This is brief overview of assistive technology.

1. Assistive Technology
By: Derek Wright

2. What is assistive technology?
 Assistive technology is any device or service that
helps a student with a disability to meet his or her
individualized education program (IEP) goals and to
participate in the general education setting to the
greatest possible extent.

3. What can assistive technology do?
 minimize the extent to which individuals with LD need
to ask for help
 improve the speed and accuracy of work
 reinforce effective classroom instruction and
strengthen skill development
 help students to 'fit in' with classroom learning and
routines
 motivate students with LD to set high goals for
themselves and to persevere

4. What is the law regarding assistive
technology?
 IDEA 2004 requires IEP teams to consider the
assistive technology needs of all children with
disabilities. (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(3)(B)(v))
 Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394)
replaced the Tech Act, which expired in 1998. The Act
affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be
used to improve the lives of Americans with
disabilities.

5. What assistive technology device can be
used to help a student with a hearing
impairment?
 Cochlear implants are
used by students who
have severe hearing loss.

6. What assistive technology device can be
used to help a student with a seeing
impairment?
 Audiobooks are used so
students with a vision
impairment can hear the
text instead of reading
the text.

7. What assistive technology device can be
used to help a student with a learning
disability?
 When using a speech
recognition program a
student speaks through a
microphone their words
appear on the screen.

8. What assistive technology device can be
used to help a student with a physical
disability?
 IntelliKeys consists of
alphabet, numbers, and
enlarged arrows that lay
over the keyboard so
computers are easier to
operate.

9. Works Cited
 Assistive Technology: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved
August 30, 2014.
 Assistive Technology. (2013, November 25). Retrieved
August 31, 2014.