As a college student, you will be responsible for knowing about and using effective assistive technology (AT). In some cases, this will be the low cost everyday items that you explored in Activities 11 and 12. You may also require a more “high-tech” AT. You can start now by becoming aware of the assistive technologies that may help you.

 

	Research on the Internet is one way to learn more. The following websites provide a good starting point. You will find that these sites have links to technologies that are organized by limitation, disability category, and/or technology type. You will find a lot of links, so be tenacious (don't give up easily)! Washington Assistive Technology Alliance http://wata.org DO-IT http://www.washington.edu/doit Special Education Technology Center http://www.cwu.edu/~setc/ National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/NIDRR You will find links to thousands of other related (and unrelated) sites. Be a smart researcher. Start by writing a list of the types of assistive technologies that you think will help you. Look for those technologies by category (such as screen reader) as well as by brand name (such as JAWS™). Look for links by disability name (such as learning disability or spinal cord injury). Look for links by types of limitations (such as reading aids, writing aids, magnification or vision aids).
	Summarize in writing what you have learned about technologies that might meet your needs. Add information to column C of the Assistive Technology Self-Evaluation Guide.
	Meet with your teacher or family member to review what you have learned. Continue with Activity 16 to learn more by speaking with a knowledgeable professional.