1. Week 1 Assignment I-Esha Rivera EDU620: Meeting Individual Student Needs With Technology (MRC1417B) Instructor: Angelise Rouse April, 28th 2014

2. Impacts of the Tech Act I-Esha E. Rivera

3. What is the Assistive Technology act of 1998 The Assistive Technology act of 1998 was created to assist the current programs and technology needed to help individuals with disabilities State assistive technology systems to continue to ensure that individuals with disabilities reap the benefits of the technological revolution and participate fully in life in their communities (Assistive Technology, 1998).

4. How is Assistive Technology Assisting Todays Students? Assistive technology is creating many new opportunities for students young and old. Whether the student has cognitive, sensory, physical or other disability, assistive technology is helping them to improve their learning experience When assistive technology is appropriately integrated into the classroom, students are provided with multiple means to complete their work and focus on achieving academic standards (SC Assistive Technology, 2014).

5. What Forms of Assistive Technology are there? Assistive Technology comes in many forms to assist the specific types of disability that a person may have. A person could be deaf and the assistive technology they may use could come in the form of a hearing aid, to various forms of software that sign the lessons for them. In addition, the hearing impaired may use the FM systems, these systems consist of a teacher wearing a transmitter to broadcast a signal and the hearing impaired student wears a receiver and he can hear clearly what the teacher is saying. This technology is assisting the hearing impaired students greatly (California Inst., 2014).

6. Assistive Technology for the Blind The Braille 'n Speak 640 is a small computer with a Perkins style keyboard. It allows the student to write in Grade 1 or 2 braille. This technology also has a spellchecker and is able to print. The Vtouch is technology the allows the visually impaired student to put on gloves and feel what the artwork looks when visiting a museum.

7. The Associative Technology Act of 1998 The Associative Technology Act has improved the lives of disabled students by allowing them the access to learning that they did not have before For students with disabilities that interfere with their communication, learning, social relationships or active participation, assistive technology supports their participation in learning experiences in the least restrictive environment. Assistive technology can be the lifeline that increases a students opportunities for education, social interactions, and meaningful employment (SC Assistive Technology, 2014).

8. Fostering Assistive Technology Assistive Technology is becoming readily available and some of this technology is inexpensive, which means there is a broader range of people that will have access to it. These students have increased potential and are able to learn more and express themselves in ways they had not been able to. Assistive technology should be available to those students with disabilities in order for them to succeed, where they would not have had a chance without this technology. As technology has come to play an increasingly important role in the lives of all persons in the United States, in the conduct of business, in the functioning of government, in the fostering of communication, in the conduct of commerce, and in the provision of education, its impact upon the lives of individuals with disabilities in the United States has been comparable to its impact upon the remainder of the citizens of the United States (Assistive Technology, 201).

9. Fostering Assistive Technology Assistive Technology enables futures, that result in a higher level of normalcy some may seek employment, or to be active in their communities because they now have the ability to communicate and interact better than before. They can do this confidently with the technology that has enabled them to do so.

10. Assistive Technology and Teaching The Assistive Technology Act has provided the means to reach students with disabilities and afford them the same learning opportunities as those without. In the classroom, I will be able to utilize that technology to reach the students the students that have a physical or other disability that may prevent them learning on a certain level. Knowing and learning about the types of Assistive Technology is a very important part of teaching. This knowledge will help me to find the right types of equipment or software that may be able to help a student. As a teacher, the quest for knowledge never stops, especially when it comes to learning how to educate ones students.

11. Assistive Technology Everyday Assistive Technology is improving and providing a myriad of ways to reach and allow disabled students to participate and increase their learning potential. The Assistive Technology Act, sets in place guidelines state and otherwise that have to be followed, ensuring that the disabled community have access to programs that will improve the quality of life supporting State efforts to improve the provision of assistive technology to individuals with disabilities through comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance, for individuals with disabilities of all ages, that are designed to provide access in many different ways with technological assistance.

12. No matter what the disability, the Assistive Technology Act is designed to help. There are many free and affordable pieces of equipment, software and more that will enable a student to become more involved in learning increase the ability of individuals with disabilities of all ages to secure and maintain possession of assistive technology devices as such individuals make the transition between services offered by educational or human service agencies or between settings of daily living (Assistive Technology) 2014). This act is in constant flux, improving and providing more access to needed programs and funding, for those that need these services.

13. Reference List Assistive Technology Act of 1998. (n.d.). Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW- 108publ364/html/PLAW-108publ364.htm Florida Charter Schools Failing Students with Disabilities http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2011/12/14/no-choice-florida-charter- schools-failing-to-serve-students-with-disabilities/ Assistive Technology Helping Deaf Students Succeed http://kidsthesedays.org/podcast/show-39-excerpt-assistive-technology- helping-deaf-students-succeed Assistive Technology for Students who use Braille 'n Speak 640 http://www.setbc.org/setbc/vision/virg/p2_08.html Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs http://www.ataporg.org Edyburn, D. L. (2013). Inclusive technologies: Tools for helping diverse learners achieve academic success. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.