Assistive Technology
The University of Texas at Brownsville
Educational Technology
EDTC6341- Team 5
Oscar Castillo
Daniel Runnels
Celinda Tanguma
Luis Troncoso
1
Overview
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Introduction
Definitions
Descriptions of Various Types of Assistive Technologies
Legal Requirements, Laws and Historical Background
Eligibility Requirements
Roles of School Districts
Teachers Roles
Responsibilities of MTTs
Assistive Technology Resources for MTTs
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What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology is technology used by
individuals with disabilities in order to
perform function that might otherwise be
difficult or impossible
-U. of Washington
Oscar Castillo
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Oscar Castillo
Assistive Technology Services
A service that directly assists a child with a
disability to select, get or use an assistive
technology device.
Oscar Castillo
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Section 504
• States:
“no qualified individual with a disability in
the United States shall be excluded from,
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination” by any Federally funded
program or activity
Oscar Castillo
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Some Types of Disabilities
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Oscar Castillo
Vision
Hearing
Communication
Learning
Access
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Oscar Castillo
AT: Vision/Hearing Impaired
• Screen readers
o
text and graphics on the computer screen by voice
output, enlarged text, and/or with a refreshable braille
display
• Speech synthesizers
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Convert text to synthetic speech
• Voice Recognition Software
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Oscar Castillo
Software using voice command to convert speech to
text
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AT: Vision/Hearing Impaired
• Reading Machines
and scanners
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Scans text and creates
synthesized voice of text
• Braille
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Refreshable Braille
display
 Quickly converts text
on screen to Braille
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Oscar Castillo
Braille Monitor
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AT: Pointing Devices
• “Camera Mouse™”
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Controls the mouse pointer
on your computer screen by
moving your head
Designed to help a person
who cannot use their hand
to control the mouse but
who can voluntarily move
their head
• “Eyegaze Edge™”
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Uses eye movement to type
and “speech”
• Footmice
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Oscar Castillo
Computer mouse moved by
foot
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AT: Access
• Mouth stick to press keys
on keyboard
• Adapted mouse
• Computer access
modification hardware or
software
• T-bar to assist with typing
• Arm support
• Touch screen capabilities
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AT: Learning
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iPods for audio recording
Software for organizing and storing data
Electronic organizers
Portable word processing hardware to
type instead of type
• Calculators
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AT: Legal Requirements
• The Department of Education has made a commitment to support
its obligation under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended, to ensure the accessibility of its programs
and activities to individuals with disabilities. The Assistive
Technology Program provides assistive technology solutions to
disabled employees at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and
also ensures that the agency’s electronic and information systems
are accessible to employees and members of the public with
disabilities ("Assistive ," 2009).
• Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and
information technology is accessible to people with disabilities
• ("A Guide," 2009)
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AT: Legal Requirements
• As the result of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), first enacted in 1975, and the subsequent reauthorizations of the Act, including the most recent in 2004,
assistive technology has a major impact on the education of
students with disabilities.Section 508 requires that Federal
agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible
to people with disabilities.
• Assistive technology must be considered as a part of the
Individual Education Program (IEP) process for every
student.
("A Guide," 2009)
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Daniel Runnels
("A Guide," 2009)
("What," 2009)
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AT: Federal Laws Impacting
Industry
– Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
– Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29
U.S.C. 794)
– Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-394)
– The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
– Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-431)
– Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 255,251(a)(2))
– Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et
seq.)
– Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394)
– Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act ("Assistive ," 2009)
("Assistive ," 2009)
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AT: Major Impacts of IDEA Policy
• Under IDEA All children with disabilities who are eligible for
special education have a legal right to technology to assist
them with learning.
• Both the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the
Individualized Education Program (IEP) which are required
by tthe Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are
potentially powerful tools for incorporating assistive
technology into the education of students with disabilities.
• The IDEA also lists the services a school district may need
to provide in order to ensure that assistive technology is
useful to a student in the school setting.
