What is Assistive Technology???

The term assistive technology may be uncommon to most people. I had no idea what this term met when I initially heard it. I am going to share with you the information that I obtained after doing some careful research and I will also list the different types of assistive technology that you could obtain for your classroom or home.

Assistive Technology is defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004  and it states that "assistive technology is 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." (IDEA 2004, Sec.  1401 (1)(A)). 

This also includes "any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." (IDEA 2004, Sec.  1401 (2))

This basically means that the IDEA 2004 definition consist of assistive technology devices and services for children with disabilities. This does not include surgically implanted or replaced devices for medical purposes.

Assistive Technology 

and 

Individual Educational Plans 

Individual Educational Plans (IEP's) are a set of legal documents that hold the plans and steps that will be taking place to help a child with disabilities throughout a school year. Usually a team of people who consist of teachers, parents and other needed professionals who maybe in direct contact with this child will meet. During this meeting, they set goals and decided what things need to be in place to help the child with special needs. Assistive technology is usually what they call an accommodation or modification on the IEP. If this is something that is needed to assist the child in the classroom then it will be discussed and added on to the IEP.

Click on the link below for added details 

"Did you know that most forms of assistive technology is usually helpful for the classroom in general"

Here is the Assistive Technology Continuum 

Low Tech Tools

These tools are usually non expensive and has no electronic component. They are often simple tools that make daily task easier to manage. At the bottom I listed a few examples of these tools and links where you can find them.

• Magnetic Letters 

https://www.target.com/p/educational-insights-alpha-magnets-jumbo-multicolored-uppercase-42pc/-/A-51922764

• Paper Holder (Clip Board)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/School-Smart-Low-Profile-Acrylic-Clipboard-12-3-8-x-8-7-8-x-5-8-Inches-Plastic-Assorted/137068904

• Extra-Wide Shafted: Pencils, Crayons, & Markers

https://www.target.com/p/4ct-my-first-ticonderoga-2-pencils-with-sharpener/-/A-52223218
https://www.target.com/p/crayola-16ct-jumbo-crayons/-/A-53626942
https://www.target.com/p/crayola-10ct-washable-broad-line-markers-classic-colors/-/A-15225908


Mid-Tech Tools
These tools are usually lees expensive than high tech tools. They contain small electronic components and are useful during a single task. At the bottom I listed a few examples of these tools and links where you can find them.

• Calculator

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Calculator-Helect-Standard-Function-Desktop-Calculator-Blue-H1001B/679609750?variantFieldId=actual_color

• Digital Recorder

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DICTOPRO-Meetings-Noise-700h-Digital-Time-With-Activated-Reduction-Mini-8GB-Microphone-Tape-Memory-Recorder-Lectures-Double-Dictaphone-X100-Portable-/185301944

• Audio Book

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Me-Reader-Sesame-Street-Other-9781503707023/794339618?athcpid=794339618&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVAV&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=aa2f94e4-867-1726119bc08dd6&athancid=null&athena=true

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Barnes-Noble-NOOK-GlowLight-3-eReader-6-model-New-8GB/191518172

High-Tech Tools
Now these tools are the most costly. The high tech tools are items of modern technology so they cane useful in many different task.  At the bottom I listed a few examples of these tools and links where you can find them.

• iPads / Tablets

https://www.target.com/p/apple-ipad-10-2-inch-wi-fi-only-7th-generation/-/A-78305935?preselect=54184215#lnk=sametab

• Desktop Computer

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-23-8-touch-screen-all-in-one-intel-core-i5-12gb-memory-256gb-solid-state-drive-snowflake-white/6331729.p?skuId=6331729

• Smart Board

https://www.smartboards.com/collections/interactive-displays/products/tango-touch-interactive-flat-panel-55

Assistive technology is no longer an unfamiliar term for me after all the information that I discovered. It is something that is useful to students with special needs but it can also be helpful to the entire classroom in general. 

I hope this information was helpful!