1. Assistive Technology San Francisco Region Health and Wellness Conference May 10-12, 2006

2. 2 Assistive Technology WHAT? Any item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a student with a disability. EXAMPLES: –Low Tech (eye glasses, magnifier, color coded items, graphic organizers, grab bars…) –Mid Tech (real time captioning, modified utensils, screen modification software, Braille materials…) –High Tech (text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, FM or Loop system, powered wheelchair, remote controlled appliances, )

3. 3 Accessibility  Learning Environment –Curriculum, materials, teaching methods, assessments, participation, progress …  Training Environment –Curriculum, materials, teaching methods, assessments, participation, progress …  Working Environment –Mobility, skills needed, tasks performed  Living Environment –Mobility, tasks/skills needed for independence

4. 4 Overview of Presentation  Rationale for Assistive Technology  Demonstration of low, mid, and high tech  Ideas from the audience  Resources

5. 5 Why Assistive Tech?  Increased independence  Often times it is a low cost solution to access issues  Increased learning & mastery  Provides “just in time” solutions  Provides multi-modal teaching and learning opportunities

6. 6 Demonstration  Low tech –Magnifiers, fraction ruler, colored overlays, graphic organizers, calculator, cassette recorders, pencil grips  Mid tech –Talking tape measure, 5-function wall scanner, electronic spell checker, reading pen, writing templates, talking word processor  High tech –Reading programs, organizational software, text- reader programs, voice recognition software…

7. 7 Ideas from the Audience…  What have you tried?

8. 8 Resources  Job Accommodation Network (JAN)  http://www.closingthegap.com/ = Searchable database of AT resources http://www.closingthegap.com/  http://trace.wisc.edu/ = Links to adaptive freeware and shareware http://trace.wisc.edu/  http://www.cast.org/ = Center for Applied Special Technology http://www.cast.org/  www.texthelp.com = text-reader program (demonstrated) www.texthelp.com

9. 9 Staff Resources  Humanitas, Michelle Day - disability program technical assistance michelle.day@humanitas.com ormichelle.day@humanitas.com 301-608-3290 ext 409  TCE, Stephanie Bradley - learning disabilities technical assistance sbradley@tcedigital.com or 1-877-316-0560sbradley@tcedigital.com  Humanitas, Diane Fairchild – Learning Disabilities Consultant fairchildd@siatech.org or fairchildd@siatech.org 760-594-6194  SIATech, Carole Fisher – ELL Coordinator fisherca@siatech.orgfisherca@siatech.org or 858-449-8174