Assistive technology refers to any equipment, tool, device, material or service that can help students succeed in the classroom. It can help with communication, completing assignments, accessing materials, increasing mobility, and participating in class and extracurricular activities. Assistive technology ranges from low-tech options like pencil grips to high-tech options like computerized wheelchairs. Examples of assistive technology include hearing loops, screen readers, talking calculators, alternative mice, and switches that allow students to control devices with body movements.

1. Assistive
Technology
ED 505
Melanie Shotts
March 28, 2015

2. What is
Assistive
Technology?

3. Assistive technology is any
piece of equipment, tool,
device, material, or service
that can be used to help a
student succeed in the
classroom.

4. Assistive Technology can help
students in the classroom to:
 Communicate with teachers and peers
 Complete assignments
 Access materials
 Increase mobility
 Participate in the classroom
 Participate in extracurricular programs

5. IDEA
Individuals With
Disabilities Act
(IDEA ’04)

6. IDEA defines assistive technology
as “any item, piece of
equipment, or product system,
that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of a child
and specifically excludes a
medical device that is surgically
implanted or the replacement of
such device.”

7. Assistive Technology can
be as simple as a rubber
pencil grip or a highlighter
marker to as complex as a
computerized, voice
controlled wheelchair.

8. Examples
Low tech Mid Tech
High Tech

9. Assistive Technology for the
Hearing Impaired
Audio or Hearing Loop
o Works with the hearing aid…you just flip the
telecoil switch in the hearing aid or cochlear
implant to amplify sound
o Students are able to hear instruction from the
teacher, as well as, other conversations/
happenings in the classroom
o Works in any environment that has the
universal magnetic signal
o No additional equipment or receivers are
needed

11. Assistive Technology for the
Seeing Impaired
Screen Readers
 Supports the blind and visually impaired
computer user by reading the text aloud
 Gives students with limited or no vision the
ability to use computer software in the
classroom
 Thunder is an option of free talking software for
individuals with little or no sight.
 It is available for download on Windows 7, Vista,
and XP in several different languages.

12. Examples of
Screen
Readers

13. Technology for the Learning
Impaired
Talking Calculator
 Assist students who struggle
with math skills
 Built-in speech synthesizer to
read aloud numbers,
symbols, or operations
pressed
 Auditory feedback to check
accuracy of keys pressed

14. Assistive Technology for the
Physically Impaired
Alternative Mouse
 Trackballs
 Joystick
 Mouse control using a switch & body part
movement
 Mouse control using head movement
 Mouse control using eye movement
 Mouse control using sip/puff mouth actions
 Enables students with limited hand use, the
ability to use other movements/body parts to
independently use computer software for
instruction/remediation

15. Examples

16. References
Assistive technology basics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
https://www.understood.org/en/school- learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics
Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://www4.esc13.net/assistivetech
Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27,
2015, from http://www.gmck.org/accessibility/assistive_technologies/physical impairments.asp
Frequent Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://www.hearingloop.org/fq_preferred.htm
Hearing Assistive Technology | Hearing Loss Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved March
27, 2015, from http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing-assistive-technology

17. n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatfl.org/images/power-wheelchair.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://img.technospot.net/talking-calculator.png
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://it.adelphi.edu/files/2013/11/loop_sys.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0AAEGbVvV28/maxresdefault.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://johannamsspc313.wikispaces.com/file/view/headstick.jpg/328438800/288x216/headstick.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpj0EUoCUAA8J4Q.jpg:large
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/01/38/2/images/feys-f03.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.screenreader.net/

18. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.screenreader.net/imagelibrary/thunder.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://thirdfloormadness.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/9/6/25969189/9351899.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://www.ver.com.co/ingles/images/stories/fotos/jawsbox5.jpg
(n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us/cms/lib6/PA14000132/Centricity/Domain/12/Assistive Technology.jpg
Overview of Assistive Technology for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 27, 2015, from http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/overview-of-assistive-technology.html
Tools for Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatfl.org/assistive.php