Assistive Technology
Assisted technology is only one aspect of a student’s life and needs to be used within the context of good practise; it alone cannot make a difference.
Assisted Technology can: · Minimise the amount of help a student requires. · Reinforce teaching and assist with developing skills in all areas of the curriculum. · Motivate students. · Reduces the stress and frustration for the student. · It empowers students. Using Assisted Technology: · The student needs to be assessed to establish what their strengths are and what their needs are. · Then establish is there an assistive technology that can work for them. · Then work out a program where it would be used. · Lastly look at the technology and how much it costs, how easy it is to use and its reliability. Technology can be unreliable and this needs to factor in, so the effects of this are minimised and if a low tech alternative could be used. Links to locating Assisted Technology: The Assistive Augmentative Communication (AAC) products available “assist students to engage with others and connect with their world” Ablenet provides information on types of switches available. Spectronics provides information and prices of switches Ian Bean provides information and downloadable documents to support switch use:
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