Part 1: Introduction to Assistive
Technology
Intro to AT
 The web is a dynamic and changing environment. Sites and URLs listed in this
workshop can change names, move to another location, or just disappear.
 If you attempt to go to a site and it is not there:
1. Check first that you have entered the address correctly. Any error, an extra space, a
capitalized or lower case letter will lead you to a dead-end. Check carefully and try
again.
2. Wait a few moments and try the site again. Sometimes the internet is busy and it
will work fine in awhile.
3. Try using a search engine to find the site. Enter the name, not the URL of the site
you are looking for.
4. Trim the URL by eliminating parts of the address from the right end back. Remove
elements one step at a time from each slash (/…/).
5. Try the Wayback Machine (www.archive.org).
6. If you need to use steps 3 – 5, notify the instructor whether you find the site or not
Laws and AT
 Technology Related Assistance for
Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988
– Know as Tech Act of 1988 (PL 100-407)
• Provided funding for states to develop consumer
information and training programs.
 Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Opened doors to connect all classrooms to the
internet. Guidelines related to the act required
accessibility, usability and compatibility.
Laws and AT (cont)
 Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Act of
1998
– Provides access to career and technical education for
students with disabilities and the purchase of
equipment.
 Assistive Tech Act of 1998 (105-394)
• Supported programs and grants to states to address technology
needs of individuals with disabilities.
 Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (108-364)
• Redirected funding to individuals by providing direct aid to
individuals with disabilities.
• http://www.ataporg.org
Laws and AT (cont)
 Education of All Handicapped Children Act
of 1975 (94-142)
• FAPE and IEP
 IDEA (101-476)
• Transition plan was added. AT devices must be
considered.
 IDEA of 1997 (105-17)
Laws and AT (cont)
 Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004 (108-446)
• Specifically excluded medical devices.
• http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.htm
l
• http://idea.ed.gov/
 ADA (101-336)
• http://www.ada.gov
What is Assistive Technology
 A device or service that can be used as a tool by a person
with a disability to achieve or maintain function.
 Can also be a service
 PL 100-407
 Assistive Technology Device - 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 functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
What is Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology Service - Any service that directly assists
an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use
of an assistive technology device.
This may include:
•Evaluation of the needs
•Purchasing, leasing or providing the device
•Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,
maintaining, repairing or replacing of devices
•coordinating and using therapies, intervention or services with
the technology
•Training or assistance to the person with the disability
•Training or assistance for professionals
 Assistive Technology includes high and low
tech.
– High tech = complex, electronic and electrical
devices such as computers, augmentative
communication boards and environmental
control systems.
– Low tech - simple inventions such as custom
designed hand tools, workstation modifications
and simple, easier to use, less expensive
devices.
Low and Semi Low Tech
Independent Living Aids
http://www.independentliving.com/
MaxiAids.com
http://www.maxiaids.com/
FirsStreet
http://www.firststreetonline.com/category.jsp?id=44674
Disability Products
http://www.disabilityproducts.com/cgi-bin/disabilityproducts.cgi
Active Forever
http://www.activeforever.com/
Universal Design
 Term first used in 1970s by architect Ronald
Mace to refer to designing structures to
avoid common barriers to people in
wheelchairs. Term is now used to refer to
product features that would enhance the
operation of a device by individuals with
disabilities.
. §300.308 Assistive technology
 (a) Each public agency shall ensure that assistive technology devices
or assistive technology services, or both, as those terms are defined in
§§300.5-300.6, are made available to a child with a
 disability if required as a part of the child's 

(1) Special education under §300.26;
(2) Related services under §300.24; or
 (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(12)(B)(i))
. §300.308 Assistive technology
 (3) Supplementary aids and services under §§300.28 and
300.550(b)(2).
 (b) On a case-by-case basis, the use of school-purchased assistive
technology devices in a child's
 home or in other settings is required if the child's IEP team determines
that the child needs access to
 those devices in order to receive FAPE.
