An Overview of Assistive TechnologySPE 545

Persons involved in AT:

• Parents, users, families • Educational program administrators • Educators of all types• Social workers• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) • Occupational therapists • Physical therapists

Purposes of AT Increase productivity

Improve life quality

Enable communication

Facilitate learning

Independence and access

to the community

Expanded control over

their environment

Friendship

Functional

Enabling

Augmentative

Efficient

Adaptive

AT Continuum

High Tech

Light Tech

No Tech

AT No Tech

• Adaptation of common objects

• Does not have electronic components

• Can include an accommodation, change in the environment, flexible scheduling

AT Light Tech

Examples:

• Slant Board

• Tape Recorders

• Changes in text size, in spacing, in background color

• Calculator

• Reading pen

• Highlighter tape

• Color filters

Easily accessibleLow costUsed by Peers

AT High Tech

• Word Processor

• Word Prediction Software

• Talking Word Processor

• Multimedia Software

• Voice Recognition Software

Higher costSometimes makes student feel “different” from peers

Resources

• U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

• The National AT Reuse Center:

http://www.passitoncenter.org/• Infinitec, Inc. (a joint effort of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater

Chicago and United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., Washington D.C)

http://www.infinitec.org/• ISBE: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/SPEC-ED/html/assist_tech.htm• Association of AT Act Programs http://www.ataporg.org/atap/index.php• Illinois State Resources

http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/cerebral-palsy-assistance/illinois• Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP)

http://www.iltech.org • Illinois Life Span

http://www.illinoislifespan.org/index.asp