{"id":3114,"date":"2013-03-12T12:51:27","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T12:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=3114"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:33:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:33:18","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-about-assistive-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapy-techniques\/what-you-need-to-know-about-assistive-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"What you Need to Know about Assistive Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

For people without disabilities, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible–International Business Machines (IBM) 1991 training manual<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"k12<\/a>

Source: k12educationtechnology.com<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most of us use technology on a daily basis. Perhaps you use a cell phone calendar to remember your schedule. You might use Google maps to direct you to where you\u2019re going, or you might adapt your e-reader with an increased font to make the text easier. If you use one of these, you use technology to make your life easier. For students with learning disabilities, whether cognitive or physical, assistive technology aims to enhance and improve educational opportunities with the use of the latest technology. They do this by bypassing, working around, or compensating for a child\u2019s specific learning disabilities.\u00a0 In speech-therapy<\/a>, assisstive technology is used to provide access to communication tools that help a child read, write, express or comprehend language.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/xMHuWGUEu2M<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Know the Law:<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), school districts must consider assistive technology for any child in special education. AT must be considered for children with disabilities if it is needed to receive a \u201cfree and appropriate public education.\u201d \u00a0Therefore, all parents should be aware of the many resources that are available to students. They can benefit children of any age\u00a0– from toddler years where a child is reading Brown Bear to the college years of writing a thesis<\/a> – it’s important to know that AT can never start too early or late.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Does AT Include?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Assisstive technology can be \u201clow-tech\u201d (a very simple tool, such as a thicker pencil or pointer), or \u201chigh-tech\u201d (like a sophisticated computer). Supports can be for: math, language arts like writing or reading, organization, listening or memory<\/a>. \u00a0You might have noticed a student with a voice amplifier, large print reading materials, or controls that let them manage their environment from their wheelchair (such as turning on the TV)- these are all Assisstive Technologies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The following list from Schwab Learning highlights some possible AT tools and solutions:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reading<\/p>\n