Steps in Fundamental Assessment Process
– Intake and Referral
• Personal Information
• Medical history
• Insurance
– Identification of Needs
• Look at every day activities
– Identification of Desired Outcomes
• Show how the technology will improve the individual’s quality
of life
– Develop Team
– Complete a Skills Assessment
– Procure Device
– Implement Technology and Train
– Follow Up
Assistive Technology
 Teams must “consider” what assistive technology students need.
– Each team needs one member who is knowledgeable about the range of
options
• What task is it that we want this student to do that s/he is unable to do at a
level that reflects his/her skills/abilities?
• Is the student currently able to complete tasks with special strategies or
accommodations?
• Is there available assistive technology that could be used to address this task?
• Would the use of A./T. help the student perform the skill?
 The view of Assistive Technology assessment has changed in the
following ways:
– It is ongoing
– It is completed by a local team in the natural setting
 The team should have members who are:
– knowledgeable about the student
– knowledgeable about the curriculum
– knowledgeable about language development
– knowledgeable about motor development
 As a process to organize decisions about assistive technology we can
use SETT Student Environment Task Tool strategy.
Tools for the Team
 Check the WATI Assistive Technology Checklist
– http://www.ideal-group.org/initiatives/access-tomorrow/AT_Checklist.pdf
 Check Technology Toolbox from Computer Resources for People with
Disabilities
– http://www.warrennet.org/at/at%20toolbox/introduction.html
 Review Closing the Gap Resource Directory
– http://www.closingthegap.com/
 Review the National Public Website on Technology
– http://www.assistivetech.net/
Tech Assessment and Implementation Team
 Tacoma School District
– http://classrooms.tacoma.k12.wa.us/specialed/ta
ssistive/index.php
Funding of AT
Families and Advocates
Partnerships for
Education
http://www.fape.org/
The Alliance for
Technology Access
http://www.ataccess.org/r
esources/lowcostnocost/h
tml
Information bulletin
outlining AT services and
devices for infants and
toddlers.
Guide to low-cost and no
cost on-line tools for
people with disabilities
Funding of AT (cont)
Other Sources of Funding Handbook on funding AT
http://www.familyvillage.
wisc.edu/at/fundingat.html
Alliance for Tech Access ATA Centers
Centers
http://www.ataccess.org
http://www.ctcnet.org
Funding of AT (cont)
Volunteer & Charitable
Lions, Elks and Easter
Organizations
Seals provide support
http://www.elks.org/lodge
s/default.cfm
http://www.easterseals.co
m
http://www.lionsclubs.org
Funding of AT (cont)
Disabled Children’s
Relief Fund
http://dcrf.com/
Funding Sources for
Computers
http://www.givetech.org/a
ssistance
Grant monies to obtain
assistance
Funds may be available
from Give Tech for
persons with severe
disabilities
UDL Resources
Center for Universal
Design
http://www.design.ncsu.e
du/cud/
Promotes universal
design in housing, public
and commercial facilities
and related products.
Teaching Every Student Supports educators in
http://www.cast.org/teach learning about and
practicing UDL
ingeverystudent/
UDL Resources (cont)
Toolkits for Teaching
Every Student
http://www.cast.org/teachingeveryst
udent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?t
k_id=41
UDL Planning for All
Learners
http://www.cast.org/teachingeveryst
udent/toolkits/tk_procedures.cfm?tk
_id=21
Toolkits help to
understand and apply
UDL principles in
classrooms. Adapt to
various learning styles.
Helps you select,
assemble or create
flexible learning
materials and methods.
UDL Resources (cont)
National Instructional
Materials Accessibility
Standard (NIMAS)
http://nimas.cast.org/
Guides the production
and electronic
distribution of digital
versions of textbooks and
other instructional
materials so they can be
converted to accessible
formats.
Resources
Technology Integration
Links to sites that have
http://www.ct4me.net/tec tutorials and information
hnology_integration_reso on assistive technology
urces.htm
Universal Design for Learning
•UUniversal Design – CAST
–hhttp://www.cast.org/
•WWeb Review
–hhttp://webxact.watchfire.com/
•TTemplates and Lesson Plan Builder
–hhttp://lessonbuilder.cast.org/