1. ED 505 Melanie Shotts March 28, 2015
Assistive Technology
ED 505
Melanie Shotts
March 28, 2015

2. What is Assistive Technology?

3. Assistive technology is any piece of equipment, tool, device, material, or service that can be used to help a student succeed in the classroom.

4. Assistive Technology can help students in the classroom to:
Communicate with teachers and peers
Complete assignments
Access materials
Increase mobility
Participate in the classroom
Participate in extracurricular programs

5. Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA ’04)

6. IDEA defines assistive technology as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child and specifically excludes a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device.”

7. Assistive Technology can be as simple as a rubber pencil grip or a highlighter marker to as complex as a computerized, voice controlled wheelchair.

8. Examples
Low tech Mid Tech
High Tech

9. Assistive Technology for the Hearing Impaired
Audio or Hearing Loop
Works with the hearing aid…you just flip the telecoil switch in the hearing aid or cochlear implant to amplify sound
Students are able to hear instruction from the teacher, as well as, other conversations/ happenings in the classroom
Works in any environment that has the universal magnetic signal
No additional equipment or receivers are needed

11. Assistive Technology for the Seeing Impaired
Screen Readers
Supports the blind and visually impaired computer user by reading the text aloud
Gives students with limited or no vision the ability to use computer software in the classroom
Thunder is an option of free talking software for individuals with little or no sight.
It is available for download on Windows 7, Vista, and XP in several different languages.

12. Examples of Screen Readers

13. Technology for the Learning Impaired
Talking Calculator
Assist students who struggle with math skills
Built-in speech synthesizer to read aloud numbers, symbols, or operations pressed
Auditory feedback to check accuracy of keys pressed

14. Assistive Technology for the Physically Impaired
Alternative Mouse
Trackballs
Joystick
Mouse control using a switch & body part movement
Mouse control using head movement
Mouse control using eye movement
Mouse control using sip/puff mouth actions
Enables students with limited hand use, the ability to use other movements/body parts to independently use computer software for instruction/remediation

15. Examples

16. References
Assistive technology basics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from impairments.asp Frequent Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from Hearing Assistive Technology | Hearing Loss Association of America. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from

17. n. d. ). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www. gatfl
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18. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www. screenreader
 (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from Technology.jpg
 Overview of Assistive Technology for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
Tools for Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from