2. Assistive Technology ED 347 Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

3. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Legal Issues for Disabled Individuals IDEA 97 –Evaluated for the use of assistive or adaptive devices –LRE –IEP ADA –Return to “normal” with assistance

4. Alternative INPUT Devices

5. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Switches Various types of switches Switch vendors Don Johnston, Inc. TASH AbleNet Computability

6. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Alternative Input Methods and Devices Switches Homemade switches Linda Burkhart Mouse devices Pointing device with onscreen keyboard Switch with scanning onscreen keyboard Voice input

7. Switches

8. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Types of Switches Button Plate or tread Toggle Pneumatic Grasp Air cushion Etc…

9. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Big Red AbleNet ($42)AbleNet Button Switch Easy to mount Audible click signals cause-effect link Large colorful surface area Large variety of colors

10. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Why Use Switches? To provide access to toys To teach concepts of cause and effect To allow choice-making, communication To increase specific motor function To provide access to computers

11. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Adaptive Computing Modify the Keyboard Use an Alternative Keyboard Bypass the Keyboard with an Alternative Input Method Voice Pointing Device Switch

12. Modifying the Keyboard

13. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Keyboard Modification Software Accessibility Options Included with Windows 95/98/2000/ME Found in the Control Panel – Accessibility Options Easy Access Included with Macintosh OS

14. Alternative Mouse Devices

15. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Glide Pointer Alps Electric ($69)Alps Electric Similar to touch pad on a laptop

16. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Cruise Cat Cirque Corporation ($89)Cirque Corporation Minimal finger movement to activate Glide pad Internet Connections

17. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Mini Thumball Addison ($39) Very small – compared to quarter Able to use with one finger Minimal movement required

18. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Marble Mouse Logitech ($39)Logitech Track ball – right or left Super sensitive to touch Serial or PS/2

19. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Joystick SAM (Switch Adapted Mouse) KM30 ($164)SAM Can set cursor speed, can drag, click buttons

20. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Touch Window Edmark ($395 – 425)Edmark Touch this screen to select and move objects Pull down menus Draw graphics.

21. Portable Keyboard

22. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University AlphaSmart AlphaSmart ($299)AlphaSmart Portable word processor with a built-in LCD screen Full size keyboard Transfers text to computer via cable Less than 2 lbs.

23. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University DreamWriter DreamWriter ($295)DreamWriter Portable word processor with built-in LCD screen 3.5” floppy disk for saving data or cable transfer of data Spell & Grammar Checker Full size keyboard Sound

24. On Screen Keyboards

25. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University WiVik (Window Visual Keyboard) Prenke Romich Co. ($290-$495)Prenke Romich Co. Moveable, resizable on-screen keyboard Text can be selected using a large variety of devices (mice, trackballs, touch screens, head pointing devices) Word prediction

26. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Pointing Device with Onscreen Keyboard Mouse Joystick Trackball Touch Window InfraRed Beam Headmouse Mouth stick, Pointing stick Usually pointing devices plug into mouse port

27. One Handed Keyboards

28. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Dvorak Dvorak International ($0)Dvorak International Onscreen keyboard New layout for keyboard Generally an option in Accessibility Options in Operating System

29. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Half-QWERTY Matias Corporation ($395)Matias Corporation New layout for the keyboard Left or Right layouts

30. Alternative Keyboards

31. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Big Keys Greystone Digital ($169)Greystone Digital Mac or PC version Large keys / multicolored keys Alphabet or QWERTY arrangement No punctuation marks/Caps

32. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University WinMini or TASH Mini Keyboard Tash International Small keyboard Connects to keyboard Has mouse functions Key guard

33. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Bat Personal Keyboard Info Grip ($199)Info Grip Single handed keyboard Right or Left models Mac or PC

34. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Intellikeys IntelliTools ($395)IntelliTools $25 for either a Mac or PC cable so it can be used with a Mac and a PC Keyboard connects to a computer via keyboard port Pre or self-made overlays Able to connect 2 switches to the computer via keyboard

35. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Headmaster Plus Prenke Romich Co. ($1195)Prenke Romich Co. Head pointing system Full mouse control Puff switch or switch activated

36. Software Applications

37. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Software Applications Speech Capabilities/Screen Reader JAWS (PC) Write:Outloud (Mac) Word Prediction WiVik (PC) Co:Writer (Mac) Screen Enlargement Zoomtext (PC) CloseView (Mac)

38. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Jaws Freedom Scientific ($795)Freedom Scientific Screen Reader Program Improves productivity level for the blind/visually impaired individual Automatically reads the full screen including dialog boxes, pop up menus, etc.

39. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University ZoomText Extra Level 2 Ai Squared ($795) Integrated magnifier and screen reader for Windows Able to speak all Window components (with use of sound card) Can magnify screen from 1x to 16x

40. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Communication methods Voice Gestures Body language Eye blinks Communication boards Electronic AAC devices Signing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

41. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Selecting an Electronic AAC Device Vocabulary System Pictures Codes Symbols (MinSpeak, PicSyms, Blissymbols)

42. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Selecting an Electronic (High-Tech) AAC Device Output Method Speech Visual display Hard copy

43. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University BigMack AbleNet ($86)AbleNet Touch switch Direct selection Single recordable message

44. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University WalkerTalker Prentke Romich Co. 16 programmable squares Wear around your waist Recorded voice

45. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Ultimate 8 Tash International Eight recordable squares Each message up to 4 seconds each

46. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Liberator Prentke Romich Co. ($7345-8575)Prentke Romich Co. Direct select or scanning Uses minspeak -- pictures represent words DECtalk speech Programmable

47. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Evaluation for AT devices Get a good understanding of the student and their needs Know the abilities of the students – physically and mentally Start with low end devices and work up the ladder Know what the USER wants and is willing to use

48. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Evaluation for AT devices Listen to the parents, teachers and care providers Train the user, parents, teachers and all providing assistance and working with the AT device Look at cost Look at all options available Look at pros and cons of the device

49. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Evaluation for AT devices Remember the feelings, desires, wishes, reservations of the user. They are the ones who will be using the device.

50. Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University Any Questions?