Transcript SCHOOLS K - 12 - University of South Carolina

SCHOOLS K - 12
Dr. Susan W. Floyd
Education Associate
Speech-Language Disabilities, Assistive Technology
Office of Exceptional Children
South Carolina Department of Education
Individual with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA 2004)
Federal legislation requires consideration
of assistive technology for children with
disabilities
Development of IEP
The IEP Team must consider –
(i) The strengths of the child;
(ii) The concerns of the parents for enhancing the
education of their child;
(iii) The results of the initial or most recent evaluation of
the child; and
(iv) The academic, developmental, and functional needs
of the child.
IEP Team
can determine accommodations, modifications or
adaptations made to the environment, curriculum,
instruction, or assessment practices to provide
access to education and to facilitate a student’s
involvement and progress in the general curriculum.
Examples
A student with
poor vision might use enlarged text.
A student with motor difficulties might use an enlarged,
simplified computer keyboard.
A non-verbal student can “talk” by using a talking switch.
A student who has difficulty reading might read a
textbook with the help of a computer that scans and
reads text.
IEP Team…
must ensure that assistive technology devices or
services, or both, are made available to a child with a
disability if required as a part of the child’s Special
Education, Related Services, or Supplementary Aids
and Services.
Related Services
Services that may be required to help a child benefit
from special education
Could include assistive technology services
Supplementary Aids & Services
Provided in general education classes or settings to
enable children with disabilities to be educated with
non-disabled children to the maximum extent appropriate
Services: assistive technology evaluation, sign
language interpreting, note-taking, training for general
educators
Aids: large print textbooks, auditory trainers,
augmentative communication or assistive technology
devices
Consideration of special factors
.The IEP Team must—
In the case of a child who is blind or visually impaired,
provide for instruction in Braille and the use of Braille
unless the IEP Team determines…that instruction in
Braille or the use of Braille is not appropriate for the
child;
Consideration of special factors
Consider the
communication needs of the child, and in
the case of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing,
consider the child’s language and communication needs,
opportunities for direct communications with peers and
professional personnel in the child’s language and
communication mode, academic level, and full range of
needs, including opportunities for direct instruction in the
child’s language and communication mode;
Consider whether the child needs assistive technology
devices and services.
What is assistive technology and
how is it used in schools?
Assistive
Technology
Service
Assistive
Device
Technology
Assistive Technology Device
any
item, piece of equipment, or system that is
used to increase, maintain, or help a child with a
disability succeed in school – does not include a
medical device that is surgically implanted or
replacement of that device
Assistive Technology Service
any service that directly assists a child with a
disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an
assistive technology device. The term includes—
(a) The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability,
(b) Purchasing, leasing, or providing for the acquisition of
assistive technology devices by children with disabilities;
(c) Selecting, designing, fitting,customizing, adapting,
applying,maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive
technology devices;
Assistive Technology Service
(d) coordinating and using other therapies, interventions,
or services with assistive technology devices;
(e) training or technical assistance for a child with a
disability or, if appropriate, that child’s family; and
(f) training or technical assistance for professionals,
employers, or other individuals who provide services to
that child.
Is there a difference between assistive
and educational technology?
AT –
personal to the individual student’s needs
ET – classroom-based
Interrelated –
Example:
computer software for literacy in classroom
“Universal Design for Learning” – the use of technology to
allow students to access educational materials through
their strongest learning mode
Provides
equal access to learning, not just to information
Assistive Technology benefits all
students!
AT or
ET access features help students with many
different learning styles or needs.
 S. C. State Technology Plan 2003-08
SDE
Office Technology
Examples
Preschool Children
use a simplified keyboard or switch.
Students with limited reading skills benefit from computer
programs that read and highlight text on the screen.
Classroom Amplification Systems enhance listening for
all students, not just those with hearing impairment.
Teachers benefit – more options to address different
learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile)
Examples
Students
with physical disabilities who are
positioned correctly are better able to pay
attention, focus for longer periods of time, and
access learning materials.
Provide
frames, walkers, chair inserts, standing aids,
beanbag chairs
Students
with motor disabilities may not be able to
hold a pencil to write or a compass to do math.
provide
device to help them hold these tools!
Examples
Some
students need devices that provide access to
computers or environmental controls.
Access
technology: special switches, modified keyboards,
head pointers, keyguards
Some students need
assistive devices for hearing or
rely on their vision as a primary mode of learning.
Hearing
aids or personal FM units can help a student with a
hearing loss “tune in” to the teacher’s voice.
Screen readers, screen enlargers, magnifiers, audio books,
Braillers, light boxes, and scanners are devices that can
help.
Examples
Students
with learning disabilities may not be
able to decode words in printed text.
Computer-based
instruction can support learning:
talking software, word prediction, positive feedback
If your child has assistive
technology needs…
Contact your child’s special education teacher
Participate on
IEP team to determine what is the
most appropriate service or device/equipment to
meet your child’s needs in the educational setting
Regional Assistive Technology
Specialists
SDE initiative
 Create regional assistive technology specialists to
work with school districts in training assistive
technology teams

Realizing the Dream
Curriculum Access Through Assistive Technology
Developed by
The SC State Department of Education
And
The SC Assistive Technology Program SCATP)
For Additional Assistance,
contact….
Dr. Susan W. Floyd
Office of Exceptional Children
S. C. Department of Education
[email protected]