Assistive Technology in the School Setting

Adams 12 Five Star SchoolsAssistive Technology Team

Maureen CastilloMaureen Kasa

Rose O’Donnell Michelle Thomas

Divide a piece of paper into four sections:

Objectives

Legal Definition of Assistive Technology

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines AT as both a device and a service:

Assistive Technology DeviceAny 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 a child with a disability.

Assistive Technology ServiceAny service that directly assists a child with a disability in the

selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

“Assistive Technology – Enabling Dreams”

• http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video

• Look for AT devices and services in the video

Three Areas of Focus

Academics - Writing

• Handwriting• Organization• Spelling• Speed• Note Taking• Editing

Graphic Organizers

• Story starters/maps/frames• Webbing strategies• Outlines• Fill in blanks/boxes/cloze

• Goal: Provide structure/framework to help students organize/focus their writing

Test Taking Strategies

• Word banks• Numbered word banks• Yes/no or true/false• Circling choices• Multiple choice

• Goal: Focus is on content mastery, not on writing ability

I Have a Dream

Fill in the blanks.

“I ____ a dream that my four little _____ will one day _______ in a nation where they _____ not be judged by the _____ of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

I Have a Dream

Word Bank: 1. have 2. will 3. children 4. color 5. live

“I ____ a dream that my four little _____ will one day _______ in a nation where they _____ not be judged by the _____ of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Color Coding

• Crossword puzzles• Parts of speech• Specific boxes• Beginning/end

• Goal: Draw attention to specific items to reduce visual scene

Labels/Stickers

• Name/date/class• Vocabulary• Worksheets

• Goal: Testing content, not writing ability across curriculum areas/time efficiency

Pictures

• Magazines• Drawings• Internet (google or yahoo images)• Digital photos• Software

• Goal: Represent ideas on more concrete level

Moving on to Higher Tech Solutions…

Microsoft Word – Accessibility Features

• Keyboard Shortcuts • Size and Zoom Options • Toolbar and Menu Options • Color Options• Auto-Summarize

Portable Word Processor

AlphaSmart The Writer

Software for Writing

• Word Prediction– Co:Writer– Kurzweil– IntelliTools

Classroom Suite

• Talking Word Processor– Write:OutLoud– Kurzweil– IntelliTools Classroom

Suite

More Software for Writing

• Voice Recognition– Dragon Dictate

• Graphic Organizers– Inspiration– Kidspiration

Academics - Reading

Text to Speech Software

• WriteOutLoud • Classroom Suite• Kurzweil / WYNN• ReadPlease.com

• Talking Word Processor– Write:OutLoud– READPLEASE

Highlight as you readMultiple voicesReading rate controlRead menus, toolbars

Start to Finish Books

•Age Appropriate High Interest Chapter Books•2 Readability levels•3 formats•Fluency Practice•Comprehension checks•Literature/History through people/science/mystery/sports

Academics - Math

Difficulties to overcome in math

• Cannot retain facts• Cannot write the work legibly• Cannot see the materials• Cannot read the directions and word problems

• What skills are you assessing?

Math Solutions

• Use a calculator when you can’t memorize facts• Use a talking calculator for visual issues• Use raised lines on paper to guide writing when

there are motor control problems• Math worksheets on the computer

Communication

Communication Devices

• There are many different communication devices, here are a few companies to check out:– Dynavox– Prentke Romich– WordsPlus– Blink Twice– Ablenet– Enabling Devices

Imagine……a world where you are unable to speak

…everyone around you is talking

…you have A LOT to say!!

…you are in a wheelchair and have difficulty accessing your tool.

And…you have no functional use of your hands…

10 Wishes From a Student Who Uses Alternative

CommunicationI wish my teacher would learn how to use my talker.I wish my teacher wouldn’t have a heart attack when my talker doesn’t work. I wish my teacher would joke with me.I wish my teacher would have more patience with me.I wish my teacher would remember that I don’t always spell very well.I wish my teacher would call on me for “Share Day”.I wish my teacher would stop shouting at me like I can’t hear.I wish my teacher wouldn’t hit my talker when it isn’t working. That’s my mouth she’s hitting!I wish I could walk and talk like my brother and sister

Access

Alternative Keyboard

• May be programmable

• Customize overlays for individual needs

• May be designed for use with one-hand

Portable Word Processor

• Take notes• Write first drafts• Keep

assignments organized

• Transfer work to computer to edit

Switches

• Can Emulate Mouse Clicks

• Run Single Switch Software

• Use with PowerLink for Environmental Control

• Access to recreation activities

Case Study - Jamie

• 1st Grader• ADHD – extremely short attention span for paper

pencil tasks• Enjoys computers and video games• Loves to be active• Is very fidgety• Significant difficulties with handwriting• Very verbal and shares great stories• Teacher is afraid he is too dependent on his aide

Learning Standard for Writing

• Standard 3: Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions

• Benchmarks:• 1. Uses conventions of print in writing • 2. Uses complete sentences • 3. Uses declarative and interrogative sentences• 4. Uses nouns• 5. Uses verbs

Solutions for Jamie?

• Graphic organizers (either low or high tech – theme based; addresses inventiveness and expression)

• Word cards (manipulate into sentences to improve structure)• Writing with pictures and words on the computer (software/object to print match)• Talking Word Processor

(software to provide auditory feedback – encourages comprehension and independence)