Assistive Technology

By: Anika S. Pippin

What is Assistive Technology (AT)?

According to the Assistive Technology Industry Association (2015), also known as ATiA, “assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities”. The use of the right assistive technology can be decided upon by the person with the disability, “a team of professionals, and consultants” (ATiA, 2015).

Laws of Assistive Technology

According to the National Assistive Technology Research (2001-2006), under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, it states that “ the law maintains the right of all children with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment”. Furthermore, “each child’s need for assistive technology devices and services must be considered at the IEP (Individualized Educational Program) meeting”. The law does not apply to individuals who have “medical [devices] that [are] surgically implanted or the replacement of such [devices]”.

Technology for the Disabled• Hearing Impaired: Listenor Pro Personal Amplifier

• Seeing Impaired: Magnisight Explorer LCD CCTV

• Learning Disabled: Text-to-Speech

• Physically Disabled: Sip-and-puff System

Hearing Impaired AT

Students who are hearing impaired struggle to hear because of the low frequency of speech. According to Liberty Hearing and health (2015), the Listenor Pro Personal Amplifier “provides enhanced sound quality for people with hearing loss”.

Seeing Impaired AT

The Magnisight Explorer LCD CCTV allows students to “increase contrast, enlarge images, and use tactile materials” to see images that most visually impaired people might not otherwise be able to see (2015).

Learning Disabled AT

The Text-to-Speech device allows students to input words into a system and then the system speaks the information aloud. Learning disabled students can hear what they type and communicate their thoughts (Microsoft, 2015).

Physically Disabled AT

• According to Origin Instruments, the Sip-and-puff system is used for “people who have limited or no motor capabilities”. They can use the device to “easily activate and control other devices” (2014).

ReferencesAssistive Technology Industry Association. (2015). Retrieved on March 23, 2015 from http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3859 .Institute. (2001-2006). Retrieved on March 23, 2015 from

http://natri.uky.edu/resources/fundamentals/laws.html. Liberty Health Supply. (2015). Retrieved on March 23, 2015 from

http://www.libertyhealthsupply.com/product-p/lhshc-listenorpro-n.htm?Microsoft. (2015). Retrieved on March 23, 2015 from

http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx. Origin Instruments Corporation. (2014). Retrieved March 23, 2015 from

http://www.orin.com/access/sip_puff/. Teaching Students with Visual Impairments. (2015). Retrieved on March 23, 2015 from

http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com