Assistive Technology Research Websites

1. A FACT SHEET: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND IDEA ‘97
http://www.nationaltechcenter.org/index.php/2007/03/11/a-fact-sheet-assistive-technology-and-idea-97
This article talks about what the IEP team should consider in the way of Assistive Technology for children in the wake of the 1997 amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The article first defines what Assistive Technology devices are and what they are to be used for. The article then details who or what other person can be present at the IEP meetings. I found this article very informative in regards to the IEP process for children who need Assistive Technology incorporated into their IEP.

2. Assistive Technology: A Parents Perspective
http://parentpals.com/gossamer/pages/Detailed/617.html
This article is a personal account of a parent and their cerebral palsy child who was never given the opportunity to fully experience the concept of the “tooth fairy” as their other children were. This was due in part to the parents not being fully aware of the capabilities of their child comprehension of the surroundings around him. It was not apparent the child understood until he was asked about the “tooth fairy” in relation to his other siblings, which he indicated the “tooth fairy” never visited him but did his other siblings. The communicative Assistive Technology which allowed this is a system the family is considering in this article to purchase or keep the less expensive story board. This was a very heart wrenching story as all families must come to terms with the financial realities of life and its limitations. It illustrates how more expensive is not always better.

3. Assistive Technology for Students with Mild Disabilities http://parentpals.com/gossamer/pages/Detailed/910.html
This article talks about how Assistive Technology has really taken off into the classroom and become a indispensible tool for teachers to monitor, develop, and provide instructions while the student is now able to better engage and participate in school activities in the classroom. The article outlines seven areas of instruction where Assistive Technology can help students with mild disabilities. In the areas of organization, note taking, writing assistance, productivity, access to reference materials, cognitive assistance and materials modification Assistive Technology can be applies. I found this article very informative especially in the area of cognitive assistance such as CD based talking books for instruction to motivate students.


4. ATOMS Project Technical Report: Methods to Identify Assistive Technology Device Use
http://www.r2d2.uwm.edu/atoms/archive/technicalreports/fieldscans/tr-fs-methodsidentifyuse.html
This report is a summary of issues and methods used to identify the quantity and quality of assistive technology devices used by an individual. It also measures the impact of assistive technology devices on individuals and knowing which devices are being used and how they are to be used. The methods to ascertain this information is also detailed in the report. The methods are recall, recognition, A priori, and direct observation. The report then looks at all methods and lists it findings. This was a very interesting report and would be worth reading by students.

5. Technology: Becoming and Informed Consumer
http://old.nichcy.org/pubs/outprint/nd13txt.htm
This article is about knowing the history of how far we have come as a society in regards to the development of technology up to the development of Assistive technology for use in the classroom. Once technology developed the computer there were many applications but none more important than the Assistive Technology in the way of communication applications. This article looks at all the possibilities for use of this hard and software for the Assistive Technology environment. I highly recommend this article as it gives a good perspective on the Assistive Technology evolution.

6. NCD Report: What are the AT implications?
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/assistive_technology/33540
This article is about the current compliance with IDEA. This article is saying that the current results of this report on compliance are extremely discouraging. The main issues of contention according to this article is that for Assistive Technology services to be provided a parent would have to demand it through formal complaints, due process hearings, and litigation. This article then goes on to tell you how to fight the system. I feel this is a must read for all parents and students alike.

7. Assistive Technology for kids with Learning Disabilities-An Overview
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/2286
This article is about using technology to enhance learning as an effective approach to many Learning Disabilities. This article will tell parents how Assistive Technology can play a role in their children’s education. The article goes into what Assistive Technology is and how it can improve the skills of your child. There are links for Assistive Technology tools that can help students and links for other technology tools for learning. This is a very good website for other tools based on the number of links available.




8. Help for Young Learners: How to choose AT?
http://www.ldonline.org/article/8088
This article is about enriching the environment of children with disabilities and promoting their social and cognitive participation and growth through the use of Assistive Technology. This article goes into a six step framework for deciding which kind of Assistive Technology is needed to accomplish this enriched environment. This article also links to other new resources and research site for information of Assistive Technology.

9. Assistive Technology and the IEP…It’s the Law
http://www.linc.org/newsat.html
This article talks about the Federal Special Education law that includes technology devices and Assistive Technology as an appropriate education for students with disabilities. The article goes into the changes in the way of the IEP’s development, discipline, and parent involvement. It goes into the purpose of Assistive Technology for the student where the goal is full participation in the classroom. This is a very informative article to read.

10. Assistive Devices help Challenged Kids get the Most from Learning http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech086.shtml
This article talks about what Assistive Technology is anyway, how they might be used and the numbers of AT devices that are designed for students and teachers. The article talks about what specific technologies are used in school systems and in the classroom. The article also explores the possibility of a down side to Assistive Technology and what they are. This article also lists many links to other websites that may have other related articles to this article. I found this article to very interesting and useful.