Activities 15 and 16

Non-Assistive Technology Users Explore Possibilities

What Students Do

Similar to Activities 13 and 14, these two activities are designed for students who have not used AT before. In Activity 15, students are asked to use the Internet to learn about technologies that they think might be helpful. They summarize their findings on the Assistive Technology Self-Evaluation Guide (Activity 10 Worksheet).

Activity 16 asks them to extend this research by speaking with related service providers that might expand their understanding of the possibilities of AT available to them. A second means of gaining this information is to use list serves to speak with peers.

As with all Activities, processing what has been learned with a teacher or family member is a critically important element of the activity.

Planning

Familiarize yourself with assistive technologies that may be helpful to your students. Use the Post-ITT Resources Search Engine to find information specific to general types of AT resources or AT for specific disabilities or limitations. Here are a few web sites that will be helpful:

• ABLEDATA
  
  ABLEDATA is a division of NARIC that maintains a database of more than 20,000 assistive devices ranging from eating utensils to wheelchairs. ABLEDATA has the capacity to conduct product searches based on a variety of key words or phrases such as architectural elements, communication, education management, sensory disabilities, etc. Searches can also be constrained by such factors as price and manufacturer.



• Alliance for Technology Access
  
  This resource guides students through a series of questions related to how assistive technologies can help them access higher education's physical and instructional environment.



• Closing the Gap
  
  Closing the Gap, Inc., is an organization that focuses on computer technology for people with special needs through its bi-monthly newspaper, annual international conference and extensive web site. Search the annual resource directory online.



• DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Inter networking, and Technology)
  

  DO-IT is People with disabilities successfully pursuing academics and careers, programs to promote technology to maximize independence, productivity and participating of people with disability, professional development for K-12 educators and post secondary faculty and administrators and people helping people. It is the recipient of numerous awards.

Introducing the Activity

Ask students to think of ways that technology makes work easier and extends ones ability to do things that we might otherwise not be able to do. Explain that in these two lessons they will be looking into technologies that will help them do work that is difficult for them. In some cases, the technology will help them do work they could not previously do at all. In other cases, the technology will help them become more efficient or work with greater accuracy. Remind them that it is important to keep a record of what they learn and that Activity 10 Worksheet will help them summarize their findings.