2. Assistive Technology Russell Grayson EDUC 504 Summer 2006

3. What is Assistive Technology Assistive Technology (AT) is a term that applies to assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices to help people use technology in their daily lives according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_tech nology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_tech nology

4. AT allows people to accomplish tasks that were previously difficult or not possible independently. Additional technology must be developed to help people with disabilities to use the emerging technology. This is where Assistive Technology comes into play, often becoming the preferred method if not the standard for all users.

5. Table 1. Number of persons using assistive technology devices by age of person and type of device: United States, 1994 Assistive Device All ages 44 years and under 45-64 years 65 years and over Number in thousands Vision devices Any vision device**527123135268 Telescopic lenses158404970 Braille59*28*23*8 Readers68*15*1439 White cane130*354847 Computer equipment*34*19*8*7 Other vision technology2775176151 * Figure does not meet standard of reliability or precision. ** Numbers do not add to these totals because categories are not mutually exclusive; a person could be counted more than once for any device type.

6. Software Assistive Technology assistive technology that is in the form of computer programs and does not require the use of additional peripherals (although some may interact better with additional hardware)

7. Microsoft Computers using Windows 95 and onward have free assistive technology already installed; just not utilized, a full list of available resources and directions to access them can be seen at the Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/ windowsxp/default.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/ windowsxp/default.aspx

9. Microsoft continued If an internet connection is not available; Windows help can be accessed by Start / Help and Support / Accessibility.

11. Screen readers Screen readers are programs that will use a voice program to “read” the text to the user Some programs will not only read Word, e- mail, and web pages, but will translate the selected text into 8 different languages Others will read CD/DVD programs or assist in writing and balancing a checkbook

12. Speech to Text Speech to Text programs will transcribe spoken English (other languages are available) into typed documents, email, and internet

13. Hardware Assistive Technology a peripheral for the computer. It may be an external part of the computer that the user interfaces with, or it may be internal equipment such as additional memory or updated circuit boards to accommodate the minimum requirements for software

14. Trackballs A type of input device that acts as a mouse. It looks like a mouse that is upside down so the user may move the cursor by manipulating the ball. Often the buttons are on the sides and are oversized, and can be color coded Are often sought after by typical users

15. Touch screens specialized hardware device that allows the user to touch a clear screen that is over the computer monitor and works like a mouse User’s finger affects the actions. Especially advantageous for helping people with cognitive delays (concrete developmental stage) or eye-hand coordination difficulties Most typical users come to expect touch screens

16. Text readers Word readers – scan a word, speak the word and offer definitions of the word Whole page readers – Operates like a photocopier, whole page is scanned and them dictated via a speaker or headphones. Depending upon type of equipment, text may be scanned into a computer and imported into Word with an Optical Character Reader Depending upon type of equipment, text may be scanned into a computer and imported into Word with an Optical Character Reader

17. Additional scanning benefits If using a scanner to import printed text to the computer, images may also be scanned using an image format. Scanned image

18. Switches Oversized buttons that can be configured to do a particular function, and are often set up in multiples to reduce the limiting factor of a single button Usually switches are used for people with severe physical or cognitive difficulties

19. Conclusion Regardless of the student, there is a form of assistive technology that will benefit them. With the evolution of users and availability of these devices, assistive technology will become commonplace and ultimately universal design to help all students Video Conclusion

20. Additional Resources Research Paper Internet Address Book Research Excerpts Audio Introduction Video Scanned OCR document Scanned Image

21. Questions