Assistive technology is any device or service that helps students with disabilities meet their IEP goals and participate in general education. Examples include hearing aids, magnifying glasses, software for learning disabilities, and slanted easels for physically disabled students. Laws like the Technology-Related Assistance Act and IDEA require schools to consider and provide assistive technology to support students' educational programs.

1. Assistive Technology
Quiota Smith
August 30, 2014
ED 505-91

2. What is assistive technology?
 According to the Iris Center for Training
Enhancements (2014), “Assistive technology
is a device or service that helps a student
with a disability to meet his or her IEP,
goals and to participate in the general
education setting to the greatest possible
extent.”

3. Examples of Assistive Technology
Picture retrieved from: https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608047161835980960&pid=15.1&P=0

4. Laws Regarding Assistive Technology
 According to Roblyer and Doering (2013),
 “The Technology-Related Assistance Act for Individuals with Disabilities (Public
Law 100-407), passed in 1988, provides funding for statewide systems and services
to provide assistive technology devices and services to individuals with
disabilities.”
 Roblyer and Doering (2013) also stated that, “Reauthorization of the Individuals
with Disabilities Act (IDEA) in 1997 (Public Law 105-17) mandates that every
individualized education program (IEP) team “consider” assistive technology when
planning the educational program of an individual with a disability. The most
current reauthorization in 2004ncontains no new technology information, but
serves to reemphasize to schools the importance of academic achievement by
students with disabilities and the need to help each student meet achievement
goals.”

5. Assistive Technology
for the Hearing
Impaired
Hearing aids help students who
have either been born with loss
of hearing or acquired a loss of
hearing at some point and time
in his or her life.
Picture retrieved from: https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608046268487369194&pid=15.1&P=0

6. Assistive Technology for
the Seeing Impaired
A magnifying glass can make
writing appear bigger than it is
on the printed page, so the
student can read.

7. Assistive Technology for
Learning Disabled
Students
Software can be used to provide
students with learning disabilites
the support they need. This
program includes talking math
worksheets to help the student
solve numerical problems step-by-step.
Pictured retrieved from: http://www.edb.utexas.edu/atlab/Clipart/devicepics/access2math-sm.jpg

8. Assistive Technology
for the Physically
Disabled
Most times physically disabled
students require a wheelchair or
walker to move from place to
place. It can be uncomfortable for
a student in a wheel chair to write
on a flat surface. Therefore, a
slanted easel assists the student
with doing classwork.
Picture retrieved from: https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608038670688912265&pid=15.1&P=0

9. References
 Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A. (2013). Integrating educational technology into
teaching. 6th edition. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.
 The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive technology:
An overview. Retrieved on August 30, 2014
from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/.