Assistive Technology Check List

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

ACADEMIC AND LEARNING AIDS: Many students with disabilities

use assistive technology to enhance their participation and achievement in

their educational programs. There are a range of assistive technology

solutions to address student needs in all academic areas including

writing, spelling, reading, and math. In the following section, information

will be provided on assistive technology that is frequently used

within each of these academic areas.

READING: Students who demonstrate difficulty with basic reading skills or

reading comprehension skills may benefit from assistive technology. The following

is a brief listing of the types of assistive technology solutions that are available to

support reading skills:

	Colored overlays
	Reading window
	Hand-held spell checker or talking dictionary
	Audio-taped textbooks
	Talking word processing program
	Advanced reading aid
	Spelling
	Personal word list or dictionary
	Hand-held spell checker
	Standard word processing program with built-in spell check
	Talking word processing program with built-in spell

SPELLING: Students who have difficulty with spelling can benefit from assistive

technology to identify and correct their spelling errors. Technology is available to

support spelling in handwritten as well as computer generated text. The following

is a brief listing of several types of assistive technology solutions to support spelling skills:

	Personal word list or dictionary
	Hand-held spell checker
	Standard word processing program with built-in spell check
	Talking word processing program with built-in spell check

WRITING: Students who have difficulty producing written communication with

standard writing tools such as pen and paper may benefit from assistive technology.

There are a range of solutions available including those listed below:

	Alternative paper
	Pencil grips
	Adapted tape recorder
	Portable word processor
	Talking word processor software
	Word prediction software
	Outlining and webbing software
	Voice dictation software

MATH: Assistive technology is also available to support student achievement in

the area of math. A range of low technology to high technology solutions are

available including:

	Calculators
	On-screen electronic worksheet

ORGANIZATIONAL AND STUDY SKILLS: Some students with disabilities have

difficulty with organizational skills. This makes it difficult to complete tasks and

assignments in a timely manner. Assistive technology may also be used to

support organizations skills.

	Assignment book
	Computer-based organizational software

AIDS TO DAILY LIVING: An array of low technology to high technology aids are

available for students who have difficulty independently completing activities of

daily living. Daily living aids include aids for tooth brushing, eating, drinking, dressing,

toileting, and home maintenance and they are typically used by students with physical

disabilities. The following are categories of frequently used daily living aids:

	Adapted eating utensils
	Adapted drinking aids
	Home maintenance
	Self-care aids

Assistive Listening Devices and Environmental Aids for the

Hard of Hearing and Deaf:

Students who are hard of hearing or deaf often need assistive technology to access

information that is typically presented verbally and accessed through the auditory

modality. A variety of technology solutions are available that amplify speech and

other auditory signals or that provide an alternative to the auditory modality.

	Assistive Listening Devices
	Text Telephones (TTY)
	Closed Captioning Devices
	Environmental Aids
	Real Time Captioning

AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION: Students with severe expressive

communication impairments have difficulty communicating withpeers and adults

within their environments. Many of these students need a means of supplementing

their communication skills. These students frequently use augmentative communication

technology. A range of low technology to high technology solutions are available.

	Object-based communication displays
	Picture communication boards and books
	Alphabet boards
	Talking switches
	Low technology voice output communication devices
	Middle technology voice output communication devices
	High technology voice output communication devices
	Integrated communication solutions

COMPUTER ACCESS AND INSTRUCTION: A variety of technology

solutions are available to adapt the classroom computer for students with

disabilities. Some computer access technology offers a method of input other

than the standard computer keyboard and mouse. Other computer adaptations

include software and hardware that modifies the visual and sound output from

the computer.

	Adaptive pointing devices
	Keyboard adaptations
	Alternative keyboards
	Touchsreens
	On-screen keyboards
	Microswitch access
	Mouse alternatives
	Voice input technology devices
	Adaptive output

ENVIRONMENTAL AIDS: High technology environmental aids are available to

assist students with physical disabilities in controlling electronic appliances within

the school and home. These devices allow the student to use an alternate input

device such as a microswitch to control one or more electronic appliances such

as lights, televisions, and electronically controlled doors.

MOBILITY AIDS: Students with physical disabilities often need access to mobility

aids to provide them with a means of moving about their environments. Mobility aids

include canes, crutches, walkers, scooters, and wheelchairs. Generally, assistive

technology devices such as the mobility aids referenced above are recommended

by physical and occupational therapists based on the student’s individual needs.

PRE-VOCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL AIDS: Students with physical and

cognitive disabilities who are enrolled in educational programs that address

pre-vocational and vocational skills may benefit from the use of pre-vocational

and vocational aids. These types of technology solutions include modifications

of the tools and manipulatives used in the completion of work related tasks. Low

technology solutions include grips for handling materials and stabilization devices

for supporting work materials. For students using electronic appliances such as

staplers and paper shredders, an environmental control unit such as the model available

from Ablenet can be used to allow for microswitch control of the appliance. Many of the

adaptations required for participation in work activities may be teacher constructed.

For example, a picture-based task schedule can be created to represent all of the

steps in a particular activity for students with intellectual disabilities.

RECREATION AND LEISURE: Some students with physical, sensory, and

intellectual disabilities require assistive technology in order to participate more

fully in appropriate recreation and leisure activities. A range of low technology

to high technology solutions are available including game adaptations, book

adaptations, switch adapted toys, and environmental control access for

televisions, videos, tape players, and CD ROM players.

	Game and puzzle adaptations
	Book adaptations
	Switch adapted toys
	Environment control units

SEATING AND POSITIONING; Students with physical disabilities often require

adaptive seating and positioning systems as an alternative to the standard classroom

seating systems. Adaptive seating and positioning systems include seat inserts for

wheelchairs, side liers, prone standers, and adaptive chairs. These seating and

positioning systems are generally determined by the physical and occupational

therapist in consultation with the classroom staff. Sammons Preston

offers several different seating and positioning devices for the classroom.

VISUAL AIDS: Students with visual impairments can benefit from assistive

technology in a variety of areas. A critical need for assistive technology is

often in the area of accessing printed information and to providing a means of

producing written communication.

	Talking dictionary
	Adapted tape player-recorder
	Large print and talking calculators
	Braille writer
	Electronic braille writers
	Closed circuit televisions (CCTV)
	Text enlargement software
	Screen reading software