Assistive Technology Essay

An assistive technology device can be an item, software system, or piece of equipment used to increase, improve, or maintain the functional capabilities of a student with disabilities. It can help a person with a disability complete tasks they need to perform on a daily basis. Assistive technology services serve to directly assist students with disabilities in the selection or use of an assistive technology device. For some students with disabilities, assistive technology is important because they would not be able to benefit form their educational program. Assistive technology is a part of the Individualized Education Plan for each student. The educational team for the student must ask if there is a device that will improve their functional capabilities. If the educational team discovers that the child could benefit from a device that fits that description, the school district is required to provide the service along with training to use the device (Lewis, 1998).

In this artifact, I researched for alternative technological tool(see Assistive technology.doc) for students with disabilities to represent how technology could be a great assistance for them. This assignment represents how technology could be used by all students no matter what they need. Therefore, in this assignment, I looked for tools and ways to implement access to technology resources for students who have neuromuscular difficulties, and/or difficulties of counting with her finger to show that there are varieties of technological tool for all the needs.

In the Overview of Assistive Technology and Implementation Video by Margina Busby, she gives a lecture on what assistive technology is and how it can be used in the classroom. I learned that assistive technology is “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 capabilities of individuals with disabilities.” Some examples of assisted technology are calculators, pencil grips, pocket dictionaries, communication systems (with or without voice output), adapted textbooks, and modified utensils. It is interesting to see all of the different forms of assistive technology that can be used in the classroom. I am currently taking a class

Assistive Technology: using devises whether they are electronic or not, to aid a child with disabilities to learn more efficiently. Examples: hearing aids, recorders, computers, etc.

This week we read about the history of assistive technology and assistive technology. In addition, we read about the reauthorization of IDEA 1997 and how it changed the individual educational plan (IEP) by requiring that IEP teams consider assistive technology for all students with IEPs. (Grand Canyon University, n.d. Lecture 1) Initially, I thought that I had limited experience with assistive technology. It became clear to me this week through the readings, that many accommodations and methods I have used in the classroom, are actually a form of assistive technology. I am speaking of the low- tech tools, for examples, pencil grips, paper holders, sticky notes and reading guide to name a few. (Dell, Newton, Petroff, 2012, p.6.) In addition,

Living and learning with assistive technologies (AT) for disabled people is allowing them to lead virtually normal lives. Assistive technology in action videos I have recently watched introduced me to 3 people who are being assisted by this cutting edge technology.

Students with intellectual disabilities present a distinctive educational challenge and need assistance achieving their academic needs (Luckasson & Schalock, 2013). To support students to meet their academic needs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires each student with an intellectual disability to have an individualized education program (Gartin & Murdick, 2005). During this development, the individualized education program (IEP) team must consider assistive technology (AT) during the drafting of each student’s IEP. Assistive technology in special education services is identified as a potential effective intervention strategy to aid students to achieve their educational goals and objectives (Bouck, Flanagan, Miller,

Throughout this six week course, Meeting Individual Needs with Technology, we have researched the spectrums of Assistive Technology available for the individual and the classroom, and researched the different types of disabilities and how the Assistive Technology can aid students in navigating life and succeeding as individuals.

Behaviorally, students have a strong need for routines, develop an obsessive attachment to unusual object, such as rubber bands, have repetitive body motions, such as hand flapping, and are constantly in motion (Hutman 4). Children with ASDs also display many sensory problems, emotional difficulties, and delayed cognitive abilities (Hutman 5). These symptoms and difficulties affect the child’s development and learning (Jurgens 1). Children who are nonverbal do not develop social skills, while others may be delayed cognitively, have physical impairments, or have specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. Despite these issues, assistive technology (AT) is available to children to help them learn in the classroom. ATs are “defined as any device, piece of equipment or system that helps bypass, work around or compensate for an individual’s specific learning deficits (Stanberry 2). Ultimately, children diagnosed with ASDs have many technological resources to assist their learning in the classroom despite their listening and attention, mathematical, organization, reading, writing, and verbal communication

Assistive technology (AT) is defined 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

Assistive technology is any device, aids or services, that substitute or compensate for an impaired physical or mental ability. (Grand Canyon University. n.d. Lecture 1) There are a number of assistive technology devices available to use with students. The members of the IEP team will collaborate to determine the devices, if any, that fit the needs of the special education student. There is a range of options available, from low-tech devices using no electronics and usually inexpensive, to high-tech devices, that are often computer based and can be expensive. (Dell, Newton, Petroff, 2012) Some examples of a low-tech assistive devices are, pencil grips and extra wide pens or pencils. These devices will aid the student with fine motor problems and help them to write and draw in

Although these laws made assistive technology (AT) more available to those with disabilities, there are still many issues that have risen consequentially with the use of AT. The issues of funding for public schools, professional

There are three assistive technology categories known as high level, medium level, and low level. All levels help with communication skills, motivation, independence, academic skills, and organization. The low level is considered assistive technology due to its ability to assist autistic

Assistive technology which is also called as adaptive technology is a team of individuals who make deices for people with disabilities. It is also used to maintain and increase the abilities of individuals with disabilities. It performs things that were almost unable to accomplish by providing changing methods. A very important point to note is that assistive technology is not computer programming or only electronic devices. Many off us think of computers and electronic devices whenever technology is framed. It is not necessary that assistive technology have to be high-tech but it should serve the basic need that is assistance. This technology can include anything from a simple stick that one uses to reach his destination. It also includes

The use of technology in educating children with special needs has widely grown in the past few decades. Individuals with special needs are unique and all have different areas in which they need assistance. Due to the advancements in assistive technology, computer programs, software, and other technology tools, it has become much easier for people to find useful and easier ways to become educated. Because of this, “technology has changed the way people with disabilities live, work, and learn.” (Winzer,98)