1. INTEGRATING
TECHNOLOGY
SESSION 7
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY & AUGMENTATIVE
COMMUNICATION
IPAD

2. Agenda
Project questions?
Assistive Technology and Augmentative
Communication
iPad

3. Universal Design for
Learning
• UDL based on neuroscience
• each principle connects to key area of brain
• Multiple Means of Representation
• To increase recognition
• How a teacher prepares

4. UDL
• Multiple Means of Expression
• To expand strategic output
• Teacher plans for how students will express
learning
• Multiple Means of Engagement
• To enhance involvement in learning
• How do we get students connected?

5. Assistive Technology
• Like RTI Technology has levels too
• Level 1 - For everyone
• Level 2 - Greater access
• Level 3 - Assistive support

6. AT
• Allows manipulation and control of format
• Offers alternatives for access
• Supports multi-sensory instruction
• Supports greater personal independence
• Educational technology & assistive technology are
a continuum of access to learning.

7. Accessible Instructional
Materials
• Accessible Instructional Materials
• Students have a right to the same text
• Publishers are supposed to produce
digital forms
• CAST has a center for AIM

8. Important Questions...
• What does the student need to do to participate in
the classroom and achieve his/her IEP goals?
• What specifically is the student having difficulty with?
• What else has been tried?
• What will be the the criteria for determining the
student’s success?
• Who will be responsible for training, monitoring,
documenting, and reviewing the AT plan?

9. AT
• All students with a 504 or an IEP are eligible
• Assistive Technology has to be considered
• Not all qualify
• IEP is written first, then look at questions

10. SETT Framework
• S - Student First
• E - Environment
• T - Task
• T - Tool
• Joy Zabala - SETT Framework

11. the Student
• What does the student need to do?
• What are the student’s special needs?
• What are the student’s current abilities?

12. Environment
• What materials and equipment are currently
available in the environment?
• What is the physical arrangement?
• What is the instructional arrangement?
• Are there likely to be changes?
• Color is a powerful tool

13. Task
• What activities take place in the environment?
• What are the critical elements of the activities?
• How might technology support the student’s active
participation in those activities?

14. Tools
• FINAL step
• What no tech, low tech, and high tech options
should be considered when developing a system
for a student with these needs and abilities doing
these tasks in these environments?
• What strategies might be used to invite increased
student performance?
• How might these tools be tried out with the student
in the environment?

15. TechAccess
• Fact Sheets

16. The DESE
• The Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education has awesome links to information,
resources and grants.
• Includes:
• CAST - Center for Applied Special Technology
• Easter Seals - allows teachers to try out
technology

17. Mass Match
• MassMatch - initiative to get assistive
technology to people who need it
• FREE to borrow from ATRC Assistive
Technology Regional Centers.

18. National Center to Improve
Practice in Special Education
• NCIP - through technology, media and materials
• take a look

19. Accessibility in the Classroom
• Accessibility features in Microsoft products
• Includes tutorials

20. UDL Toolkit
• UDL toolkit wiki
• Please spend some time looking at the
resources:
• graphic organizers
• literacy
• study skills
• math
• writing

21. National Center on UDL
• National Center
• Examples & Resources
• Every principle is linked to resources &
tools

22. Lauren Costa’s
Presentation

23. Assistive Technology
in a Severe Special Education Classroom
LAUREN COSTA, M.ED, LICSW

24. Definition of Assistive
Technology
“Assistive technology device means 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 the
functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
The term does not include a medical device that is
surgically implanted, or the replacement of that
device.”
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

25. Types of Assistive Technology Used
Positioning and Mobility
Communication
Sensory Integration
Leisure/Access to the Environment
Reading
Writing

26. Assistive Technology – Positioning
and Mobility
Orthotics
Wheelchairs
Walkers & Gait Trainers
Standers
Bathroom Chairs
Recreational Seating

