ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MELISSA KNIGHT – ED 505

According to the U.S. Assistive Technology Act of 2004, an assistive technology device can be defined as: “Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.” (Retrieved from:

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY Includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for students with disabilities. Any device or service that helps a student with a disability accomplish his or her IEP goals while participating in the general education classroom. Supports greater independence by creating the opportunity for a disabled student to carry out tasks that would otherwise be impossible or extremely difficult to accomplish.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES Communicate Enable students to more readily: Complete academic tasks Engage in social and/or extracurricular activities Access classroom materials Move about the school

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES Improve students’ functional performance Improve activity performance Provide environmental modifications Reduce or eliminate restriction to participation Prosthetic legs, cochlear implants, and electronic implants for bladder control Voice entry systems, stair-climbing wheelchairs, and communication boards Automatic door openers, level entrances, and accessible bathrooms

According to the U.S. Assistive Technology Act of 2004, an assistive technology service can be defined as: “any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.” (Retrieved from:

ASSISTIVE SERVICES According to IDEA 2004, the term assistive services includes: (a)The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment; (a)Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities; (a)Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices; (a)Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs; (a)Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child’s family; and (a)Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of that child. (Retrieved from:

LAWS REGARDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) requires the IEP team to consider the assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities. The IEP team must determine whether any assistive technology devices and services are needed for the student to accomplish the goals and objectives established in the student’s IEP. Although schools are not required to follow a federally established plan regarding assistive technology, the law does require schools to use assistive technology devices and services to maximize accessibility for children with disabilities.

LAWS REGARDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY If the IEP team concludes that a child would benefit from assistive technology devices and/or services, the school district is responsible for providing the devices and services. Schools are not allowed to use lack of availability or cost as an excuse to not provide services. IDEA 2004 also requires schools to provide assistive technology training for teachers, the student, and the student’s family. For more information regarding the laws surrounding assistive technology and services, please visit

V V - TALKER Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired Student: Consists of a screen attached to a wand. Helps students learn the correct modulation and pronunciation by providing feedback regarding vocal vibrations. Created to assist deaf children in learning to speak and communicate effectively by allowing them to hear the sounds they make.

SCI- PLUS 300 CALCULATOR Assistive Technology for the Visually Impaired Student: Allows visually impaired students to perform scientific, statistical, and trigonometric calculations and fractions on a portable calculator. The Sci-Plus 300 calculator is a large display calculator with speech output that allows a student to check the accuracy of the keys he/she enters.

READING PEN2 PERSONAL READING TUTOR Assistive Technology for the Learning Disabled Student: Intended to help students who have reading difficulties, learning disabilities, or dyslexia. Designed to improve reading fluency and comprehension. The ReadingPen2 is portable scanning device. Allows a student to scan the text, hear the text read aloud, hear the text spelled aloud, and obtain definitions and correct pronunciation.

INTELLITOOLS’ INTELLIKEYS Assistive Technology for the Physically Disabled Student: Provides an alternative to the standard keyboard, allowing students with physical disabilities to use the computer independently. Keys are customizable and can be easily transformed by placing different overlays onto the touch sensitive area. IntelliKeys is a flat, touch-sensitive device.

REFERENCES Assistive Technology. (2014). Wrightslaw. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from Cook, A. M., & Gray, D. B. (2014). Assistive Technology. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from IntelliKeys. (2014). Ablenet. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from Technology/IntelliTools/IntelliKeys-USB Reading Pen2 Portable Reading Tutor. (2013). Enable Mart: Empowering your future. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from Sci-Plus 300 Large Display Talking Scientific Calculator. (2013). Enable Mart: Empowering your future. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive Technology: An Overview. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from US Department of Education. (2014). IDEA Retrieved October 26, 2014, from VV-Talker. Tuvie-design of the future. Retrieved October 26, 2014 from