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This wiki contains information for students in the course Introduction to Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation, held July 7-18, 2008 at the University of Delaware. To login, type EDUC652-040. Question 1-What is your definition of assistive technology? Cite examples at your school and in the community. Assistive technology means having the the use of equipment or a product to allow for maintaining or improving one's functional capabilities in order to be successful in the learning environment. Some examples at my school are two students that I know who have visual impairment. Both of them have access to the use of a laptop and also a type of scanning device that allows them to read print (i.e. larger fonts) and see pictures at even higher levels than available on MS Word for example. They also receive textbooks that are enlarged at an outside source with extra large fonts. Another student with hearing loss has an interpreter. We also have students who have IEPs written that state the student needs to use sticky post-its to help with organization as well as graphic organizers. My local Hardees employs a biscuit maker who uses a wheelchair daily while rolling the dough. I've seen him use a few tools from a distance that were adapted specifically for his baking and cooking needs, as well as a special counter that

Krista- My definition of assitive technology is a simple one. It is using any sort of device, anywhere from high to low tech that ENABLES students to be able to perform tasks they would not normally be able to perform easily. Next year I will have a student with a visual impairement who has assistive technology to enlarge print. They also blow up his textbooks, and all handouts have to be blown up as well. When I can I have students participate in Webquests and create power points. Most of my students have learning disabilities and using the computer helps them stay focused and have many forms of information. Many of my students like to make power points because they are not confident in their writing/drawing abilities and a power point presentation looks more professional. My church has a large 50+ community. They make the church bulletin's in larger print and have larger print bibles. They installed an elevator for the people who are in wheelchairs to be able to come up to fellowship hall after church.

To me, assistive technology is anything that allows a person to manipulate or be in control of their environment. I teach preschoolers with special needs that over the years have included students with autism, CP, Down Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, chromosome deletions, and developmental delays. All of the children's different abilities has forced me to learn several different AT devices. Currently I have children in my room who use PECS books, a low tech device, and one child who uses a Springboard, a high tech device. Learning to use these devices myself and teaching them to the children in my class has allowed all of us to communicate with each other in the easiest way possible. My classroom also includes three "typically developing" children who know just as much about assistive tech as I do, and love to explain to visitors the different ways in which their classmates talk. I use some low tech devices every day in my own life. I keep a plan book with all of my appointments and activities in it, if it was ever lost, I would be lost too. I also have Post-Its around my room reminding me of the things I need for the day that are not in my planner. An example of AT in the community would be people who use the word completion mode on their cell phones as they type text messages. Personally, this mode confuses me, but for some it really works.

Leah-Assistive technology means having the use of various tools which allows for an individual with special needs to be "mainstreamed" into the general education classroom, gaining self-esteem and self-determination for the individual. Assisstive technology will allow for an individual with special needs to function independently within the classroom. Some low-tech devices are used in my own preschool classroom for children within the autism spectrum regarding language and sensory issues. For example, one child uses a weighted vest to control his movement within the classroom. PECS is also used in my classroom to help with transitions throughout the day and for communication purposes. Both of these low tech devices help the children in my classroom join with the other children in the classroom, in a positive and successful manner. Children, through the help of AT devices, can enjoy learning.

Rachel- When i think of assistive technology, I think of any type of device or system (simple or complex) that allows individuals to be more independent in their environment. I teach students with autism and many of them use a communication book. I make their pictures with the boardmaker program, which I find easy to use. Within PECS, one can play around with the layouts, sizes, and various pictures for an item. Some of my students use bigger pictures than others, and I have had a few students who instead of using pictures for their daily schedule, use words. I have also had some other students who use a bit higher tech devices such as "techtalk" and one student is beginning to use a "springboard". The most difficult part is learning how to navigate the various devices. Also many of the devices have to be programmed so it takes a good amount of time playing around and learning about the device. I have also had some students that use a slant board to help them write, a seat cushion for positioning, and weighted utensils to help with proper eating. Within the community, many bathrooms have the written word on the door as well as the braille word under it. In my personal life, I use post it's and sticky's all the time to remind myself of things i need to get or appointments i have.

Nancy- For me, assistive technology is just that--technology/tools that ASSIST! Assitance implies making something run smoother, simpler or easier. Some people are reluctant to learn about such devices, without realizing that they use them everyday themselves! Computers, bluetooth headsets, PDAs--all can become second nature with a little practise. The difference for others, however, is that for them, these devices are not just tools to make things easier. They are a necesssity to "even the playing field" with others. Having a translator or captioning device does not give a student with a hearing impairment an advantage over her peers. Rather, it makes her JUST LIKE THEM to begin with. Presently, I do not have any students who use augmentative communication devices and specialized assistive technology. However, I have had visually impaired students who used Perkins Braillers, Kurzweill readers, auditory texts,etc. Tools such as these allowed these students to fully access the regular curriculum. I look forward to learning more about augmentative communication devices in this course.

Phoebe - I used to think of assistive technology only in terms of how I saw it used within the community. For example, I identified it in the form of wheelchairs, scooters, braille on ATM machines, ramps into buildings, etc. It was only after I started working in the field of Special Education that I began to realize how important assistive technology is within schools, too. Like within the community, assistive technology within schools consists of anything external that helps a student function. It can be as simple as a pencil grip that allows a student to hold a pencil easier or as complex as software that predicts a student's words. In my class of 5th grade children with autism, one boy could not write well, regardless of years of OT. He was allowed a scribe at times, such as during testing, but at other times he used an AlphaSmart to record his work since he typed better than he gripped a pencil. After he was done his work, I would simply plug the AlphaSmart into the computer and print his work out to be graded. This was the main assistive technology device I used this past year. Another student could not sit properly at his desk and often twisted his back up in painful ways. The OT got him a large bouncing ball to balance on, and that remained his desk "chair" for the rest of the year. I wouldn't have originally considered that assistive technology, but now that I think about it, I think it can fall under that category, too.