27. Orthotics
Orthosis: a brace that supports any part of the body through
any of the following means:
Helps eliminate pain or further injury through immobilization
Supports non-functional parts of the body
Controls the motion of a functional body part
Common Orthotics
AFO
Body Jacket

28. “AFO”
Picture & Information Provided by: http://www.eagleorthopaedics.com/ortho.html

29. “Body Jacket”
TLSO Brace – Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis
Commonly used with children who have curvature in
the spine
Halts progression of scoliosis by correcting posture
by supporting the shoulders, back and abdomen
Picture Provided by:
http://reflectionsonthejourneyhome.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

30. Wheelchairs
Promotion of Independence
Things to consider:
Classroom layout
Safety navigating classroom &
hallway
Picture Provided by:
http://wheelchairassistance.com/power-wheelchair/head-
controlled-power-wheelchair.php

31. Walkers & Gait Trainers
Walkers
Individualized support
Child uses legs to hold their weight
Gait Trainers
Equipment holds child’s weight so that child may use legs
Opportunity to move using feet
Seat, harness & accessory supports
Picture Provided By: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-pacer-medium.html

32. Standers
Academic Benefits
Access materials
Social Benefits
Same level as peers
Physical Benefits
Strong bones
Increased flexibility
Decreases tension & constipation
Improves breathing & digestion
Picture and Information Provided by: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/standers.html

33. Toileting Systems
Things to consider:
Storage
Increased time for toileting needs
Privacy Concerns
Picture Provided by: http://tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-small-toilet-system-2.html

34. Assistive Technology –
Communication Aids
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC Devices & Methodologies
Communication Aids – Picture Exchange
Communication System (PECS)
Dynamic Displays
Auditory Scanning
Facilitated Communication

35. Definition of Augmentative &
Alternative Communication (AAC)
“Methods of communication other than oral speech
that enhance or replace conventional forms of
expressive and receptive communication to
facilitate interaction by and with persons with
disabilities who are nonverbal or have limited
speech”
MA Educator Licensure and Preparation Program

36. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Developed in 1985 by Andrew S. Bondy, Ph.D. & Lori Frost,
M.S., CCC/SLP
Intervention for individuals with autism and related
developmental disabilities
Created for families, resident care providers & educators so that
it may be used in a range of settings
Based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior
Utilizes prompting & reinforcement strategies
Encourages independent communication

37. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
The Base Elements of PECS
Functional Activities
Skills & activities that lead to independence
Powerful Reinforcers
Powerful motivation that drives learning
Functional Communications
Skills that are useful now & in the future
Contextually Inappropriate Behaviors
Focus on functionally equivalent alternative behaviors

38. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
How to Communicate
Goal: Approach people to initiate communication
Teach 3 Step Sequence: Pick up, reach, release
One picture at a time (no discrimination)
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP48lxnNdHM

39. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
2. Distance & Persistance
Communication Partner moves away from student
One picture taught
Variety of people, activities, locations, reinforcers
involved
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr3lQXNEcps

40. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
3. Picture Discrimination
3a.Motivation to use correct picture = getting
desired item & avoiding undesired item
Reinforce at first indication of choice
3b. Equally reinforcing items with
correspondence checks

41. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
4.Building Sentences
“I want” + reinforcer picture put on sentence
strip
Entire strip given to communication partner

42. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
5. Answering “What do you want?”
Leads to commenting
Maintain spontaneity

43. Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Six Phases of PECS
6. Commenting
Answering “comment” questions: “What do you
see/have/hear/fee?”
Discriminating between commenting and
requesting
Maintain spontaneity

44. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
Research-based Benefits
Facilitates acquisition of speech
Increases social skills during play
Improvements in behavior management concerns
Can be used with peers & siblings
System can be implemented in schools and other
environments

45. Dynamic Displays
User selects from an array of categories of pictures for the
communication of messages, ideas, wishes, comments,
needs, etc.
Touch screens allow user to access a large amount of
vocabulary in one device
Voice output available
Unlike PECS, the user communicates through display rather
than exchange

