What Is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technologies are the tools and strategies that act to liberate the use of technology for all students as well as to provide new ways to "assist" interactions and learning. They act to "augment abilities and bypass or compensate for a disability" (Lewis, 1994).

Resources

The Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI)

A statewide resource center designed to assist schools in obtaining specialized materials for students with visual impairments.

The new and updated PVC Book (PDF 610 KB) includes instructions for making Low Tech AT devices/solutions. It was provided by the Assistive Technology Educational Network in Florida and has many great ideas including providing ideas for supporting AAC devices and books/reading materials for our students. 

Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)

Designing Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) activities for students

• AAC Messaging and Vocabulary - Vocabulary development site
• ACE Centre North - Wide range of services to support communications and learning through the use of assistive technology and AAC systems

Developing and Using Communication Books

• National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP) - Tips for creating picture symbol boards for reading interactions

Creating Symbol Communication Boards for Reading

• AAC Intervention.com - Many activities and low tech ideas for providing communications and includes software tutorials
• Project Participate - Low tech ideas for making boards

Communication Board Development using Boardmaker Resources  

• Speaking of Speech - (Must have Boardmaker Software from Mayer Johnson)
• Baltimore City Schools Adapted Book Site - Hundreds of books with communication boards ready to download
• Special Education Technology - British Columbia - Sample board resources. Click on Resources -> Overlays -> Templates

Visually Cued information using Boardmaker and other symbols:  

• Beyond Autism Pecs Pictures /Icon Page - Resources for Communication, Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication

Talking Books

• Talking Book Library - Small collection of primary, intermediate, mid-high talking books that cover several subject areas
• Creating ebooks with PowerPoint - Templates to help you get started