Assistive Technology (AT) is the group of tools utilized by
individuals with disabilities to prosper in their daily lives. Some of the tools are meant to be minimally
used for specific situations and others are to be fully incorporated into every
aspect of learning and living. Most of
the students introduced in the videos would never have been able to function in
a classroom setting without the use of AT.
The assistive technologies utilized by the students in the
videos were varied. They included
laptops, speech to text software and hardware, cell phones, adaptive musical
instruments, text readers, and wheelchairs.
Each of these devices played an important role in the development of the
student, and in their day-to-day activities.
Some of the devices, such as the Ablenet reader for Josh, were used and
then, as the person developed, were phased out or traded for a different
version. Others, such as the wheelchairs
for Susanna and Lucas, will be lifelong needs for the individuals.
Without the use of the AT, each of the individuals in the
videos would not have had the level of success that was achieved, nor would
their futures look as positive. Certainly
Lucas would not even have the option of pursuing his dream of being a
musician/music educator. Susanna would
have had a much more difficult time finding success at the collegiate level
without the laptop, speech and text software, wheelchair, and cell phone
available to her. Josh and his mother
would probably still be having difficulty understanding one another without the
Ablenet reader and supertalker that he was introduced to in pre-school.
