Assistive Technology Scavenger Hunt
Assistive Technology gives children opportunities to participate fully in their
environment whether in classrooms, communities or at home. When children
with varying needs are included in general education classrooms, assistive
technology can be used as a great tool to give them access to the curriculum,
activities, and social opportunities with their peers. This Assistive Technology
Scavenger Hunt will challenge you in finding valuable information on how and
why AT can enhance the lives of students with disabilities. Check out the
website on Legal and Policy Directives at
https://www.courses.umd.edu/SCRIPT/EDUC698ODP000/scripts/student/serve_page.pl/EDUC698ODP000/EDUC477_Readings2.html?1015600543+1873178324+OFF+classnotes
_Legal%20and%20Policy%20Directives.pdf+
to answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are FAPE and LRE and how are they relevant to students
receiving AT?
Can you list at least two legal directives which directly influence
assistive technology and explain why?
What program is developed to ensure that children have a plan of
action to meet their specific needs, goals, and objectives?
How does PL 100-407 define assistive technology?
List several examples of AT used outside of school systems (ex. In the
workforce).
Please continue the scavenger hunt by viewing the Resource Guide for Teachers
and Administrators about Assistive Technology at
http://www.wati.org/materials/pdf/resource%20guide%20-%20general.pdf
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Should all educators be aware of AT and why?
Who determines whether a student should have AT?
What law mandates the school systems’ responsibility in providing AT
to students with disabilities?
List at least two websites that provide AT resources for teachers and
families.
What types of AT can help with recreation and leisure activities (ex.
toys)?
Hello everyone,
I am new to the class. My name is Yolanda Brooks. I’m in the master’s program
majoring in Infancy and Early Childhood, Special Education. I plan to finish this
summer. In addition to being a student, I am also a wife and mother. I look forward to
taking this class. This is my first WEB CT course.
As for tonight’s assignment:
In response to this quote, as our readings this week on the “Legal and Policy Directives”
point out according to IDEA children with disabilities are entitled to a least restrictive
education, which may mean for some of these kids education in a general classroom
setting. Furthermore in providing a free and appropriate public education, also mandated
by the law, children with disabilities may have access to services such as PT, OT, AT,
etc. which can further enhance their educational opportunities. That said how can
teachers feel more adequate in meeting the needs of children with disabilities?
The teachers I’ve worked with at my son’s school and in my current master’s program
love children. However, there are some teachers who need an attitude adjustment about
children with disabilities and their needs/abilities. Once teachers can view them as
capable, if the correct services are put into place, then they will be able to truly include
children with disabilities in their classrooms.
In addition, tapping into the abundance of resources available through the school systems
as well as online can help teachers in working with students with varying needs. As
found in our readings www.ablenet.org has online resources which can help teachers who
are feeling overwhelmed with selecting AT. Furthermore, IEP teams working together
can come up with a plan on what is needed to help a child with a disability meet their
indiviudal goals. To assist teachers who feel overwhelmed, more training in the areas of
AT may be necessary.
In addressing the concerns of parents of non-disabled students in the classroom, these
parents and their children should be made aware of the mutual benefits of including
children with disabilities in the general education classroom. Not only are children with
disablities being given opportunities to learn and socialize with their typically developing
peers, the typical peers are given chances to see that children are children regardless of
their abilities. This is a valuable lesson because these are the peers they will be growing
up with, seeing in their community, and eventually working and living with in society. In
addition, some of the children with disabilities who are included in the general classroom
may have an assigned aide to assist with their needs. This can also benefit the classroom
as a whole because that extra adult can help with activities and provide added assistance
to the classroom teacher.
Taking advantage of the positives that children with disaiblities can bring to a classroom
can further enhance the lives of all who come into contact with them. As the reading on
“A Resource Guide for Teachers and Administrators” points out, there are a wide array of
resources available. If teachers, parents, and specialists can tap into these resources they
can make the lives of the child as well as their own a little easier.