What is assistive technology?
Some students with special needs may have difficulties accessing and operating a computer. They may be unable to use the standard keyboard or mouse. Other students may have difficulty with communication and need ICT to supplement or replace spoken communication. Therefore, the use of more specialised technology often referred to as special needs peripherals (computer additions) or assistive technology may be required.
Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment or product system that is used to improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
There is an ever increasing variety of methods of adapting the computer through the use of special needs peripherals and/or software which makes it a valuable tool for students with disabilities. Some of the common types of assistive technology devices include:
Software-based assistive technology include:
Voice Recognition
Screen Magnifiers
Screen Readers
Speech Synthesisers
Try-it Assistive Technology Library
www.try-it.ie is a web-based library of electronic assistive technology (EAT), which enables its members to borrow devices on behalf of their service users and/or for their own professional training.
Note: Before looking for specialised solutions, it is advisable to see if the accessibility options which are built into the computer operating system could help a student to use the computer more effectively.
