Assistive technology (AT) is “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 functional capabilities of a child with a disability” (IDEA, 2004).

IDEA requires educators (IEP teams) to consider assistive technology needs of all children with disabilities. If your child is coming out of the public school system, has been ruled eligible for special services, and has a current IEP, check to see if any assistive technology was provided. You may want to continue with the same assistive technology at home, but are not limited to what the school provided. There is a wide array of AT options to choose from to give your child the greatest opportunity to learn and succeed. Wrights Law

Definition

Assistive technology is any item that assists someone in completing a task and helps people who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, and walking. Different disabilities require different assistive technologies. For students with mild disabilities this may consists of common items in the home or located in a general store that are modified to meet the individual need, usually considered low tech items. For students with more involved disabilities, high-tech items may include electronic devices, advanced software and equipment which are often more costly. Below is an incomplete lists of some of the more commonly known technologies.

Types (low-tech, high-tech, & physical aids)

Low-tech Reading

  • Communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt
  • Tachistoscopes (e.g., an index card with a cut-out showing a few words)
  • Highlighters; colored overlays
  • Changes in lighting such as pale blue film over florescent ceiling lights
  • Dictionary pens; magnifying bar; bookmark reading guides

Low-tech Writing

  • Audio tapes and CDs
  • Slant boards
  • Adapted paper (e.g., colored, raised lines with portions highlighted)
  • Alternative keyboards; digital recorders
  • Pencil grips; writing stylus
  • Graphic organizers
  • Weighted handwriting devices; non-slip writing mats

Low-tech Mathematics

  • Calculator; number-line; Abacus; tactile ruler
  • Math manipulatives
  • Graph paper to line up math problems
  • Individual white boards

Low-tech Communication

High-tech Reading

  • Text to speech software
  • Audio books: Learning Ally (free with a valid evaluation), Audible.com, Kindle, Chirpbooks (free), Librivox (free)
  • Software for reading text in Power Point presentation
  • Kurzweil – reading support, text, & assessments
  • Electronic tablet: Apple I-Pad, Kindle
  • Screen magnifier
  • Audiovisuals of classic books: Coursehero (animated voice over slides); Schooltube (student created synopses of books)

High-tech Writing

  • Portable word processors
  • Spelling/grammar checkers: Franklin Speller
  • Sentence expansion software; word prediction software
  • Speech recognition software: Dragon Naturally Speaking
  • Ginger: Grammar checker, word prediction, sentence rephrasing, & text to speech

High-tech Mathematics

  • Math Talk – is a speech recognition software program for math that can help students with a range of disabilities perform math problems by speaking into a microphone on their computer.
  • Software programs that drill on math skills

High-tech Communication

Physical Aids

  • Prosthetics
  • Mounting systems
  • Positioning devices
  • Computer hardware: special switches, keyboards, and pointing devices
  • Sip-and-puff products students can use to control an electronic device
  • Wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and scooters
  • Power lifts
  • Pencil holders, eye-gaze, and head trackers
  • Adaptive seating: balls, cushions, chairs with seat belts, wiggle stools

Resources