This website was born out of an identified need by our district Assistive Technology Committee to give information and resources about assistive technology to staff and families and to identify simple, low tech usable assistive technology and adaptations that can be made to help a student in their learning environment.
The following pages will provide simple ideas for meeting student needs in a variety of ways and in a variety of areas. We hope that you find the information useful and that you check back often as the site grows and expands to include new information and ideas that are submitted by our committee.
"AT refers to a wide range of products and devices that help increase or improve a person’s ability to learn and participate in life. Whether low-tech or high-tech, AT opens doors of possibilities for people with disabilities. " (www.PACER.org)
According to information from the PACER Simon Technology Center ( http://www.pacer.org/stc/index.asp ) Assistive Technology falls onto a continuum. The continuum ranges from No Tech (simple modifications without technology) to High Tech (very advanced, incorporating computers and other complicated devises) with affordable tools and mechanical devises falling somewhere in between.
Assistive Technology also falls into several different catagories:
- Daily Living Aids
- Mobility and Ambulation Aids
- Vision and Hearing Technology
- Seating and Positioning
- Educational Aids: Reading, Writing and Math tools
- Communication Tools
- Computer Access Adaptations
In the pages that follow we will supply information and resources for several of these categories as well as break the education needs down into categories at times as well.
AT Resources:
Simon Technology Center (PACER) www.pacer.org/stc
STAR Program (A System of Technology to Achieve Results) www.admin.state.mn.us/assistivetechnology/
Family Guide to Assistive Technology http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html
Family Center on Technology and Disability www.fctd.info
Closing the Gap www.closingthegap.com
www.assistivetech.net Visitors will find links to Assistive Technology sites, including vendors of assistive technology products.
http://www.atstar.org/atinfo/atcat.htm AT Star
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/downloads/downloads.shtml
http://www.atto.buffalo.edu/ The Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) provides information on AT applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary classrooms
Free and Low Cost Assistive Technology
http://www.directability.com/ Direct Ability lists AT resources for specific needs
We will be looking to add new free and low cost AT alternatives. If you have a great idea you would like to share, please send it to the following:
