Assistive Technology
Assistive technology (AT) is any tool that helps students with disabilities do things more quickly, easily, or independently. Students need practice and experience with in order to be proficient with their assistive technology before leaving high school. Training for staff is also important.
General resources
- Free Assistive Technology Resources (PDF, 2 pages, 2019), an easy-to-use resource list compiled by Lance Neeper, Assistant Professor of Education at Keene State College. All resources are listed on this page as well.
- Accessibility and Assistive Technology page on the NH Department of Education site. It has information about New Hampshire Accessible Educational Materials (NHAEM), American Printing House for the Blind (APH), sign language interpreters and assistive technology.
- AT services and resources at the UNH Institute on Disability (IOD). The IOD has several projects to improve access to AT solutions and services. They also offer a variety of AT training and education programs.
- Learning Technologies has resources to help teachers use technology to provide students with choice and support when they have wide differences in their abilities to see, hear, speak, move, read, write, understand English, attend, organize, engage and remember. Covers text-to-speech, word prediction, speech recognition, visual thinking tools, and more.
- ATAEM is Ohio’s Assistive Technology & Accessible Educational Materials Center. Resources on AT basics, assessment, tools and implementation.
- AssistiveTECHNOLOGYCenter is New Jersey’s online resource for information and equipment. They help people with disabilities, their families, teachers and employers identify and learn to use the technology that will be most effective in meeting their goals.
- National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) provides a comprehensive set of tools and resources for ensuring accessible educational materials (AEM). It’s got good introductory material plus tools and resources for all levels of educators and administrators. Good starting point: QuickStarts.
- Assistive Technology Blog for people with disabilities that make reading, writing, and related tasks difficult. Written by someone who uses assistive technology to read and write.
- Funding ideas: Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) has a list of resources and organizations that support AT funding. The Pacer Center has ideas for using social media to support AT funding (PDF, 2 pages, 2018).
Training for educators and families
- Assistive Technology: An Overview is a free, two-hour online introduction to AT with a focus on high-incidence disabilities. From the Iris Center at Vanderbilt University.
- Assistive Technology Internet Modules (ATIM) are free online training modules on all aspects of AT. They guide users through case studies, instructional videos, pre- and post-assessments, glossaries, discussion questions, and more. You have to create an account (free).
- Accessibility Guidelines for Remote Courses, from the University of Oregon.
- Best Practice Guidelines on Creating Accessible Digital Content from the University of Oregon.
- The Center on Technology and Disability website offers a wealth of free, high-quality resources on all aspects of assistive technology. The project ended in 2019 but they are maintaining the website for now. If you see something you like, download it to ensure future access.
Products, equipment & software
- NH device loan and demonstration site – equipment for all ages available for loan, demonstration and reuse, created by Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH). There is a video overview of how to use the site from a similar program in Idaho.
- Vermont Assistive Technology Program provides assistive technology information and hands-on experiences to Vermont residents.
- Bookshare is a federal project which provides books in digitized formats to individuals who have print disabilities.
- The TechMatrix is a searchable, database of AT from the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI).
- AIM Explorer is a free software simulation tool that combines grade-leveled digital text with access features common to most text readers and other supported reading software. From the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM).
- Accessibility with Microsoft products
- Accessibility for iPhone and iPad: The ultimate guide – lots of how-tos.
- Bates College’s Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology resource is easy to use. It suggests AT useful for college work and those aiming at college work.
- Winning in College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities is an online guide from EdSmart with suggestions for mobile apps and desktop software.
- Find your state program. There are AT loan, demo, and reuse programs in every state.
Videos and tutorials
- Short how-to assistive technology videos on subjects ranging from how to create an iPad stand to tips for simple wheelchair maintenance, from ATinNH which is a New Hampshire statewide assistive technology program with the Institute on Disability at UNH. They have their own ATinNH Youtube channel.
- ICATER Youtube channel with video tutorials on a range of high-tech options.
- Video series of people with disabilities living better lives with help from assistive technology, from New Jersey’s AssistiveTECHOLOGYCenter.
- Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) provides AT to federal employees with disabilities and wounded, ill and injured military service members. Watch their assistive technology demonstration videos on YouTube.
Assessment and standards
- The QIAT Community is a nationwide grassroots group that includes hundreds of people who help with the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating, and implementing a set of widely-applicable Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in school settings. Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) is their website where you can explore the indicators and rubrics (called matrices).
- The SETT Framework is a guiding framework and resources for AT assessment, developed by Joy Zabala. It is a four-part model (Student, Environments, Tasks, Tools) which promotes collaborative decision-making in all phases of assistive technology service design and delivery. Scroll down the home page to get to various downloads. Slides from an introduction to SETT (PDF, 10 pages, 2010)
- AEM Navigator is an online interactive tool to help with decision-making around accessible educational materials for a student. The four decision points are 1) determine need, 2) select format(s), 3) acquire format(s), and 4) select supports for use.
- Ohio’s Assistive Technology & Accessible Educational Materials Center (ATAEM) resources on AT Assessment.
New content 5/26/22