Assistive Technology By: Michelle Hamby ED505

What is Assistive Technology? According to Wikipedia, Assistive Technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.

Law in Regard to Assistive Technology Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): guaranteed that eligible children and youth with disabilities would have a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) available to them, designed to meet their unique educational needs. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: requires that all electronic and information technologies developed and used by any Federal government agency must be accessible to people with disabilities. continue--

Assistive Technology Act of 1998: The Assistive Technology Act, also known as the “Tech Act” provides funds to states to support three types of programs: the establishment of assistive technology demonstration centers, information centers, equipment loan facilities, referral services, and other consumer-oriented programs; protection and advocacy services to help people with disabilities and their families, as they attempt to access the services for which they are eligible; Federal/state programs to provide low interest loans and other alternative financing options to help people with disabilities purchase needed assistive technology.

Hearing Impaired Hearing Assistive Technology, or HAT as it is commonly referred to, is technology that can help in various listening situations. Hearing assistive technology such as audio loops (or hearing loop), FM, and infrared systems are like binoculars for the ears and work with or without hearing aids. These are assistive listening devices that help get past the obstacles to hearing. Speech-to-Text System: allows the teacher to convert spoken language into written format. Assistive Listening Technology includes hearing aids, amplifiers, captions on TV, and typing telephones.

Seeing Impaired Examples of technology used for the seeing impaired are large-print books, books on tape, magnifiers, talking computer software, and Braillers. Screen reading software reads aloud everything on computer screens, including text, pull-down menus, icons, dialog boxes, and web pages. Screen readers run simultaneously with the computer's operating system and applications.

Learning Disabled Learning disabilities do not go away with time. However, assistive technology can help children with learning disabilities leverage their strengths and work around or compensate for specific learning problems. These supports can be key to helping users become more independent in school and throughout life—on the job and in activities for daily living. Assistive Technology can help aide many types of learning disabilities, listening, math, memory, writing and reading. For example, a student with dyslexia can use a read aloud program to read a book. continue--

Assistive Technology tools that help aide students with learning disabilities are: Audio books allow users to listen to text and are available in a variety of formats, such as audiocassettes, CDs, and MP3 downloads. Electronic math worksheets are software programs that can help a user organize, align, and work through math problems on a computer screen. Talking calculators have a built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol, or operation key a user presses; it also vocalizes the answer to the problem. There are many more programs available for students to meet their needs.

Physically Disabled Speech recognition is assistive software that allows people to control a computer by talking to it. Instead of using a keyboard and a mouse to control the computer, a student speaks instructions into a microphone that is connected to a computer. For students who have severe physical disabilities and cannot use a keyboard, mouse or IntelliKeys, there are devices such as the SmartNav 4. This AT device allows a student to move the mouse by moving his head slightly. A virtual keyboard is on the screen that allows the student to enter text or navigate on the Internet. This device is ideal for students with spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, and other special needs (naturalpoint.com). [11]Another device is the gooseneck switch. It is a switch that allows the student to use a computer with the use of his head. The switch can be used in conjunction with a software program such as Kenax that allows the student to type by simply hitting the switch with his/her head (gokeytech.com, 2007).[12]

References Assistive Technology Devices . Learning Disabilities . Education | PBS Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/strategies-for-learning-disabilities/assistive-technology-devices/ Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview | Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33074 Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities - NCLD. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/assistive- technology-education Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired Student. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/deteacher2b/assistive-technology- for-the-hearing-impaired-student Assistive Technology in Education/Physically Handicapped - Wikibooks, open books for an open world. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Assistive_Technology_in_Education/Physically_Handicapped FCTD | Assistive Technology Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fctd.info/resources/techlaws.php Goose Neck Switch Mounting. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gokeytech.com/goose_neck_switch_mount.htm Hearing Assistive Technology | Hearing Loss Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hearing- assistive-technology Technology Tools for Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://adaptivetech.tcnj.edu/resheet/blind.htm