Assistive

Technology
Presenter: Lyudmila Brenich

What is assistive
technology?
O Is any assistive, adaptive or

accommodated device to improve

the amount of knowledge a person
with a disability may obtain.
For people without disabilities,
technology makes things easier.
For
people with disabilities, technology
makes things possible
-Jim Leiker

Assistive needs in Schools

O Deaf or hard of hearing
O Blind or Visually impaired
O Limited hand mobility
O Reading skills

Deaf or hard of Hearing

O Sorenson Video Relay (VRS)
O This may be used in class, if a sign
language interrupter is not able to be
present in the classroom.

Blind or Visually
Impaired
O Screen Readers Programs such

as
O Freedom Scientifics JAWS
O GW Micros Window Eyes
OReads all text on computer
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
IK97XMibEws

Speech Software
O Speech-to-text Software
O Nuance Dragon Naturally Speaking
O While a student speaks, the software

types
O https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImlKOA1Mh
lI
O Kurzweil 3000
O For struggling learners any text of

books or documents may be scanned in

then the software will read aloud

Limited hand mobility

O Students with limited hand mobility

have a couple alternatives for typing

O Keyguard- guides students to strike

one key at a time

O Screen-displayed keyboardstudents use pointing
device to press keys on the
screen

Continued
O Head-mounted pointerO Allows students to type
O Use touch screen devices
O Draw

Continued
O Talking calculatorO Large colorful buttons for visual

impairment
O High-quality speech synthesis
O Useful for students with visual

impairment or low hand mobility

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52NZIG6vA

References
O Gunter, Randolph E., and Glenda A.

Gunter. Teachers Discovering

Computers. Print.
O https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK97XMi
bEws
O https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImlKOA1
MhlI
O http://
www.citationmachine.net/items/666