Assistive+Technology

**ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY**

media type="file" key="assistive tech podcast_0.mp3" width="240" height="20" media type="youtube" key="wJQQtM6240s" height="315" width="560" align="right" =What is assistive technology? =

**Assistive technology** is any device or service used to increase, maintain, or improve the performance of someone with a disability. This does not include any medical device that needs to be surgically implanted. The[| IDEA 2004] (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is a law that requires assistive technology be provided to students if it is essential for accessing education.

The federal law includes services as well to ensure that the device or tool is useful to the student. The school is responsible for providing the device and services that go along with it, as long as it is written in the student's IEP (Individualized Education Plan).

These services include:
 * Selection of the tool/device
 * Acquistion
 * Coordinating
 * Evaluating
 * Training for the student and their family

__THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUUM __ **Low-tech:** Low-tech devices are inexpensive, portable, and easy to use. Low-tech options include: specialized pens / pencils / crayons / markers / grips


 *  specialized erasers & correction tapes [[image:pencil_grips.jpg width="202" height="202" align="right" caption="Pencil Grips"]]
 * Paper: raised line paper, graph paper, colored paper
 * highlighters
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">color coding
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Post-It notes, flags, arrows
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">colored filters, page overlays
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Carbon-less paper
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">reading / writing guides
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Graphic Organizers
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">slant boards
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">white board, markers, crayons, colored pencils
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">magnetic/tactile letters
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">magnifiers
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">rubber stamps & labels
 * <span style="color: #0056ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">specialized measuring and cutting tools





<span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**Mid-tech:** Mid-tech devices offer many of the same advantages of the low-tech devices, but they are more expensive. They are relatively easy to use, lightweight, and portable. Mid-tech options include:
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">audio tape recorders
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">digital recorders
 * <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> calculators (multi-function, talking calculators) [[image:neo2_single.jpg width="240" height="161" align="right" caption="NEO2"]]
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">spell-check, dictionary / thesaurus
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">dedicated word processor
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">electronic organizer
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">audio books
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">music
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">electronic eraser, stapler
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">book lights
 * <span style="color: #a500ff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">switch operated toys and appliances





<span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**High-tech:** High-tech devices are expensive and usually require training to use the tool. High-Tech options include:
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">alternative keyboard / alternative cursor control
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">word processing software[[image:ipad.jpg width="350" height="156" align="right" caption="IPAD"]]
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">word prediction software
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">brainstorming, graphic organization software
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">spell checker, grammar checker software
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">word banks (on-screen, overlays)
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">text readers
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">on-screen math, computer calculators
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">communication devices / software
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">internet
 * <span style="color: #800006; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">CD reference (maps, encyclopedi[[image:download.jpg width="210" height="175" align="right" caption="Laptop"]]as)

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[] apple.com [] [] [] dell.com [] [] Kelker, K. A., & Holt, R. (1997). // Family guide to assistive technology //. Retrieved from http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/PLUK_ATguide_269K.pdf []