High-tech Assistive Technology
What is assistive technology?
. In her article, "Technology=Opportunity" in The Exceptional Parent, Susan Goodman attempts to give clarity to this issue by using two laws which govern issues concerning the disabled. "The technology-related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines assistive technology devices and services as any item, piece of equipment, or product system- whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized- used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities"(52). According to Susan Goodman the device used can be either high- or low-tech and can aid individuals with either learning disabilities, or physical limitations. An example of low- tech equipment might be something as simple as, "…a specially- designed door handle for people with muscle strength or dexterity problems"(52).
A large amount of high-tech devices in use today, is equipment that helps with the use of computer technology and make lives easier for thousands of people. Included, but not limited to are the following devices.
Fred P.Fuller Jr. in an article titled "Surfing the Assistive-technology Maze" in Paraplegia News offer some insight for those individual who have vision problems. "People with visual impairments find examples of Braille note-takers and printers, magnification displays, electronic readers, and scanners"(49). For those who might have trouble hearing he suggest other equipment. "Those with hearing impairments see systems that signal when phones, fire alarms, and doorbells ring: telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) with computer interface capability: and speechamplification equipment"(49). The Business Wire in an article reports following, "IBM Demonstrates New Technology to Help Disabled Workers; National Disabilities Awareness Month". Use of the software should help many people both at home and at work. "IBM highlighted three low-cost software packages from its Independence Series that help workers with disabilities make full use of the power of computing. ViaVoice(1) recognizes human speech and allows people with limited mobility to dictate information to the computer, rather than type it. SpeechViewer III(1) translates speech into visual patterns to help people with hearing impairments learn to speak. And, ScreenReader/2(1) 'speaks' the information on the computer screen with a synthesized computer voice to help visually impaired people use computers. For people who have mobility problems Paul Marck in his article, "Firm Strives to Help Disabled" published in the Edmonton Journal writes, "Madenta Communications president Randy Marsden credits his late friend Si Peterson, a quadriplegic, as the inspiration behind the company's assistive technology-based products for disabled persons. The company creates hardware and software that provides technology that aids disabled persons. The company's product offerings include infrared, voice and breath-puff controls to power computers, home-electronic devices and wheelchairs"(F1). Other technology to assist individuals can be used for the learning disabled in educational settings, as explained by Michael Lyman and Mary Anne Mathers in a Technology and Learning article titled, "Equal Learning Opportunity: Assistive Technology for student with special needs". Currently, K-12 schools are most likely to invest in software to address learning disabilities. Such programs offer management systems that pace individual students through appropriate exercises, and exhibit patience with repeated practice, as well as breaking concepts and words into smaller pieces. On the other hand, institutions of higher learning have invested in a range of hardware/software solutions, often installed in adaptive technology labs"(55).
Some of the equipment used for learning disabilities in schools can help a child with reading, writing, and math skills and help them achieve academic goals. A good site to learn more about this technology is "Schwab Foundation for Learning" at, http://www.schwablearning.org/index.asp . At this site is an explanation of high-tech learning strategies to help youngster be better prepared at school. For a child with writing difficulties use of spell check and grammar check can help a child focus more on ideas and less on mistakes when writing. In addition the Schwab Foundation for learning article titled, "Written Language Technologies from the Assistive Technology Guide" explain some other lesser-used devices for writing. "Speech synthesizers, together with screen review software, enable the user to hear text on a computer screen spoken aloud. Words are spoken in a computerized, or "synthetic" voice through a device installed either inside or outside the computer. Users can review text they have written by reading it on the computer screen while, at the same time, hearing the words spoken aloud. Hearing the text may help persons catch writing errors --such as problems with grammar, or words that have been left out-- that they might not have noticed by reading it. Listening to text may also help users determine if their writing makes sense, and if it really means what they are trying to say. Speech synthesis is especially helpful to those who are better listeners than readers"(1). Student in need of help with reading can also receive help according to the Schwab site. "Optical character recognition (OCR) systems, when combined with speech synthesis, might be thought of as reading machines. The OCR enables the user to input hard copy text, such as books and letters, directly into a computer. The computer, or more specifically, the speech synthesizer, reads the text back --out loud. In this way, the individual can hear as well as see the text. The OCR works with a scanner. The scanner reads images and text from the printed page. Next it inputs the information into a computer file, and then onto a computer screen. The OCR changes the printed text from the scanner into computer/electronic text.
Why is it important to continue developing technology for the disabled?
The answer is simple. The more people who have access to high-tech resources, the more productive our overall working population will be. Bright individuals who might otherwise be excluded from the work force because of physical restriction can now begin to break down barriers, which have in the past kept them from fulfilling their goals and dreams. Students with learning disabilities can now function more easily in a mainstream
Works Cited
Fuller, Fred P. Jr. "Surfing the Assertive- technology Maze." Paraplegia News.
49.11 (Nov.1995): 57(2). Info Trac Web.
Fred Fuller explains, how the TARGET Center, (Technology Accessible Resources Gives Employment Today) located at US Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington D.C., helps employees with a wide array of disabilities.
Goodman, Susan. "Technology=Opportunity." The exceptional Parent. 29.8 (August
1999): 52 Info Trac Web.
The author describes the different laws that govern Assistive technology and how special services and equipment can be obtained.
"IBM Demonstrates New Technology to Help Disabled Workers; National Disabilities
Awareness Month." Business Wire. (Oct 23, 1999): 10231186 Info Trac Web
Lyman, Michael and Mathers, Mary Anne. "Equal learning opportunity: Assistive
Technology for students With Special Needs." Technology and Learning. 19.4
(Nov 1999): 55(1) Info Trac Web.
Marck, Paul. "Firm Strives to Help the Disabled." Edmonton Journal. (Oct 1997): F1
Info Trac Web.
"Written Technologies from the Assistive Technology Guide." Schwab Foundation for
Learning. (Dec 1 1999): Info Trac Web.