The Assistive Technology Continuum

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The Assistive Technology Continuum

• Cindy Leannah
• Marian Page
• Elisa Wern
• February 23, 2009

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ACATS

• Alachua
• County
• Assistive
• Technology
• Services

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FDLRS

• Florida
• Diagnostic
• Learning
• Resource
• System

www.fdlrssprings.org
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On the Agenda

• What is A.T.?
• The Continuum
• In Action
• Scenarios

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Definition of A.T.

• Assistive technology means 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 the functional capabilities of
  children with disabilities.
• -- (Federal Register, August 19, 1991, p. 41272)

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Assistive Technology Continuum
High Tech A.T. Very expensive, computers, high
end AAC
Low Tech A.T. Anything you could buy at a local
store
MidTech A.T. More expensive and usually ordered
from catalog
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• Low Tech Tools to
• Support Learning

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Low Tech Tools

• Can be anything from .39 pencil grips to under
  about 100 of technology
• Easy way to think about it is that low tech is
  what we could go to Office Depot or Wal-Mart and
  buy

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Pencil Grips

• Support poor writing due to a lack of fine motor
  control and consistent pressure.
• Helps to support hand and finger fatigue.
• Try different styles with students to support
  improved grasp.
• Most types are available from your OT or at The
  Learning Path

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Raised Lined Paper

• This unique paper actually has raised green
  lines! The raised line assists children by
  providing a physical bump to help feel where to
  stop.
• This bright white paper 8 1/2 x 11 printed with
  green lines, comes in 2 widths. Wide rule, with a
  dashed line or narrow ruled

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Page Ups

• Used for positioning of items while
• Reading
• Copying
• Completing work

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Post-It Note Collection

• Use Post-Its to mark where to start and stop
  reading.
• Use Post-Its to mark the Table of Contents,
  Index, and other reference points for quick
  access.
• Use to locate a given chapter and assignments for
  easy location access.

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Erasable Highlighters

• Highlight key ideas and erase with ease.
• Make note of unfamiliar words.
• Supports over highlighting tendencies.

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Highlighter Tape

• Removable reusable
• Easy to write on
• Use a coding system
• Pink important vocabulary.
• Blue chapter questions.
• Yellow dates
• Orange facts/picture/maps
• Green names to know.
• Words that they do not know, to look up.

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Webster's New Misspeller's Dictionary

• "How can I look it up in the dictionary if I
  can't spell it?"
• Handy dictionary alphabetically lists the most
  common misspellings of more than 15,000
  frequently used words, and gives the correct
  spellings in easy-to-read boldface type.

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Colored Overlays
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Reading and Writing Guides
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Magnifying Reading Guide with Color
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Math line
Magnetic math
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Time Timer
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Other Low-Tech Tools
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LOTTIE Kit for Little Hands
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Knob Brush Set
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Pre-K Pencil Grips and Adapted Scissors
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Adapted Papers
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See and Solve Math Center
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Adapted Books
Jack and the Beanstalk
Lets Get Ready for School
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LeapPad

• Base system
• Headphones
• AC Adapted (also works with batteries)
• Pen for manipulating story (attached to book)

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LeapMat

• Interactive learning mat
• Has 6 different options for learning
• Includes manual with activities, bingo extension
  activity, and other learning materials

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LOTTIE Kitswww.onionmountaintech.com

• Basic LoTTIE Kit
• LoTTIE Kit for Literacy (secondary)
• LoTTIE Kit for Math
• LoTTIE Kit for Little Fingers
• LoTTIE Special Papers Kit
• LoTTIE Colors Kit
• Collections of Low and Mid Tech Items

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Mid-Tech Tools

• Mid range in prices
• Items can also be purchased at local stores or
  ordered through specialized catalogs
• Examples include software, calculators, handheld
  spellcheckers

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Coin-U-Lator
Math Shark
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AlphaSmart and Neo

• Portable Word Processors give students access to
  word processing

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Talking Calculator
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Reading Support

• Start-To-Finish Books
• High-interest, controlled- vocabulary
  seriesthat gets struggling students reading.
• www.donjohnston.com

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Higher Tech Software and Tools
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Idea Organizing Software
Inspiration and Kidspiration www.inspiration.co
m Free 30 day trial can be downloaded for each
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Talking Word Processors
IntelliTalkIII www.intellitools.com
WriteOutLoud www.donjohnston.com
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Word Prediction
CoWriter www.donjohnston.com
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Picture Support for Writing
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PowerPoint Books

• Aid in curriculum in a variety of ways
• Build pre-knowledge
• Provide reinforcement of skills
• As a writing task for older students, preparing
  books for younger students (builds literacy for
  both groups)
• Examples
• If you give

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Reading and Writing Support

• Word Talk
• www.wordtalk.co.uk

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Kurzweil
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IntelliKeys
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Switches
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Communication
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Boardmaker

• Symbol software with multitude of uses
• Communication board
• PECS Picture Exchange Communication System
• Engineered Environments

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Line drawings, Photos
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PhotosBox photos
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Classroom-based
Elementary
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Manual Communication Book
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Manual Communication Book
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MCBs Activity-based
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Picture Schedules
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Picture Schedules cont.
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More AAC Devices
Hawk
Turn N Talk
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Using a high tech AAC device
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Higher end AAC devices
DV4 and MT4 from Dynavoxsys
Pathfinder from Prentke Romich Company
Dynavox Series 5
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SEE IT IN ACTION
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Me and My Computer
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Lets take this to real life
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Scenario 1

• You are working with a student who has a lot of
  trouble getting words on paper. You talk with
  her, and she is able to express her thoughts
  pretty effectively.
• What are some things you might try?

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Scenario 2

• You have a student who is fully included
  receiving services as a student with an
  significant intellectual disability. She has a
  lot of difficulty doing her work independently,
  and writing and math are hard curriculum areas
  for her to participate inHer teachers are
  interested in things to try, especially on the
  computer.
• What are some things you could try?

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Scenario 3

• You are asked to consult with a student who is
  twice exceptional both Gifted and SLD. He
  cant seem to follow directions to get his
  homework done at night, and it takes his 20
  minutes or more to find things in his desk or
  backpack.
• What are some things you might suggest?

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Scenario 4

• You have been working with a student who doesnt
  have much verbal communication. The teacher has
  asked for help in setting up some easy ways for
  her to participate answering questions, asking
  for help, etc
• What can you suggest they might try?

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The Assistive Technology Referral Process

• So, how does a student can access to assistive
  technology?
• Occurs within an IEP team
• Data collection

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Website for more information

• www.sbac.edu/ese
• www.region2library.org
• www.fdlrssprings.org
• http//udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com/

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Contact Us

• Website www.sbac.edu/ese
• Elisa Wern werned_at_gm.sbac.edu ,
• Marian Page FDLRS Tech
• FDLRS Center 1-800-533-0326
• Or marian.page_at_marion.k12.fl.us
• Cindy Leannah FDLRS HRD
• cindy.leannah_at_marion.k12.fl.us