

3. Individualized Education Plans
(IEP)
• “Kids with delayed skills or other disabilities might be eligible for special
services that provide individualized education programs in public schools,
free of charge to families.”
• IEPs are developed to help kids succeed in school
• IEPs set goals for children to during the school year
• Student will IEPs will often require assistive technology

4. What is assistive technology?
• According to Wikipedia, “Assistive technology is an umbrella term that
includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with
disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using
them.”
• Any item that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functions of
individuals with disabilities
• Promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that
they usually would struggle with

5. Guidelines to Choosing Assistive Technology
• Collect child and family information- strengths, abilities, preferences and needs
• Identify activities for participation & what is preventing child from participating
• Observe level of participation and observable behaviors
• Brainstorm assistive technology behaviors and discuss possible solutions
• Test assistive technology intervention and create an observation plan to record
child’s participation
• Identify what worked with assistive technology intervention and make
modifications if necessary

6. Common Disabilities for Students
• Learning Disabilities
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD)
• Emotional Disorders
• Cognitive Disorders
• Autism
• Hearing/Visual/Speech Impairments
• Developmental Delay

7. Who can Diagnose a Learning Disability?
• Clinical Psychologist
• School Psychologist
• Educational Psychologist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychometrist

8. Laws to Protect Students with Disabilities
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- prohibits discrimination against people with
disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and
governmental activities.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)- law ensuring services to
children with disabilities throughout the nation. It governs how states and public agencies
provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with
disabilities.
• Section 504- federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in
programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department
of Education. It states, "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United
States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or
activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . ."

9. Assistive Technology for Mild Disabilities
Assistive technology devices can be used to help with organization, note taking, writing,
academic productivity, access to reference and general education materials and cognitive
assistance
• Videotaping class sessions for visual learners
• Web-cam photography across Internet for students to see and hear class
• Send class notes/presentations via e-mail
• Translating print-based notes by voice
• Using notebook computers, PDs, or portable word keyboards to help with not taking
• Grammar and spell-checkers, dictionaries, and thesaurus programs assist in mechanics of
writing

10. Assistive listening devices
• Hearing Assistive Technology Systems (HATS)- devices that can help you
function better in your day-to-day communication situations. They can be used
with or without hearing aids or cochlear implants
• Distance between the listener and the sound source is difficult for people with
hearing loss because the intensity or loudness of sounds fades rapidly as it travels
• Competing noise in the environment is difficult because most rooms have
background noise that competes with the spoken message
• Poor room acoustics/reverberation is difficult because the quality of sound
maintained can affect your ability to hear effectively

11. Examples of Products
• Read and Write Gold
• E-Books and Apps
• Voice Recognition Software
• Free Text-To-Speech Software
• DAISY Audio Players
• iPad and iPhone Apps
• Environmental Controls
• Adjustable and Large Font Keyboards
• Switch Access
• QR Codes and Bar Codes
• Magnification Software and Hardware
• ScreenReaders
• LiveScribe SmartPen
• Refreshable Braille Displays
• Communication Boards
• Mind Mapping, Brainstorming & Graphic
Organizers
• Track Balls and Mice
• Augmentative & Alterative Communication

12. Georgia Project for Assistive Technology
(GPAT)
• GPAT- provides Georgia school systems with assistive technology devices
and services to students with disabilities
• GPAT- mission is to improve student achieve and productivity, independence
and inclusion by enhancing educators knowledge of assistive technology and
increasing student access to appropriate assistive technology devices and
services

13. References
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/iep.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology
• http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088
• http://drc.calpoly.edu/content/eligibility/whoCanDiagnose
• http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm
• http://idea.ed.gov/
• http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
• http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/assistive.htm
• http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/assist_tech.htm
• http://www.gpat.org/Georgia-Project-for-Assistive-Technology/Pages/default.aspx