Devices — Pieces of equipment or technology that facilitate work, communication, mobility, or other aspects of daily life (e.g., text-to-speech software, dictation software)
Services — The supports or services necessary to use those devices appropriately (e.g., training, repairs)
These two aspects of assistive technology—which we will discuss in greater detail on the following pages—go hand-in-hand. Student success depends on having access not only to a device but also to the support and services required to use it effectively.
Although many students with disabilities can benefit from the use of assistive technology, teachers are sometimes hesitant to provide these necessary tools. Often this reluctance is based on a few, quite common misunderstandings and misapprehensions. Let’s take a moment to look at some of these. Click on each myth below to learn the facts.
Assistive Technology comes in 3 forms: Low-Tech, Mid-Tech, & High-Tech Devices.
https://www.autismadventures.com/low-tech-mid-tech-and-high-tech/
Graphic Organizer
Visual Schedules
Adapted Pencil (weighted, fat, skinny, triangular, golf etc.)
Adaptive Paper (graph, special spacing or texture, HWT etc.)
Pencil Grip
adapted eraser
Slant board
post-it’s
highlighter
squishy ball or sensory input (fidgets)
tactile ruler
velcro
page protector or colored transparency
binder clip (for grip for turning pages)
jumbo anything (text, materials, paper, etc)
manipulatives
electrical device
screen magnifier
audio book
adapted cd player/music player
voice amplification
scooter
gait trainer
wheel chair
braille translation software
switch adapted games or toys
adapted switches
adapted seating (bouncy ball, chairs with seat belts, wiggly butt cushions)
adapted keyboard
calculator
electronic speller or dictionary
word prediction software
computer
electronic tablet (iPad, iPod, Kindle, Samsung tablet etc.)
electric wheelchair
portable word processor
AAC Device: hearing and/or assistive listening devices; text-to-speech; picture-to-speech
smart board
alerting device