Introduction+to+Assistive+Technology

= //Introduction to Assistive Technology// =

Our Podcast: Introduction to Assistive Technology media type="file" key="podcast1.mp3" width="240" height="20" align="center"

Firstly, assistive technology is defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (also known as the IDEA 2004) and is divided into two areas of use: the **device** and the **services**.
 * Definition: **
 * According to the IDEA 2004, a device is known as “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 a child with a disability.” In other words, the //device// can be hand-made or bought object that is customized to facilitate or improve the capabilities of a student with a disability. Altered from the IDEA 1997, devices no longer include a medical device that is surgically implemented, such as a cochlear implant.
 *  The term //“service”// is defined as the services that directly assists a student with a disability including the evaluation of the student’s needs, the purchase of the devices, the selection and customization of the device, the cooperation of therapies and interventions in order for the device to be useful, and the training or technical services needed for the student and for the professionals working with the student.

The spectrum of devices according to their electronic use, training, and expense are categorized into what is called the assistive technology continuum. The devices can be divided into one of the three categories:


 * Low-tech tools (little to no electronic components, little/low training, low cost) examples: pencil grip, slant board, communication boards
 * Mid-tech tools (moderate use of electronic components, training usually needed, moderate cost) examples: Alphasmart keyboard, digital recorders
 * High-tech tools (high use of electronic components, training is needed, high cost)Examples: iPad, laptop, software

** Legalities ** ====Assistive technology focuses on three federal laws: the IDEA 2004, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ====
 * 1) ====The IDEA 2004 provides the reauthorized definition of assistive technology. As mentioned previously, it has been altered from the IDEA 1997 to exclude medical procedures, such as cochlear implants, out of the definition of an assistive technology device. ====
 * 2) ====Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act gives an overall statement that no disabled citizen should be excluded, discriminated, or denied the benefits of receiving Federal financial assistance. This gives students with disabilities the right to attain their needs in order for them to benefit themselves through their education. ====
 * 3) ====The ADA is a law regarding the civil rights towards citizens with disabilities. It generally states that discrimination towards citizens with disabilities with not be tolerated and this extends to public places, educational facilities, places of employment, and transportation and communicative services. It mentions the use of “auxiliary aids and services” must be provided to make the area or service attainable to a person with a disability. ====

To look further into laws regarding assistive technology, please visit: []
 * Decision Making **

Several components and teams are used in the decision making towards the use of assistive technology.

 * ====**The SETT framework **, which stands for Student, Environment, Tasks, & Tools, provides a general structure of what should focused on and considered through this process. When going through the framework, questions should be asked, such as: what is the student like? What is their age? What are his/interests? What are skills that he/she needs to improve on? How accessible is their classroom and home? What resources are available to the student? What tasks is the student doing throughout their day? What strategies or tools can be used to improve their quality of work? What can help them be more efficient? ====
 * ====Teams that are considered in the decision making are the Child Study Team and the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) team. The CST consists of the social worker, the school psychologist, and the LDT-C, while the IEP team involves the general education teacher, the special education teacher, therapists (O.T., P.T., Speech), the parents, and the student when they reach the age of fourteen. Both of the teams work accordingly to seek the best fit of technology for the student and meet recurrently to discuss the strengths and improvements that the student has made. ====

Resources: Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). // Assistive Technology in the Classroom //. (Second Ed ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.