2. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

3. WHAT IS IT? Assistive Technology is defined in the Technology-Related Assistance Act (Tech Act) as "any item piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" (Tech Act, 1988).

4. ITS PURPOSE The purpose of AT is to aid people with disabilities in everyday activities, making them more accessible and easier to perform.

5. THE LAW  IDEA 2004 requires IEP teams to consider the assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities. (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(3)(B)(v))  IDEA 2004 also requires schools to provide assistive technology training for the teachers, child, and family. (20 U.S.C. 1400(2)(E) & (F))

6. There are several key pieces of federal legislation that are relevant to the discussion of assistive technology. Americans with Disabilities Act National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard No Child Left Behind Office of Special Education Programs Letters of Interpretation Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

7. cochlear implants can provide sound for people with profound hearing impairments. They enable the wearer to hear sounds previously indistinguishable by bypassing the damaged part of the inner ear and stimulating the healthy nerves. HEARING IMPAIRED

8. SEEING IMPAIRED For students with low vision who benefit from large print, a video magnifier (sometimes referred to as a CCTV,) may provide the best access to diagrams, graphs, maps, math, forms and other print material not stored on a computer. Most are stand-alone devices with a moveable table, a camera with a zoom lens, and a monitor There are also portable models that use hand-held cameras or cameras that can use a TV screen as the monitor.

9. Electronic math worksheets are software programs that can help a user organize, align, and work through math problems on a computer screen. Numbers that appear onscreen can also be read aloud via a speech synthesizer. This may be helpful to people who have trouble aligning math problems with pencil and paper. LEARNING DISABLED

10. The eye tracking device follows the movement of the eyes and allows the person to navigate through the web with only eye movements. PHYSICALLY DISABLED

11. REFERENCES Sharon Hauss, Family Support Specialist. Third edition©2004 What is Assistive Technology?. A Basic Guide for Individuals with Disabilities and Their, Families. Retrieved from http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/?pageId=2504http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/?pageId=2504 Assistive Technology (2014) retrieved from http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm sarah irvine belson. The special ed wiki.retrieved from http://sped.wikidot.com/assistive- technology-for-students-with-hearing-impairmentshttp://sped.wikidot.com/assistive- technology-for-students-with-hearing-impairments 2000 - 2005 Assistive Technology Training Online Project.retrieved from http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Populations/LowVision/tools.php http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Populations/LowVision/tools.php Kristin Stanberry, Marshall H. Raskind.Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities: An Overview.retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities- overview http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities- overview General Medical Council 2015. Assistive technologies for people with physical impairments.retrieved from http://www.gmc- uk.org/accessibility/assistive_technologies/physical_impairments.asp