Assistive Technology Basics
Medley Sapp, AT Lead
Sharon Jasperson, Technical Assistant
You Tube SLT Graduates 2012 Giving
Voice-Call Me Maybe Parody
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMvvkEw
dX_Y
http://sssd.ccsd.net/assistivetech.html
• Assistive Technology Services
2551 Vegas Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 855-8440
• Access our website through SSD Exchange:
– Departments/areas
– Assistive Technology Website (NO FLAG)
– Forms
AT Consideration:
When to mark “Yes” or “No” on the
Special Factors Page
CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL FACTORS:
When does an IEP Team check “Yes”
to the “assistive technology” question?
Assistive Technology Service is defined as: Any service which directly
assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an
assistive technology device. The term includes:
A. an evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional
evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment;
B. Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive
technology devices by children with disabilities;
C. Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining,
repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
D. Coordinating or using other therapy, interventions, or services with assistive
technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and
rehabilitation plans and programs;
E. Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that
child’s family; and
F. Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing
education or rehabilitation services), employers or other individuals who provide
services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions
of that child.
With these definitions in mind, to determine whether to check
“Yes” or “No”, IEP Teams should ask the following:
1. Does the student require a device or service that falls under the Federal
definition of assistive technology?
2. Is the use of the assistive technology clearly documented in the student’s
IEP as required in order to achieve FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)
or benefit from the educational program?
3. Is the use of the assistive technology tied to the Present Levels and
justified by an educational need?
If the IEP Team answers “yes” to the questions above, the Team should check
the “Yes” box. If the IEP Team answers “no”, the Team should check the “No”
box.
Forms
• Equipment Loan form is used to request light
tech devices for students. Fill out the form
completely and fax to the AT office.
• Parent Equipment Loan form is used to devices
to go to and from home. Devices must be sent
back to school each day if it is issued for school.
• Referral Form is used to refer students for AT
assessment. Must be completely filled out and
sent to AT office with signed 555 and current IEP
via school mail (DO NOT FAX).
Referral Process
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Hold an IEP Revision:
Add AT Assessment under Related Services
Check AT on Special Factors Page
Complete Referral packet, send via school mail to
AT #197
• AT Lead conducts assessment/writes report
• Report is returned to the contact on the referral
form.
• IEP Team holds a revision, PLP’s assessment was
conducted and write the recommendations. Add
to modifications/accommodations if team agrees
with recommendations. Complete IEP team
response form and return to the AT office.
Assistive Technology Referral
Information Handout

An Assistive Technology Referral MUST be initiated during an IEP. This can be done at an annual
or a revision.

Before the IEP
o If Assistive Technology is going to be discussed at the IEP, make sure that AT is listed on
the prior notice.

During the IEP
o At the IEP, requesting an Assistive Technology is a Team decision
o Present levels should discuss students current functioning, strengths, and weaknesses
in the area of concern (e.g., communication, writing, etc)
o Four things must be done at the IEP
 (1) on the Special Factors page, question #5 must be marked "yes"
 (2) on the Related Services page add Assistive Technology from the pull down
menu and indicate "Assess" (beginning date is date of the IEP and for ending
date count 45 school days)
 (3) A Consent for Evaluation form will be generated within the IEP at the
bottom. Add “Assessment for Assistive Technology” in the box and have the
parents sign the 555
 (4) Have members of the IEP sign the AT Referral or AT Re-Referral paperwork
 If the concern is communication, SLP must sign the referral
 If the concern is with written expression, OT must sign the referral

After the IEP
o After the IEP, complete the AT Referral paperwork and print out a copy of the current
IEP and send through school mail to Location #197:
 signed 555
 a copy of the IEP
 completed & signed AT Referral or AT Re-Referral Paperwork.

