Assistive Technology

Ashley Bedwell-ED505-University of West Alabama

Assistive Technology (AT)

• AT 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.

• AT improves the functional performance of an individual with a

disability.

• AT devices and services help restore lost capacities or improve

impaired capacities

• AT helps students overcome functional limitations

Assistive Technology (AT)

• AT includes 2 things:

• Devices-any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether

acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used

to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a

disability.

• Services-any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the

selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

• All educations, not just special educators, need to be informed and

involved with assistive technology.

Laws Regarding Assistive Technology

• AT must be considered for any student that has an IEP

• The school system must provide AT if it is required for students to access general education curriculum and to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE)

• AT includes both services and devices

• Here are some laws pertaining to AT

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Assistive Technology Act of 1998

• Section 508 of Rehabilitation Act

• Section 505 of Rehabilitation Act

• Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act

• Section 501 of Rehabilitation Act

AT for Students with Hearing Impairments

• Personal hearing amplifiers help an individual with hearing

loss hear better in small group settings and one-on-one

conversations.

• PSAPs (Personal Sound Amplifiers) are discreet listening

devices worn in the ear to help an individual hear better in

different environments

AT for Students with Visual Impairments

• An example of AT for visually impaired students

would be the Eye-Pal

• The Eye-Pal is a portable USB scanner/reader that

instantly converts printed material into speech, txt

or MP3 files or refreshable Braille

AT for Students with Learning Disabilities

• AT for kids with LD is defined as any device, piece of equipment or

system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for an

individual's specific learning deficit

• An example of an AT kids version would be this LEAPFROG Audio

Book.

• Students who struggle with reading would be able to comprehend

this.

AT for Students with Physical Disabilities

• A mouth stick is a device that enables users to

control input through a stick that they

manipulate with their mouth

References

• ATIA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from What is Assistive Technology?:

http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859#What_is_AT_

• (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from FCTD: http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php

• Wrights Law. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from Wrights Law: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm

• (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://ndrn.org/en/issues/assistive-technology/292-assistive-technology-federal-law-

and-regulations.html

Great Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from Great Schools:

http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/702-assistive-technology-for-kids-with-

learning-disabilities-an-overview.gs?page=all