Assistive Technology and Idea

• Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children who are identified with special needs are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). If assistive tech is deemed appropriate, the school district must provide it to the child, at no cost to his or her family. Depending on the child's needs, the AT device may be used at only at school, or it may be used in both home and educational settings. Devices used for mobility or communication, for example, may be most beneficial in both settings.
  
  

Computer Based Assistive Technology

• The implementation of widespread computer use in the classroom has enabled many new ways for students to access educational materials. Students may use computer software and hardware to read or write lessons. For example, software can change text size, color, scan and recognize text, and read it aloud to students. Hardware examples include alternate keyboards, touchscreens and predictive text.
  
  

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices

• Students who have communication needs may use augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC). AAC devices vary greatly depending on the needs of the individual and can vary from simple communication boards to the sophisticated device Noble Prize physicist Stephen Hawking uses for lectures. AAC devices often assist with language learning in nonverbal children, and have not been found to interfere with normal speech as the child becomes more capable. Assessment of and maintenance of AAC devices often falls to the school's speech-language pathologist.
  
  

Everyday Tasks

• Students can also use assistive tech to better access their environment. A wheelchair may have a head switch where he or she can control the direction of their chair. Environmental control systems can allow the student to access everything from a microwave to video game controls.
  
  

Other Issues

• The two main issues hampering the use of assistive tech in classrooms are knowledge about the devices, and funding. Parents should make educators aware of devices that could benefit their children. Finally, parents and teachers must maintain AAC devices and replace them as they wear out or the student's needs change.