An Overview of Assistive Technology

1. An Overview of Assistive Technology Allison McMahon AT Resource Teacher Cecil County Public Schools amcmahon@ccps.org

2. Assistive Technology Defined: AT Device: • Any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capacities of individuals with disabilities.* *PL 100-407 Technology Related Assistance Act AT Service: • Any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use of assistive technology.

3. AT Devices & Services Are Educationally Relevant When They... Support… • Seeing / hearing • Positioning / mobility • Communication • Self-care • Academics • Cognitive processing • Study & skills • Recreation / play • Social competency • Transition to adult roles • vocational prep Are… • Essential for FAPE. • Necessary for education in the LRE. • A necessary related service. • Providing access to school programs and activities.

4. From the SETT Framework developed by Joy Zabala The SETT Approach the Student The person who needs to do something Student Environment Task Tools the Tools to make it possible the Task What they need to do the Environment Where and in what context do they need to do it

5. Organization/Memory/Time Management/ Managing Personal Info/Staying on Task • Graph paper • Earplugs/ headphones • Digital/talking clocks/ watches • Countdown timers • Phone dialers • Highlighters • Color coding • Post-it notes/ Sticky tack/Restickable glue • Index cards • Business cards/ mailing labels

7. Software Adaptations - Writing Word prediction • Co:Writer 4000

8. Talking Word Processors Write:Outloud Picture & Text Support IntelliTalk 2

9. Hardware Adaptations • TRACKBALL/ TRACKPAD • TOUCH WINDOW • ALTERNATIVE KEYBOARD • KEYGUARD • SWITCH ACCESS • SCANNER-OCR SOFTWARE • SPEAKERS

10. Hardware Adaptations Portable word processors • Alphasmart 3000 • The Writer

11. AT for Reading • Highlighting • Post It notes • Book adaptations • Word markers • Contrast/Color

12. AT for Reading • Tape recorder • Step By Steps • Victor Readers • Hand held talking electronic devices

13. Victor Reader: • Portable digital CD player that plays AudioPlus digital CDs. • Language of Literature available on CD, as well as novels and expository text. • Need title, author, and ISBN number to order digital books.

14. Kurzweil: • Only text-to-speech software approved by MSDE as an accommodation on MSA and HSA testing. • Software available in Scan and Read and Read Only formats. • Can adjust reading speed, voices, and make fillable worksheets.

15. Text-to-Speech Options: • Mac OSX Access Options: • Make Safari or Text Edit Speak • Using Key Commands to Speak Text • Make AppleWorks Speak Text • Make Word Speak Text Windows Access Options: Read Please (www.readplease.com) E Text Reader (www.readingmadeeasy.com)

16. Windows Access Options: Read Please (www.readplease.com) 2. E Text Reader (www.readingmadeeasy.com)

17. Read Please (www.readplease.com)

18. E Text Reader (www.readingmadeeasy.com)

19. Sparknotes: www.sparknotes.com • Use websites such as Sparknotes to help • students preview literature by listening • before reading. • Copy and paste chapter summary, etc. into • blank document and have computer read text. • Use as a type of “cognitive rescaling” for • students who may find the idea of reading an • entire chapter overwhelming, or do not • understand plots, themes, etc.

21. IntelliTools Classroom Suite Player www.intellitools.com -On left side of screen click on Activity Exchange. -Join the exchange and receive a user name and password. -Go to Find Activity to search for appropriate activities. -Download and save to your teacher folder so students can access.

22. www.symbolworld.org

23. Symbol World eLive

24. Symbol World Learning

25. Symbol World My World

26. Symbol World Stories