Assistive+Technology

Assistive Technology
Assistive technologies are being employed increasingly more and more in the classroom setting. According to research by BCC Research, thetoc amount of money spent on assistive technologies was expected to rise to $41.1 billion in 2011 alone ([|2010]). Students with visual, hearing, physical or cognitive challenges have a greater array of technology and software to assist them in their learning like never before. Features like screen readers and sticky keys are now standard components on both Microsoft and Apple operating systems. Open Source platforms like Linux also offer a variety of assistive technology free of charge. Common everyday items like Spell Check or Dictionary may assist learners who have cognitive difficulties with reading or spelling. media type="youtube" key="GT2pJrArbWs" height="315" width="420"

Relative Advantage of Assistive Technologies

 * Increased participation from students with disabilities
 * Wider development of independence for students with disabilities
 * Higher level of academic performance from students who are disabled or who have cognitive learning difficulties
 * Disabled students will have an equal range of learning opportunities on scale with their non-disabled peers

Definition of Visual Impairments
The terms partially sighted, low vision, legally blind, and totally blind are used in the educational context to describe students with visual impairments. They are defined as follows:
 * 1) "Partially sighted" indicates some type of visual problem has resulted in a need for special education
 * 2) "Low vision" generally refers to a severe visual impairment, not necessarily limited to distance vision. Low vision applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read the newspaper at a normal viewing distance, even with the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses. They use a combination of vision and other senses to learn, although they may require adaptations in lighting or the size of print, and, sometimes, braille
 * 3) "Legally blind" indicates that a person has less than 20/200 vision in the better eye or a very limited field of vision (20 degrees at its widest point); and
 * 4) Totally blind students learn via braille or other non-visual media.

 Visual impairment is the consequence of a functional loss of vision, rather than the eye disorder itself. Eye disorders which can lead to visual impairments can include retinal degeneration, albinism, cataracts, glaucoma, muscular problems that result in visual disturbances, corneal disorders, diabetic retinopathy, congenital disorders, and infection. ([|Wikipedia])

Links

 * 1) @http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp Freedom Scientific Low Vision JAWS Screen Reader
 * 2) @http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/products/blindness/braillenotes BrailleNote Humanware USA
 * 3) @http://www.sightconnection.com/cctvs.html Closed-Circuit Television Reading Systems
 * 4) @http://www.visioncue.com/ VisionCue

Definition of Audio Impairment
Hearing sensitivity is indicated by the quietest sound that an animal can detect, called the hearing threshold. In the case of humans and some animals, this threshold can be accurately measured by a behavioral audiogram. A record is made of the quietest sound that consistently prompts a response from the listener. The test is carried out for sounds of different frequencies. There are also electro-physiological tests that can be performed without requiring a behavioral response.

Normal hearing thresholds within any given species are not the same for all frequencies. If different frequencies of sound are played at the same amplitude, some will be perceived as loud, and others quiet or even completely inaudible. Generally, if the gain or amplitude is increased, a sound is more likely to be perceived. All levels of the auditory system contribute to this sensitivity toward certain frequencies, from the outer ear's physical characteristics to the nerves and tracts that convey the nerve impulses of the auditory portion of the brain.

A hearing loss exists when an animal has diminished sensitivity to the sounds normally heard by its species. In humans, the term hearing impairment is usually reserved for people who have relative insensitivity to sound in the speech frequencies. The severity of a hearing loss is categorized according to the increase in volume that must be made above the usual level before the listener can detect it. In profound deafness, even the loudest sounds that can be produced by an audiometer (an instrument used to measure hearing) may not be detected. Another aspect to hearing involves the perceived clarity of a sound rather than its amplitude. In humans, that aspect is usually measured by tests of speech perception. These tests measure one's ability to understand speech, not to merely detect sound. There are very rare types of hearing impairments which affect speech understanding alone. ([|Wikipedia])

Links

 * 1) @http://www.audioenhancement.com/ AudioEnhancement provider of FM amplification systems
 * 2) www.hearmore.com Hearmore.com includes alert systems, communication devices, computer products, electronics, videos, books, watches and clocks
 * 3) @http://www.softni.com/ Softni.com closed captioning and subtitling software
 * 4) @http://www.ntid.rit.edu/cprint/what_cprint.php Cprint Text-to-speech software

Definition of Physical Impairment
A condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying. ([|Wikipedia])

Links

 * 1) @http://www.handsfreetouchpad.com/ Handsfree Touch Pad
 * 2) @http://www.magicwandkeyboard.com/ The Magic Wand Keyboard
 * 3) @http://www.footmouse.com/nohands.php No Hands Mouse
 * 4) @http://www.infogrip.com/intellikeys-keyboard.html IntelliKeys by Infogrip

Definition of Cognitive Impairment
Intellectual disability is also increasingly being used as a synonym for the term mental retardation as used in standard medical references. ([|Wikipedia])
 * Intellectual disability** is a broad concept encompassing various intellectual deficits, including mental retardation (MR), deficits too mild to properly qualify as MR, various specific conditions (such as specific learning disability ), and problems acquired later in life through acquired brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Intellectual disabilities may appear at any age.

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Links

 * 1) @https://www.cu.edu/ColemanInstitute/background_text.html The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities Website
 * 2) @http://www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm Dragon Talk's Dragon Naturally Speaking software
 * 3) @http://www.axistive.com/ Assistive Technology News Portal
 * 4) @http://www.wizcomtech.com/eng/catalog/a/readingpents/default.asp Reading Pen TS
 * 5) http://www.muskingum.edu/~cal/database/ Learning Strategies Database