1. A Call for Help
Apryl Castetter

3. a broad term that describes a number of
disorders which affect an individual’s posture,
balance and body movement
 notcaused by problems with the muscles or
nerves, but rather with the brain’s ability to
adequately control the body

4.  Cerebral
palsy is classified by the area of brain
damage and challenge of body movement
 Cerebral palsy is classified into four categories:
Spastic Athetoid
What to expect from
our student
Ataxic Mixed

5.  Most common form of
cerebral palsy
 Damage occurs in the
outer layer of the brain,
cerebral cortex
 Characterized by:
• difficult or stiff movements
• stiffened muscles
• decrease in joint range of
movement

6.  Brain damage occurs in
the cerebellum or basal
ganglia
 Characterized by:
• involuntary movements
 muscles rapidly change from
floppy to tense in a way that
cannot be controlled
• Speech and communication
difficulties
 difficulty controlling tongue,
breathing, and vocal cords

7.  Braindamage occurs to
the cerebellum
 Characterized by:
• Low muscle tone
• Poor coordination
 Balance
 Depth perception
• tremors

8.  Based on the information given we can assume that our
student has Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
 A student with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy can exhibit:
• involuntary movements
• weak or tight muscle tone
• trouble walking or sitting
• speech and communication difficulties
• normal intelligence
 Our student’s has their biggest struggle with speech
and communication difficulties

9.  In the 1980’s and 90’s, the civil and education rights
of individuals with disabilities became an important
topic for discussion
 As it was found that assistive technology had the
potential to provide opportunities for increased
independence and participation in all of life's
activities, the government recognized this and passed
several laws in its favor

10.  Assistivetechnology legislation can be found
in the following:
• Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with
Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act)
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

11.  The Tech Act:
• Provides federal funds to states to develop training for
assistive technology devices and services
• First defined assistive technology devices and services
• Promoted the availability and quality of assistive
technology devices and services to all individuals
including children

12.  The Assistive Technology Act of 1998:
• Affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be
used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities
• Extends the funding of the fifty states and six
territories to develop permanent, comprehensive,
statewide programs of technology related assistance

13.  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
• Outlined school district’s responsibility to provide assistive
technology to students with disabilities
• Each public agency shall ensure that assistive technology devices or
services or both are made available to a child with a disability if
required as part of the child‘s special education services
• A school district, as a public agency, must ensure that both assistive
technology devices and services are provided if "required" for the
student to receive a free, appropriate public education (FAPE)
• A school district is also required to ensure both assistive technology
devices and services if it is cited as required or need in the student’s
individualized education plan (IEP)

14.  To date the following statements reflect assistive technology
use by students with disabilities:
• It is the school district's responsibility (as a public agency) to evaluate, select,
acquire and train students and significant personnel in the use of assistive
technology devices
• Assistive technology devices needed by a student in multiple environments in
order to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) must be
provided
• Assistive technology must be identified on a case-by-case basis
• Assistive technology must be provided at no cost to student's parents

16.  Assistive technology devices are tools, equipment, or
services that are designed to compensate for, or enhance
the function of some physical or mental ability that is
impaired.
 For our student we need a resource that will compensate
and enhance his or her communication skills
 There are several resources available to those with a lack of
communication skills due to cerebral palsy, such as:
 Tango! Communication Device
 BIGmack Switches
 DynaWrite
 V and VMax
 MS Office Accessibility Features
 Natural Reader Text to Speech
 TextSpeak Speech Generator
For more information on each resource feel free to visit the resource ssite, which
has been included via interactive link

17. • The best resource for our student is an Augmentative and Alternative
Communication (AAC) device
•AAC devices allow individuals with severe communication disabilities to participate
more fully in interpersonal interaction, learning, education, community activities,
employment, and so on
•I believe that the use of an ACC device is the best for our setting because it not only
allows the student to participate with more ease and new experiences but also gives
the student a strong sense of independence
If Funding is a Concern If Funding is not a Concern

18.  TextSpeak text-to-speech
keyboard converts text to
voice while you type
I believe that this resource is
the most beneficial if
funding is a concern
because it addresses the
student’s needs
adequately without
cutting out needed The TextSpeak text-to-speech keyboard
features to reduce the costs $529.00 before tax and shipping and
price handling—this price is school-budget
friendly.
For more information about the TextSpeak click the
picture above

19.  The DynaVox V and VMax are for all age
ranges, cognitive abilities, and skill levels
 V and VMax offer a complete
communication and interaction system for
individuals with communication difficulties
I believe that the DynaVox V is the best option
for our setting if funding is not a concern.
The DynaVox V combines the power of a
personal computer with the most
advanced AAC technology. This For more information on the DynaVox V click on the picture above
combination gives the student a
customizable system that gives more
flexibility and freedom than ever before. The DynaVox V costs $7,280.00 before tax and
• Message composition and “Speak” shipping and handling. At first glance this
function price is not school budget friendly, but that is
• E-mail and text messaging not true.
• Microsoft XP software
• Wireless internet capability
• Interactive textbook capability (eBook)

20.  Medicare, state medical  Some grants available for
assistance programs technology based needs include:
(Medicaid), private • SMART GRANTS
insurance, and school  Adopt-A-Classroom Grant
districts typically pay for the  National Education
Association’s Foundation for
majority of device costs the Improvement of
Education Innovation Grants
• Assistive Technology State
 School districts can choose Grant Program
to use funding directly from
 With a combination of school funding both
their budget or can request regular budgeting and grants—assistive
assistance through grants technology should be easy to obtain

21.  http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/
 http://www.dynavoxtech.com/default.aspx