("A Guide," 2009)
Daniel Runnels
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AT: Major Impacts of IDEA Policy
• The least restrictive environment (LRE) provisions of IDEA require that
students be educated with peers who do not have disabilities, to the
maximum extent appropriate, to meet the needs of the student with a
disability.
• IDEA requires that related services be provided when necessary to
assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education.
• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that school
districts are required to ensure that “aids, services, and other supports
are provided in regular education classes or other education-related
settings to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate.”
("A Guide," 2009)
Daniel Runnels
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AT: Major Impacts of ADA Policy
• ADA requires public entities to provide auxiliary aids
and services, when necessary, to eliminate
discrimination against individuals with disabilities,
unless an undue burden would result.
• Title II of the ADA states that physical barriers in
existing facilities must be removed, if removal is readily
achievable. If not, alternative methods of providing the
services must be offered, if they are readily achievable.
– Office of Civil rights concludes that districts must provide the
necessary equipment to enable the student with a disability to
use a computer without assistance.
("A Guide," 2009)
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AT: Key Legal Terms
• Assistive technology device means 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 the
functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
• Assistive technology service means any service that
directly assists a child with a disability in the
selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive
technology device.
("A Guide," 2009)
Daniel Runnels
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School District Roles in
Educational Technology
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Luis Troncoso
Provide Funding
Planning Serious
Professional Development
Provide Equipment and
Infrastructure
Monitor Efficiency of Technology
Integration
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Funding for Technology
Integration
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Plan and work with a
budget
Apply for State or
Federal grants
Take action
http://www.pugetsoundcenter.org/ngcp/florida/enews/girlsgetitnewsletter_April08_files/109.jpg
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Planning for Professional
Development
• Serious Trainings
• with Accountability
• Multiple Trainings
– (3-5 per school year)
http://www.pitman-kingston.co.uk/library/ILT%20Session%201.jpg
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Provide Equipment, Support
and Infrastructure
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Provide up to date
Technology Resources
(software/hardware)
Efficient and On Time
Support to Teachers
Plan according to
State & Federal
Guidelines
http://www.webmediastudio.com.ar/imagen
es/estudio-multimedia.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570
@N03/3715669366/
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/teks/
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Efficiency of Technology Integration
Are we Meeting Objectives?
• Classroom Visits
• Lesson Plans
demonstrating
Technology
Integration
• Teacher Feedback
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@
N03/3714874415/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3741857
0@N03/3715661750/
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Role of MTT in
Technology Integration
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Have Initiative and Motivation to
Model and Implement
• Mentor to Administration, Staff,
Students, and the Community
• Develop Constructive and Student
Centered Lessons
Luis Troncoso
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MTT Must Have Initiative and
Motivation to Model and Implement
• Attend trainings and
Ask Questions
• We are in it for the
I Can Do
This!!
Kids
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/371
5672786/
• Willingness to
Collaborate
• Take Action and Do It
Luis Troncoso
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3
715681162/
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Role of MTT as a Mentor to
All
Administration
Provides StudentCentered Instruction,
Performance Objectives
and Tasks (Rousseau
1998)
Supports -- a Resource of
Wisdom and Experience
(Rousseau 1998)
Encourager -- Assists
Learners in Preparing and
Implementing Technology
(Rousseau 1998)
Teachers
Teachers
Students
Students
MTT
Students
Students
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/37
15667010/
Community
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MTT provides Constructive and
Student Centered Lessons
• Focus is on Students
• Form a Collaborative
process between
Teacher and Student
• Provide Student with
feedback for
Opportunity
Enhancement
Luis Troncoso
http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/images/Environmental_e
ducation/students_presenting.jpg
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MTT
Roles & Resources
Celinda Tanguma
Technology Recommendations
• Based on technology and instructional
experiences the MTT can make
recommendations which may assist a
special needs students; however it would
remain the committee’s decision to
implement, accept or reject any of the MTT
recommendations.
Celinda Tanguma
Technology Recommendations
(cont.)
• The role of an MTT is to make
recommendations to the Admission, Review
and Dismiss (ARD) Committee.
