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=//Welcome to at4u. The difinitive wiki for assistive technology information.//= =Check the following subject areas and add or modify as needed.= Bookmark this page and check back from time to time.

**Assistive Technology Defined:**
Assistive Technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks. According to disability advocates, technology, all too often, is created without regard to people with disabilities, and unnecessary barriers make new technology inaccessible to hundreds of millions.

Universal (or broadened) accessibility, or universal design means excellent usability, particularly for people with disabilities. A classic example of an assistive technology that has improved everyone's life is the "curb cuts" in the sidewalk at street crossings. While these curb cuts surely enable pedestrians with mobility impairments to cross the street, they have also aided parents with carriages and strollers, shoppers with carts, and travelers and workers with pull-type bags, not to mention skateboarders and inline skaters.

Consider an example of an assistive technology. The modern telephone is not accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Combined with a text telephone (also known as a TDD [Telephone Device for the Deaf] and in the USA generally called a TTY[TeleTYpewriter]), which converts typed characters into tones that may be sent over the telephone line, the deaf person is able to communicate immediately at a distance. Together with "relay" services (where an operator reads what the deaf person types and types what a hearing person says) the deaf person is then given access to everyone's telephone, not just those of people who possess text telephones. Many telephones now have volume controls, which are primarily intended for the benefit of people who are hard of hearing, but can be useful for all users at times and places where there is significant background noise.

Another example: calculators are cheap, but a person with a mobility impairment can have difficulty using them. Speech recognition software could recognize short commands and make use of calculators a little easier. People with cognitive disabilities would appreciate the simplicity; others would as well.

We sometimes tend to think of AT as the mega-expensive computer set-up that will automate any task and remove barriers for the physically or cognitively challenged. However, AT can be as uncomplicated as a 15¢ rubber pencil grip that enables the user to effectively hold the pencil while doing math computations or putting ideas into words on paper.

**Examples Of Assistive Technology:**
Rubber pencil grips, adapted eating utensils, PDA, lined and plain NCR paper, voice recognition software, colored overlays for reading, switches to replace a computer mouse, large print books, books on tape, podcasts, predictive word processing software, raised line paper, mechanical page turner, portable word processors like the Writer or AlphaSmart, joystick computer control, printer number, talking calculator, big key calculator, highlighter pen, DynaVox, Franklin Spell check device, non-slip shelf liner material, soft earplugs, screen reader, membrane keyboard, visual schedule, timer, graphic organizer (Inspiration of Kidspiration)

**Assistive Technology Sources:**
[| www.donjohnston.com] [| www.amdi.net] [| www.abilitations.com] http://www.inspiration.com http://www.inclusivetlc.com http://www.ablenetinc.com http://laureateLearning.com

**Assistive Technology In A School Setting:**
When Assistive Technology is properly applied in a school setting, barriers to learning are reduced or removed. Think of AT as the tool that will help the student connect with the curriculum. Here are some examples. Please add more of your own.

Visually impaired students can access their printed textbooks in several ways. Stories or chapters can be recorded as audio MP3 files and loaded on an ipod, or any Mac or PC computer, for later listening by one student or a group. The MP3 files can also be sent to a students home computer as an email attachment. Another way for visually impaired students to access their curriculum is to scan their textbooks using a Kurzweil software program. After the text pages have been scanned into a computer file, the software will "read" the dtories or chapters to the student via a synthesized computer voice. The text will also be shown on the computer screen as it's "read". It may be slowed in speed as needed or the text may be enlarged for improved viewing.

Students who have difficulty getting their ideas on paper may benefit from predictive word processing software. This software anticipates what the student is trying to type and offers word choices in a dropdown menu. The student just clicks on the desired word and it's placed in the sentence. An entire sentence can be written with just a few key strokes and mouse clicks. Other students may take advantage of voice recognition software, either commercial programs or built in to existing computer OS software, to dictate their ideas to a computer and then see their spoken word turned into text and printed. This solution works best with those who have 4th grade or above reading skills due to the need to read tutorial passages that "teach' the computer the individual's speech patterns. Clear speech is also necessary. Students who have difficulty organizing their ideas prior to writing benefit from graphic organizer software such as Inspiration that offers the opportunity to "brainstorm" ideas and then arrange them into an organized outline prior to writing**.**

Students who have difficulty using a standard calculator may find a large key calculator or a "talking" calculator helpful. Although a bit harder to find, a portable calculator that prints to a paper roll can also be beneficial for checking work. Many teachers still frown on students who use calculators. But, if the student knows the process and doesn't know multiplication facts, the assistive technology offered by the calculator makes the difference between success and failure.

Funding for assistive technology in the classroom generally runs out before the needs are met. Take advantage of a wealth of FREE software on the internet by doing a "Google" search for such things as, "Free screen reader", "Free math games", "Free on-line educational games", and more. There are literally millions of items available on line to augment the software you buy.


 * Where To find Assistive Technology Support:** [| www.atsregistry.com] (Assistive Technology Specialist Registry)