What you Didn’t Know About

Assistive Technology

By Melanie BroxtermanIntervention SpecialistPrinceton City Schools

April 18, 2012

"Technology is a tool that serves a set of educational goals, and if we don't think about what we want the technology for first, we end up with technology-driven solutions that have very little impact in the lives of children and in our educational system.“

- Linda Roberts, Director of Education Technology, U.S. Department of Education

Edresources Ohio - AT info

What is assistive technology (AT)?As defined in ODE – OEC:

"Assistive technology device" means 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 the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.

"Assistive technology service" means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Procedures and Guidance for Ohio Educational Agencies serving Children with Disabilities

abilities of a child; his/her interests & preferences

family's culture & value system

environment(s) it will be used in

functional tasks for participating in daily routines available materials & technologies

barriers to his/her participation

ongoing intervention and evaluation

Assessment

SETT Framework by Joy Zabala

Hamilton County Educational

Service CenterAT considerations in the IEP

What does that mean for the IEP?

Hamilton County EducationalService Center

AT Planning Guide

Examples of AT

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral

speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC when we make facial

expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write. (ASHA)

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/AAC/

Unaided communication systems

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication( AAC)?

Aided communication systems

Examples of ACC

How can AT and AAC be incorporated in the classroom?

Low Tech simple line drawings that represent itemsslant board actual photographs of objects large print booksPencil grips“Low tech” AAC options are great to use in a structured situation

Low-cost, typically non electronic devices

gives visual cue to expected behavior used as a choice board for free time or during group activities

help sequence an activity reinforce academic skills, such as giving matching word to picture

use sentence strip with pictures to create model sentence, decrease adult prompting

Classroom

Mid Tech

AAC is a device that offers prerecorded voice output that have changeable displays or overlays (ex, 7 Level Communication Builder, Tech Talk) audio books adapted keyboardsLivescribe SmartPen

Moderately priced, easy to operate electronic devices

o project that requires more choices than what a voice output switch might offero limit the word choices to be specific to the activity This is the 7 Level Communication Builder by

Enabling Devices. This is an example of a device with a static display where the overlays need to be

changed with each activity.

Classroom

Step by Step which is great for sequence tasks, like jokes, recipes, or giving directions.

o simplify, decrease notetakingo create a “visual scene” of area to use for choices

High TechRelatively expensive devices, computer based - microcomputer components for

storage and retrieval of information

laptops/tablet computers

talking calculators or word

processors word prediction software

communications device/software

power wheelchairs

Using the SMART Board

• create lessons that relate to specific goals/objectives

• activities for all subject areas as well as service provider areas •teaching and reinforcing concepts• use as a productive/presentation tool

Student “check in” Visual for the weather

Individualize pre-writing lessons, can print to save as work sample

Lessons created from reading program content, incorporated Boardmaker pictures

Sentence completion activity

Simple “spelling” activity

Uses for iPod Touch

Text to SpeechSound Amplification

AT uses for the iPod

Audio BooksVoice recorder

Testing accommodations, such astest questions read to student

Apple’s Accessibility

Reinforce/reteach skillsVisual schedule or reminders for daily tasks

communication

Uses for iPad

Text to SpeechNote-Taking

Audio Books

Voice recorder

Testing accommodationsTest questions read/played through iPod

Adapted keyboard options

Magnification options

FaceTime = communication for the deaf

Apple’s commitment to Accessibility

Visual schedule or reminders for daily tasks

communication

Examples of apps for accessibility/AT

Assistive Technology Partnership

iTechnology wiki

iOS app listings for low vision, hearing impairment, independent living from Easter Seals

Evendale Elementary

PBS parents – Inclusive Communities

Where do we go from here?http://www.hcesc.org/resources/Pages/AssistiveTechnologyResources.aspx

Hamilton Country Educational Service Center

EdResources Ohio - ODE

http://www.edresourcesohio.org/ogdse/7_-_iep/7-5/document?s%5b%5d=assistive&s%5b%5d=technology

www.ocali.org/_archive/pdf/AT_Intro.ppthttp://www.ocali.org/

OCALI – Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence

http://atto.buffalo.edu/

Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) University of Buffalo (NY)http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/

Spectronics – Australia/New Zealand

http://www.ablenetinc.com/Support/Webinars-and-Online-Training

AbleNet

Melanie BroxtermanEvendale Elementary

email: mbroxerman@princetonschools.nettwitter: @teachwtechbrox

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA

References

Word Clouds created by Melanie Broxterman via http://www.wordle.net

Slantboard photo - http://www.attainmentcompany.com/product.php?productid=16360&cat=361&page=1

Adapted keyboard - http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=431066

Intellekeys - http://kihd.gmu.edu/atlab/atpages/keyboard/

Step by Step Communicator - http://teachingall.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

CoWriter 6 - http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Article/CoWriter-6-Word-Prediction-Software.aspx

Assistive Technology Considerations and Planning form courtesy of HCESC Assistive Technology Consortium via Deb McGraw

Line drawing used for classroom materials depicted in slides were created by teachers at Evendale Elementary using The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.DynaVox Mayer-Johnson2100 Wharton Street, Suite 400Pittsburgh, PA 15203Phone: 1 (800) 588-4548 Fax: 1 (866) 585-6260Email: mayer-johnson.usa@dynavoxtech.com Web site: www.mayer-johnson.com

Photographs provided by Melanie Broxterman and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.