AFTER THE AT ASSESSMENT
o Schedule an IEP
 On the Present Levels page add Assistive Technology's recommendation and
date.
 Remove Assistive Technology from the Related Services page
 Add the recommended device to the Accommodations page in general terms
(i.e. dynamic display communication device)
 Infuse the recommended device into any existing communication/writing/etc.
goals as another way to achieve those goals.
 REMEMBER:
o
o
Assistive Technology will never be a goal on its own
Assistive Technology will not be a direct or consult service on the Related Service Page
AT Web Based Supports
• News 2 You (Subscriptions provided based on
prior use)
• Pogoboards (Web based Picture
Communication Symbol Program, all schools
have subscriptions)
Outside Resources
Nevada Special Education Technology Assistance
Project (NSETAP) www.nsetap.com
Gives information on Nevada’s system for providing
accessible instructional materials to students who
need them.
Outside Resources Con’t
Bookshare www.bookshare.org
An online library of digital materials (books,
textbooks, newspapers) for individuals with print
disabilities, that is free for qualified U.S. students and
schools. Registration documentation of a disability is
required.
Site Based Software
ECS’ have CD’s with AT software.
• Draftbuilder
• MathPad
• Mathpad+
• Pixwriter
• CoWriter
• Write Outloud
• Shareware
Site Based Equipment
• Equipment issued by AT for specific sites; for
use by students but does not go with a
student when they transition or change
schools.
• Light tech devices
Light Tech Devices
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Cheap Talk (with levels)
Go Talk (4,9,20)
PECS books, PCS
Fusion
Toys
Switches (Interface, Jelly Bean, Big Mack)
Powerlink
Touch monitor
Intellikeys
Voice Pod
All Turn It Spinner
Big Mack, One Step, Little Mack
• Be sure it has a battery 9volt
• Turn the device on
• Push the little button on the
side and the top of the device
and talk. Release when you are
finished.
Cheap Talk, Tech Speak, Tech Talk
• Be sure it has 4 AA Batteries (available through
your school secretary)
• Turn the device on
• Push the little button on the side and the square
at the top of the device and talk. Release when
you are finished.
• You can do this again on 6-8 levels simply by
turning the knob to a different level and repeating
the steps above. This means you have 6-8 sets of
messages (pages or overlays of messages) Design
different scripts for each activity or overlay.
Go Talk4, 9, 9+, 20+
• This device needs 4 AA Batteries
• Turn it on
• Select the level you want to record on (you have 5
levels to choose from) by pushing this button
• Press and release the record button on back
• Then press and hold the square you want to record
on (the light will blink) hit any square to stop
recording then repeat this process on the next
square.
• Hit the “record” button on back again when finished
Adjust
volume
here
Go Talks
• Important--The message squares
ringed in white are special.
Whatever is recorded on these
squares will be on every level. So
record messages here you want on
each page such as Help, “I need a
break”, Bathroom. Drink etc.
***Also please note that instructions
are written on the back.
Switches
• Switches come in all varieties and can be
activated with different body parts if needed
• A switch is chosen based on the student’s
needs
• Plate switches such as jellybeans are the most
commonly used
Ideas for Use:
• Handouts: 200 things you can do with a Big
Mack, 100 things you can turn on with a
switch.
• Cheap Talks and Go Talks: Record stories with
overlays, one story per level, errorless learning
correct answer overlays, correct/incorrect
answer overlays.
Switch Interface
• This Box (Switch Interface) is especially
designed to allow you to plug a switch
into a computer so children can
operate the computer by hitting a
switch.
• Simply plug the switch interface box
into any USB port.
• Then plug the switch into the first hole
on the left marked “click”
• Cause and Effect Software/Shareware
Disk (Demo by Sherry)
Intellikeys
An enlarged keyboard for the computer
Must install the driver software
for the device to work
Just plug it into a USB port,
put the display you want
on the device and it automatically
knows what’s on it.
If you want to know more
Come to an Intellikeys training
With the right software, it is also possible
to program different overlays to play on this
board.
Touch Monitor
• Replaces Touch Windows.
• Plug and Play, no calibration needed.
Powerlink
A Powerlink allows you to turn on anything
that runs by electricity by hitting a switch.
(see 65 things you can turn on with a switch)
•
Simply plug the powerlink into the wall socket
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Plug the device or appliance into the socket on the powerlink
•
Plug the switch into the hole on the same side that you plugged your device into
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The unit allows you to either:
– Use it with direct select which means it will turn on
when you hand is on the switch and off when it isn’t
– Latch the switch
– Lock it so the device will run for a predetermined
number of seconds
– Or lock it so the device will run for a
predetermined number of minutes
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Set the Timer settings for how many seconds or minutes you
want the device to run
Direct Latch
Timed
(seconds)
Timed
(minutes)
High Tech Devices
(Student Based, obtained through referral
process only).
• Dynavox
• iPad
• iPod Touch
• Laptop
• Computer