Assistive Technology Case Study

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).

Illinois Legal Aid. (2002, November). Retrieved from Disabilities Guidebook: Technology-Related Assistance for People with Disabilities: http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentid=205

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

An assessment may be conducted by either the school, independent agency, or an individual consultant, and should include not only the person’s weaknesses, but also their strengths. Once a device is selected, then the user and people involved his or her life should receive training on how to use the device. Maintenance, repair, and replacement are other issues to keep in mind. Assistive technology is aimed at providing people with disabilities the devices they may need,

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.

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

My Assistive Technology Implementation Plan artifact demonstrates my ability to facilitate the use of adaptive and assistive technologies to support individual student learning needs by allowing my student to master the standard using digital resources

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

21).These professionals are consistently fighting to support their students because others might not see or realize the importance because of their own privilege of not having a disability so they do not have to think about it. It is pressing that the professionals who work in this functional area work with other professionals in other functional areas so that they are educated on the resources that their students need and how they can continue to support their students. Another challenge is faculty understanding that there are different types of disabilities and to not be dismissive of one that you can not see such as psychological and learning impairment. For example, in the article inside higher ed, a student said “I have faculty who are more dismissive of something like bipolar disorder than they would be of something like cerebral palsy," one attendee

In Descartes, theory of duality states that the mind and body both hold completely different functions but work simultaneously together to create a functioning body. Similarly, assistive technology can become incorporated into the body enough where the individual views the technology and self as inseparable. It is important to take into consideration human embodiment when giving those that are disabled or impaired the option of assistive technology because it leaves room for them to consider individual

Regular classroom curriculum is not enough to help children with exceptionalities to learn what they need to know to advance in life. Assistive technologies are suggestions that can assist a child to learn to work independently and built self-esteem with their learning abilities. Whether the child has mild, moderate or severe, physical, or sensory disabilities, at risk behaviors, or are gifted and talented, there are a number of websites, software programs, or hardware to assist their individual learning styles.

In the reading from the week, I learned the meaning and origin behind the term Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This term which is often associated with education actually originates from the architectural field as a concept for designing services or products utilized by people with diverse functional capabilities (Beard, Carpenter, & Johnston, 2011). For educators, it is important that UDL incorporates educational accommodations, including assistive technology (AT), that allow all students to have the tools available to achieve success in the classroom. As noted, “UDL provides equal access to learning” (Beard, Carpenter, & Johnston, p. 26). It is also important that the IEP team correctly matches the assistive technology to the learner

Anthony is a 21 year old male who resides with his family in Westfield, MA. Anthony has a primary diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome with secondary diagnosis of ADHD and anxiety. Anthony is attending Holyoke Community College, where he is pursuing a degree in Computers Science. He has been working with his MRC counselor to identify appropriate supports that could be implemented to help him be successful with his vocational goals. For this reason, an assistive technology evaluation was requested to determine if any, technologies could assist him with the successful completion of this goal.