Carrie Clawson, OTR/L, ATP
AT Specialist, VA DARS
Brad Miles
Rehab Engineer, VA DBVI
Assistive Technology is any item,
piece of equipment, or product
system whether acquired off the
shelf, modified, or customized that is
used to increase, maintain or
improve functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities.
Public Law 108-364 Assistive Technology Act of 1998 as amended 2004
Assistive technology is a tool used by an
individual with a disability to complete a
work task or job function.
Rehab Engineering
Rehab Engineering
Trackball
Voice Recognition Software
Headset
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Large Keyboards
Track ball mouse
Typing Aid
Word Prediction software (Word Q)
Speech Recognition Software (Dragon Naturally
Speaking)
Accessibility Options
 Sticky Keys
 Filter Keys
 On Screen Keyboard
 Speech Recognition
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Version 12 in 2012
Premium edition often used by people
with fine motor impairments; Home
edition for those with some ability to
type/use mouse
Complicated; requires the ability to learn
commands
Can be frustrating
More robust voice profiles mean less
training “out of the box”
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Windows Accessibility (
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Magnifier & Narrator )
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High Contrast Keyboard
Magnifiers
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Screen Magnification
(ZoomText)
Screen Reader (JAWS)
Speech Recognition
(Dragon Naturally
Speaking)
CCTVs
Braille Note Takers
Braille Displays
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Screen magnification software
Can customize level of magnification
needed
Also can read text on the screen
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Reads information on the screen
Replaces viewing of the monitor
Used by people without vision
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QWERTY Keyboard
Braille Keyboard
Braille Display
Portable
Wireless
Digital Recorder / Player
Optional GPS
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Braille Input Keyboard
Attach to Windows Computers
Attach to I-Devices
Attach to Android devices
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Enlarge / Magnify
Change Color Contrast
Desktop Magnifiers
Portable Magnifiers
Handheld Magnifiers
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Text to speech
Facilitates reading fluency, but not
comprehension
Useful for people with print or visual
disabilities
Supports study skills
Natural Reader and Read Please have
less features, can be downloaded free
 www.naturalreaders.com
 www.readplease.com
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Canes
Walkers
A chair or stool for resting
Scooters
wheelchairs
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Telephone amplification
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Closed Captioning
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Accessibility/Universal
Access options for visual
alerts and captions
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* VDDHH, Virginia
Department for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing a good
resource
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Voice recorder
Livescribe Smartpen
Smartphone/PDA
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Needs assessment
Psychosocial factors
Sensorimotor skills
 Vision
 Motor skills: strength, range of motion, fine motor
 Sensation: light touch/deep pressure, proprioception
Cognitive abilities
Caregiver support
Environment of usage
vendor support
Training available
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Poor fit (no comprehensive assessment)
Inexperience with AT/insufficient
training in use
Family/caregiver/employer not buying
into use or sabotages AT
Limited motivation to use AT (Not
comfortable with tech, doesn’t like AT)
Limited motivation to achieve goal
WITHOUT AT
 Carrie
Clawson
• Carrie.Clawson@dars
.virginia.gov
• 703-539-9454
 Brad
Miles
• Brad.Miles@dbvi.virgi
nia.gov
• 703-359-1108
 DARS
• 703-359-1124
 Department
for
Aging and
Rehabilitation
Services (DARS)
• 703-359-1124
 Department
for the
Blind and Vision
Impaired (DBVI)
• 703-359-1100