Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Assistive Technologies

http://specialed.spps.org/uploads/AT_Collage.jpg
Assistive technology- is any equipment or device that is designed to help people with disabilities or physical limitations to be independent. It can be anything from a simple, low-tech device such as a magnifying glass, to a complex, high-tech device, such as a computerized communication system. It can be big, such as an automated van lift for a wheelchair, or small, such as a pen gripper according to the Iowa Compass website .

After teaching special education for four years I needed to use assistive technologies on a regular basis.  They were as simple as a pencil gripper or a reference chart for math, to a laptop a student used to type with because the student had difficultly writing.  A few of the others I used were social stories, highlighter tape and wiki sticks to help with tracking during reading.

While I was teaching I had a couple of students who had Autism or fell on the spectrum somewhere.  We tried several different ways to help them communicate better by using visual cueing systems, written directions, and one on one assistance.  This is a link to an assitive technology website for children with autism (Written by Susan Stokes under a contract with CESA 7 and funded by a discretionary grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction). It also has links to low, mid, and high technology strategies and devices.  One of the devices I found that was in the mid technology category was a talk pad.  This allows the teacher to record 1-4 steps of directions.  The student pushes the buttons one at a time which also has visual cues on it to prompt the child to complete each step independently.

KEYTEC, INC. is a site that has several touch screen products and devices for students to utilize to help them communicate.  It also states on their webstie that Magic Touch products are an assitive technology that is approved by the Federal Government, so federal funding is available to help purchase the touch screens.

Another helpful website I found is from the Autism Community. It gives several different types of assistive technology devices available. They are grouped by category and have links to different sites where you can purchase these devices.

After doing some research online I learned that you can acquire some information about assistive technology as well as the actual technology from the Iowa Compass website, a Disability Information and Referral site. The Easter Seals also have a website where you can check out different assistive technology devices as well as other equipment individuals may need for their home.  You are allowed to check these devices out for 30 days to see if this is really something you want to purchase.

With the advancement of technology there seems to be a lot more choices for high technology devices such as touch screens and hand held computers.  After doing a little bit of research on the internet it seems that the devices are out there, it just may take some researching on the part of the parent or teacher to find what is most beneficial for each child.


An example of a visual cueing system to help students communicate.
                 Image from- http://www.medinik.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Augmentative-communication-for-autism.gif


This is a picture of a few of the technology devices available.
                                 Image from:  http://www.autism-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/AT-Main.jpg

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