• The ARD Committee will decide what
assistive technology the student needs.
Celinda Tanguma
Resources
• Special Education Links from Discover School's Kathy
Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/edspec.htm
• Assistive Technology from Education World
http://www.educationworld.com/special_ed/assistive/inde
x.shtml
• Family Guide to Assistive Technology
http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
Celinda Tanguma
Resources (cont.)
• Tools for Life: Taking the Mystery out of
Assistive Technology
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/tfl
_mystery.html
• Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in
Special Education
http://www.closingthegap.com/
Celinda Tanguma
References
Slides 3-11
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[1] A Guide to Disability Rights. (2005). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from ada.gov, ADA Homepage:
http://www.ada.gov/ cguide.htm
[2] Assistive Technology to Meet K–12 Student Needs. (2003). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from ncrel.org,
Learning Point: http://www.ncrel.org/ sdrs/ areas/ issues/ methods/ technlgy/ te7assist.htm .
[3] Converting Digital Information Into Braille. (2001). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from nist.gov, National Institute
of Standards and Technology: http://www.nist.gov/ public_affairs/ gallery/ braille.htm .
[4]Camera Mouse. (2009). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from cameramouse.org, Camera Mouse:
http://www.cameramouse.org/ .
[5] Glossary of Early Intervention Terms. (2001). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from utahbabywatch.org, Utah
Department of Health: http://www.utahbabywatch.org/ forparents/ glossary.htm .
[6] Sec. 300.6 Assistive technology service. (2004). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from idea.ed.gov, Building the
Legacy: IDEA 2004: http://idea.ed.gov/ explore/ view/ p/,root,regs,300,a,300%252e6,.
[7] What is a disability? (1999). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from disabled-world.com, Disabled World:
http://www.disabled-world.com/ disability/ types/ .
[8] What is assistive technology? (2002). Retrieved July 19, 2009 from www.washington.edu, DO-IT
Factsheet: http://www.washington.edu/ accessit/ print.html?id=1109.
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References
Slides 12-19
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What is Assistive Technology?. Retrieved July 20, 2009, from Access IT The
National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education Web site:
http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?109
A Guide for the Delivery of. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from Assistive Technology
in Educaiton Web site: http://www.atp.ne.gov/techassistdoc.html
Assistive Technology. Retrieved July 19, 2009, from US Department of
Education Web site: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/assistivetech.html.
Family Guide to Assistive Technology. Retrieved July19, 2009, from The
Federation for Children with Special Needs Web
site: http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
Assistive Technology. Retrieved July 19, 2009, from Standards.gov Web
site: http://standards.gov/standards_gov/assistiveTechnology.cfm.
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References
Slides 20-28
• Estes, C. A. (2004). Promoting studentcentered learning in experiential education.
Journal of Experiential Education, 27(2), 141–
160.
• Rousseau, J. (1998). Role of the Teacher as a
Manager. Retrieved July 22, 2009 from Arp
ISD: http://www.arp.sprnet.org/ admin/ supt/
page2.htm.
Luis Troncoso
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Images
Slides 3-11
• http://www.cornwall.ac.uk/images/duchy2008/disabili
ties.jpg
• http://www.mtnhomesd.org/images/sp_ed_kids.gif
• http://www.abledata.com/product_images/images/01
A0790.jpg
• www.cameranouse.org
• http://www.businesscomputers.com/images/touchScreen.jpg
• http://www.bytesizescience.com/images/blog/82038
59/ipod-family.jpg
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Images
Slides 20-28
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http://www.pugetsoundcenter.org/ngcp/florida/enews/girlsgetitnewsletter_April08_files/109.jpg
http://www.pitman-kingston.co.uk/library/ILT%20Session%201.jpg
http://www.webmediastudio.com.ar/imagenes/estudio-multimedia.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3715669366/
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/teks/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3714874415/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3715661750/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3715672786/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3715681162/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37418570@N03/3715667010/
http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/images/Environmental_education/students_pr
esenting.jpg
Luis Troncoso
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