Assistive Technology ED 347 Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Assistive Technology

ED 347Nancy Beukema

Western Michigan University

Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Legal Issues for Disabled Individuals• IDEA 97

– Evaluated for the use of assistive or adaptive devices

– LRE– IEP

• ADA– Return to “normal” with assistance

Alternative INPUT Devices

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Alternative Input Methods and Devices

• Switches •Homemade switches

•Linda Burkhart• Mouse devices• Pointing device with onscreen

keyboard• Switch with scanning onscreen

keyboard• Voice input

Switches

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Types of Switches• Button• Plate or tread• Toggle• Pneumatic• Grasp• Air cushion• Etc…

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Big Red

• AbleNet ($42)• Button Switch• Easy to mount • Audible click signals cause-effect link • Large colorful surface area • Large variety of colors

Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Why Use Switches?• To provide access to toys• To teach concepts of cause and

effect• To allow choice-making,

communication• To increase specific motor function• To provide access to computers

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Adaptive Computing

• Modify the Keyboard• Use an Alternative Keyboard• Bypass the Keyboard with an

Alternative Input Method•Voice•Pointing Device•Switch

Modifying the Keyboard

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Keyboard Modification Software

• Accessibility Options•Included with Windows 95/98/2000/ME

•Found in the Control Panel – Accessibility Options

• Easy Access •Included with Macintosh OS

Alternative Mouse Devices

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Glide Pointer

• Alps Electric ($69)• Similar to touch pad on a

laptop

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Cruise Cat

• Cirque Corporation ($89)• Minimal finger movement to

activate• Glide pad• Internet Connections

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Mini Thumball

• Addison ($39)• Very small – compared to

quarter• Able to use with one finger• Minimal movement required

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Marble Mouse

• Logitech ($39)• Track ball – right or left• Super sensitive to touch• Serial or PS/2

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Joystick

• SAM (Switch Adapted Mouse) KM30 ($164)

• Can set cursor speed, can drag, click buttons

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Touch Window • Edmark ($395 – 425)• Touch this screen to select and

move objects• Pull down menus• Draw graphics.

Portable Keyboard

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AlphaSmart

• AlphaSmart ($299)• Portable word processor with a

built-in LCD screen• Full size keyboard• Transfers text to

computer via cable• Less than 2 lbs.

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DreamWriter

• DreamWriter ($295)• Portable word processor with built-

in LCD screen• 3.5” floppy disk for saving data or

cable transfer of data• Spell & Grammar Checker• Full size keyboard• Sound

On Screen Keyboards

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WiVik (Window Visual Keyboard)• Prenke Romich Co. ($290-$495)• Moveable, resizable on-screen

keyboard• Text can be selected using a large

variety of devices (mice, trackballs, touch screens, head pointing devices)

• Word prediction

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Pointing Device with Onscreen Keyboard

• Mouse• Joystick• Trackball• Touch Window• InfraRed Beam• Headmouse• Mouth stick, Pointing stick• Usually pointing devices plug into mouse

port

One Handed Keyboards

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Dvorak• Dvorak International ($0)• Onscreen keyboard• New layout for keyboard• Generally an option in Accessibility

Options in Operating System

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Half-QWERTY• Matias Corporation ($395)• New layout for the keyboard• Left or Right layouts

Alternative Keyboards

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Big Keys

• Greystone Digital ($169)• Mac or PC version• Large keys / multicolored keys• Alphabet or QWERTY

arrangement• No punctuation

marks/Caps

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WinMini or TASH Mini Keyboard

• Tash International • Small keyboard• Connects to keyboard• Has mouse functions Key guard

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Bat Personal Keyboard

• Info Grip ($199)• Single handed keyboard• Right or Left models• Mac or PC

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Intellikeys• IntelliTools ($395) • $25 for either a Mac or PC cable so it

can be used with a Mac and a PC• Keyboard connects to a computer

via keyboard port• Pre or self-made overlays• Able to connect 2 switches to the computer via keyboard

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Headmaster Plus

• Prenke Romich Co. ($1195)• Head pointing system • Full mouse control• Puff switch or switch activated

Software Applications

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Software Applications• Speech Capabilities/Screen Reader

• JAWS (PC)• Write:Outloud (Mac)

• Word Prediction• WiVik (PC) • Co:Writer (Mac)

• Screen Enlargement • Zoomtext (PC)• CloseView (Mac)

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Jaws• Freedom Scientific ($795)• Screen Reader Program• Improves productivity level for

the blind/visually impaired individual

• Automatically reads the full screen including dialog boxes, pop up menus, etc.

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ZoomText Extra Level 2• Ai Squared ($795)• Integrated magnifier and screen

reader for Windows• Able to speak all Window

components (with use of sound card)

• Can magnify screen from 1x to 16x

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• Communication methods• Voice• Gestures• Body language• Eye blinks• Communication boards• Electronic AAC devices• Signing

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

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Selecting an Electronic AAC Device • Vocabulary System

•Pictures•Codes•Symbols (MinSpeak, PicSyms, Blissymbols)

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Selecting an Electronic (High-Tech) AAC Device

• Output Method•Speech •Visual display•Hard copy

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BigMack• AbleNet ($86)• Touch switch• Direct selection

• Single recordable message

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WalkerTalker• Prentke Romich Co. • 16 programmable squares• Wear around your waist• Recorded voice

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Ultimate 8• Tash International• Eight recordable squares• Each message up to 4 seconds

each

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Liberator• Prentke Romich Co. ($7345-

8575)• Direct select or scanning• Uses minspeak -- pictures

represent words• DECtalk speech• Programmable

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Evaluation for AT devices• Get a good understanding of the

student and their needs• Know the abilities of the students –

physically and mentally• Start with low end devices and

work up the ladder• Know what the USER wants and is

willing to use

Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Evaluation for AT devices• Listen to the parents, teachers and

care providers• Train the user, parents, teachers

and all providing assistance and working with the AT device

• Look at cost• Look at all options available• Look at pros and cons of the device

Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Evaluation for AT devices

• Remember the feelings, desires, wishes, reservations of the user. They are the ones who will be using the device.

Nancy Beukema Western Michigan University

Any Questions?