46. Dynamic Displays - GoTalk
Determine communication needs, create sheets &
record messages
Helpful for students with limited fine motor skills

47. Dynamic Displays - DynaVox

48. Two Successful DynaVox Users
Sara Pyszka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlC8G5nNE7k
Augie Nieto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDKFNqrmtZ4

49. Auditory Scanning
Form of dynamic display
Provides an oral choice from which the communicator
can select a topic, letter, etc.
Used for those who cannot access tangible symbols,
pictures, or a voice output communication device
Picture Provided By: http://mashley.net/blog.php?readpost=10

50. Assisted Auditory Scanning
Video of Partner Assisted Auditory Scanning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLb6-Oi3uR0

51. NAME
PROJECT
DATE CLIENT
DATE
Eye Gaze Boards
 INDIVIDUAL INDICATES SYMBOL THEY WANT USING “EYE POINTING”
 A COMMUNICATION PARTNER WATCHES AND INTERPRETS
 A HOLE OR CLEAR BOARD ALLOWS THE COMMUNICATION PARTNER TO WATCH THE INDIVIDUAL’S
EYES

52. Date Location Communication
Partner
Communication
Breakdown
Resolved? How?
Communication Needs Assessments

53. Communication Needs Assessments
Questions to Ask
How frequently is the breakdown occurring?
Who, What, Where, When, Why?
How can we help the individual communicate?
Are there systems already in place that we can
add to?

54. How To Create Communication Aids
1. Determine the vocabulary needed to engage in
communication exchange (activity, lesson, social
situation, etc.)
2. Simplify vocabulary as needed
3. Provide visual supports as needed
4. Introduce, review, and practice new vocabulary
in context

55. Facilitated Communication (FC) /
Supported Typing
Individual uses pointing (pictures, letters, objects) or
typing (keyboard) to express him/herself
Involved communication partner for emotional
encouragement, behavior support, and physical
support to assist individual in developing
independence
Video of Tim Chan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279h9QJ9ptw

56. Assistive Technology – Sensory
Integration
Providing students with the opportunity to experience the
world in a new way
Therapy balls
Squishy items (dog toys)
Stretches
Video about Multisensory Room & Therapeutic Listening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ip_ezmqfGo&feature=
related

57. Assistive Technology –
Leisure/Access to the Environment
Switches
Video about Switch Use
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0CVVnw2s94&feature
=related
Picture Provided By:
http://www.thesensorycompany.co.uk/catalog/ProductDetail
s.aspx?productID=64

58. Resources
PECS Website: http://www.pecs.com/
DynaVox Website:
http://www.dynavoxtech.com/default.aspx?s_kwcid=
TC|16134|dynavox||S|e|15960397510&gclid=CKvnu-
OrgLECFUITNAodITS-Aw
Syracuse University – Supported Typing:
http://soe.syr.edu/centers_institutes/institute_commu
nication_inclusion/what_is_supported_typing/default.
aspx

59. Resources Continued
Article about Therapy Balls:
http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-sitting-ball-helps-
kids-focus-and-do-better-school

60. iPad - a game changer
FreeTech4Teachers
Steve Jobs & Apps for Autism
60 Minutes
Links
iPodsibilities
Teaching Learners with Special Needs
Free Speech app

61. iPad
a blog post how iPad is used in a special education
classroom
A Blog Post listing many apps
Apps Store has Special Education section
and our friend Cybrary man’s list
A handout for using iPad in the Special Education
Classroom

62. More on the iPad
Live Binders on iPad in Schools - a tremendous
amount of material
Mr. G Blog iPads, Web tools, math education
a CNN report
App Smackdown
iPad Apps in School great site by Richard Byrne

63. Even more on the iPad
ipads in the classroom - Kathy Schrock
Moms with apps blog
Smart Apps for Kids
my Pinterest board on iPad
iPodsibilities
blog, apps review, resources