A Presentation on Assisstive Technology. By: Erin Tyler

1. By: Erin Tyler
Assistive
Technology

2. What is Assistive Technology?
• Assistive Technology is any device or form of technology that is used
to help students with disabilities to be independent.
• This allows disabled students to work alongside their peers in the
general education classroom.
• Assistive Technology (AT) can range from very simple to more
complex and technological.
• Assistive Technology can be used by a student to complete day-to-
day tasks, to communicate, to complete assignments or to move
from place to place.
• See this video for further explanation of Assistive Technology.

3. Laws Regarding
Assistive Technology
• In 2004, amendments were made to the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 to
better ensure that people, of varying ages and with disabilities, are able to
receive the assistive technologies that they need by supporting the individual
statewide programs. You can view the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 here.
• National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) says that
there should be printed materials (workbooks, textbooks, etc) in useable and
accessible formats for students with disabilities.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides “equal opportunities” with
individuals with disabilities.
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that students are
entitled to a free public education that will provide personalized instruction to
meet their unique needs.
• Parents and Teachers should know the Law, as well as the IEP of the
student. View a list of various laws here.

4. • Frequency Modulated (FM) Systems
can be used in a classroom to help
students the teacher, with less
background noise of a classroom. This
is also helpful when the teacher is not
directly facing a student, such as if she
were facing the white board, and the
child is unable to read lips.
• Students that are hearing impaired can
easily hear their teacher through their
hearing aid, while the teacher uses a
transmitting microphone during
instruction. Microphones can be held,
worn, or even placed in the center of a
group.
Assistive Technology for the
Hearing Impaired
Image retrieved from “Children Hear
Better with FM.” Read more here.

5. Assistive Technology for the
Vision Impaired
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
is a great assistive technology to help
students, or employees, who are
visually impaired or blind.
• This type of technology allows
students to scan a piece of printed
material and the text is then, in turn,
read aloud to them.
• There are many different types of
Optical Character Recognition
devices. They can range from small,
portable devices, to a computer
software program, or even an
individual unit.
• One example of this type of
technology is the new iPhone app
‘KNFB’, which makes it easy to
transport and have on hand, when
needed. Watch a video explaining the
new app and how it is used.
The screenshot on the left shows the camera capabilities. A
blind person would scan the image with their camera to
allow the text to be detected and read aloud (see image on
right).

6. Assistive Technology for
Learning Disabilities
• Students with learning disabilities in the area of
reading, can use assistive technologies such as
the Kurzweil 3000-Firefly to help them read
independently alongside their peers. As the text
is read at an appropriate speed, the words are
highlighted so that the student may follow along
and remain focused.
• Kurzweil 3000-Firefly also offers a writing
component, including pre-designed outline
templates, the ability to highlight key facts within
text, and even extract information. Then, it walks
students through the writing process, from start
to finish.
• Teachers can create folders and assign
readings to students from the cloud.
Image retrieved from
http://article.wn.com/view/2014/07/15/Kurzweil_Education_Announc
es_Enhanced_Version_Of_Kurzweil_30/

7. Assistive Technology for
Speech/Communication Disorders
• Students with difficulties
producing speech and
communicating with others can
use an assistive technology such
as the Tech/Scan 32 device,
which is light and easy to
transport using the provided
carrying case.
• Voice Recordings can help
students communicate with the
touch of a button, or by switching
from phrase to phrase.
Image retrieved from
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/atlab/Labinventory/Communication
/devices.php

8. • For students with physical
disabilities, using a mouse,
computer or keyboard may be
challenging or impossible. An
assistive technology to help with
this type of disability is a Hands-
Free Cursor Control, such as
SmartNav.
• With the SmartNav, students are
able to control the mouse with
movements of their head.
Assistive Technology for
Physical Disabilities
Image retrieved from
http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/

9. References
Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/assistive-technology/123
Assistive Technology – What is UDL, NIMAS, and AIM? (2012, May 21). Retrieved January 24, 2015,
from http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=6654
ATAP. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2015, from http://www.ataporg.org/legislative.html
Communication Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/atlab/Labinventory/Communication/devices.php
Hands-Free Cursor Control. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/
In Class. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.phonak.com/com/b2c/en/products/wireless-accessories/in-class.htm
KNFB Reader. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from http://www.knfbreader.com/#welcome
Kurzweil Education. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.kurzweiledu.com/products/firefly.html
The Family Center on Technology and Disability. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php

10. References
Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/using-technology/assistive-technology/123
Assistive Technology – What is UDL, NIMAS, and AIM? (2012, May 21). Retrieved January 24, 2015,
from http://www.wrightslaw.com/blog/?p=6654
ATAP. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2015, from http://www.ataporg.org/legislative.html
Communication Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/atlab/Labinventory/Communication/devices.php
Hands-Free Cursor Control. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/
In Class. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.phonak.com/com/b2c/en/products/wireless-accessories/in-class.htm
KNFB Reader. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from http://www.knfbreader.com/#welcome
Kurzweil Education. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.kurzweiledu.com/products/firefly.html
The Family Center on Technology and Disability. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2015, from
http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php