Assistive Technologies

 The Iowa Department of Education defines an assistive technology device as “any item, pieceof 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” (Definition found at: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=572&Itemid=16073).  This website also lists federal regulations, state rules, as well as links to other web sites that are helpful to educators and parents in Iowa.  The use of assistive technologies is beneficial to many students.  Here are a few examples:

Boardmaker is a program which you can use to create educational tools to help students communicate.  I look forward to utilizing boardmaker next year to create a class schedule as well as visual reminders for students in regards to expectations in the classroom (voice off, raise hand to share, etc.).  To learn more about Boardmaker, check out: http://edtech.wetpaint.com/page/Boardmaker.

I have had students who have used a DynaVox in the past and as I have been researching this topic, I am surprised by how many different versions are available.  These can be found at: http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&ksectionid=0&top=10872&trail=22,10825,10837&discontinued=0.  A DynaVox helps students to become more independent and communicate their wants and needs.  Teachers and students can program information into this machine.  For example, when we have Star of the Week, students can share information about themselves and their families by pushing buttons.

Websites to Attain Assistive Technologies for Students

Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) is a great website that includes links to a variety of places to purchase the appropriate assistive technologies.  This site also has a page that helps you to discover which type of assistive technology is the most beneficial for a specific need as well as links to pages that will help you obtain loans to pay for assistive technology.  It can be found at http://www.iowaat.org/.

Iowa Educators Consortium, which is through Iowa Area Education Agencies, has a site in which you can purchase assistive technology and special needs software:  http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Media%20%26%20Technology%7CAssistive%20Technology%20%26%20Special%20Needs.  These are just two of many sites available online that are helpful in attaining assistive technologies. 

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