1. Assistive
Technology

2. What is it?
 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 a child with a
disability.
(U.S. Department, 2014)

3. How can a student use AT in
the school setting?
 Communication
 Perform
academic tasks
 Participate in social and extracurricular
activities
 Move or travel around the school
 Use proper seating and positioning
 Access materials
(The Family Center, n.d)

4. The Law and AT?
According to IDEA 2004;
 Each public agency must ensure that
assistive technology devices or assistive
technology services, or both are made
available to a child with a disability if
required as a part of the child's special
education, related services,
supplementary aids/services and on a
case by case basis in order to receive a
free and public education.

(U.S. Department, 2014)

5. Types of AT
 Low-tech
Examples
 pencil grips
 specialty paper
 highlighting pens and tape
 planners
 Adapted textbooks
 Calculators
 word processors, dictionaries and spell
checkers during examinations
(Technical, n.d.)

6. Types of AT (cont’d)
Mid to Hi-tech Examples
 tape recorders
 talking calculators
 portable keyboards
 Augmentative Communication Devices (AAC)
 reading systems that use a
computer, scanner, and software to read
scanned book pages out loud (see section on
Reading and Optical Character Recognition)
 speech recognition software that allows a
computer to operate by speaking to it (see
section on Writing and Spelling)
(Technical, n.d.)

7. Hearing Impaired AT
 FM
systems
(American Speech and Hearing Association, 2013)
(Lightspeed Technologies, 2013)

8. Hearing Impaired AT
 FM
system
 Miniature radio stations operating on
special frequencies
 Uses a microphone worn by the teacher
and a receiver either connected directly
to a hearing aid or to speakers positioned
by he student.
(American Speech and Hearing Association, 2013)

9. Visually Impaired AT
(Nichols, n.d.)

10. Visually Impaired AT
 CCTV-A
closed-circuit television (CCTV)
system uses a stand-mounted or handheld video camera to project a
magnified image onto a video monitor or
a television (TV) screen" provide enlarged
image of material under camera;
magnification range of 2X to 60X.
(Low Vision Center, 2014)

11. Learning Disability AT
(Rojas, 2014)

12. Learning Disability AT
A
portable word processor is lightweight
device that is easy to transport (e.g., from
classroom to home). It can be helpful to
kids who may have trouble writing by
hand and prefer to use a keyboard. Word
processing allows the user to edit and
correct his written work more efficiently
than doing so by hand.
(Sprayberry & Raskind, 2010)

13. Physical Disability AT
(Assistive Technology, n.d)

14. Physical Disability AT
 Switch
Access – For Individuals with
limited physical access. If an individual
can consistently move one part of their
body- their chin, a finger, a knee, a toe,
their head etc., they can use an adapted
switch to access the computer, an iPad,
an AAC device. Switches can also be
utilized for mobility.
(Assistive Technology, n.d)

15. Tips for teachers
Understand the Student’s Needs
Know the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
 Participate in AT training to learn about the student’s AT.
 Allow the student to practice with a new device using skills that come easily to him
or her, only then moving to more difficult skills. In this way, the student is not both
struggling with the academic content and learning to use a new device at the
same time.
 Be aware that students using AT may require more time to complete instructional
tasks.
 Encourage AT Use
 Learn how to use the student’s AT device(s).
 Incorporate AT into the regular school day.
 Set up the AT in easy-to-access locations in the classroom.
 Familiarize the entire class with the AT and explain why certain students need to use
it.
 Make time for students to become familiar with equipment.
 Assign buddies as needed (e.g., the student may need assistance putting on
headphones).
 Collaborate and Communicate
 Seek support from knowledgeable individuals (e.g., information technology
specialist, other educators, family members).
 If the AT is not working for the student, communicate with the IEP team to consider
new AT options.
(The Iris Center, 2010)
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16. References
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American Speech Language and Hearing Association. (2013) FM Systems. Retrieved on January 23,
2014 from http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/FM-Systems/.
Assistive Technology for Education, LLC (n.d). Examples of Assistive Technology. Retrieved on
January 23, 2014 from http://assistivetechnologyforeducation.com/examples-of-assistivetechnology/.
Lightspeed Technologies. (2013). Applications. Retrieved on January 23, 2014 from
http://www.audiolinks.com/adacompliant.shtml
Nichols, Sharon. (n.d.). Overview of technology for visually impaired and blind students. Texas school
for the blind and visually impaired. Retrieved on January 23, 2014 from
http://tsbvi.edu/resources/1074-overview-of-technology-for-visually-impaired-and-blindstudents.
Rojas, Peter (2014). The AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. Retrieved on January 23, 2014
from http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/.
Sprayberry,, Kristin & Raskind, Marshall. (2010). Portable Word Processors. Retrieved on January
23, 2014 from http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/assistive-technology/961portable-word-processors.gs.
Technical Resource Centre. (n.d.). Assistive technology “low-tech” to “high-tech” considerations.
Retrieved on January 23, 2014, from http://www.nsnet.org/atc/tools/lowtohightech.html
The Low Vision Centers of Indiana. (2013). Low Vision Online Newsletter. Retrieved on January 23,
2014 from http://www.eyeassociates.com/lownews.htm.

17. References
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The Family Center on Technology and Disability. (n.d.). Assistive technology 101. Retrieved on
January 23, 2014 from http://www.fctd.info/resources/tech101.php
The IRIS Center for Training Enhancements. (2010). Assistive Technology: An Overview. Retrieved
on January 23, 2014 from http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/at/.
U.S Department of Education. (2014). Building the Legacy IDEA 2004. Retrieved on January 23,
2014 from http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view.