Assistive Technology for
Students who are Blind or
Visually Impaired
Rosa Mauer
[email protected]
319-899-0139
https://sites.google.com/site/assistivetech1/
What is Assistive
Technology?
Assistive technology refers to the
special devices--including both hightech and low-tech tools--and
software that people with
disabilities can use to access both
the environment and technology.
Reading Stand
www.aph.org
When Considering
Assistive Technology:
• * Think about the TASKS a student
needs to accomplish.
• * Is assistive technology needed
to accomplish the task?
• * What assistive technology might
be used to complete the task?
• * Will one tool fix it all?
Large print
Measuring cups from
www.maxiaids.com
Consultant Services:
Available from Iowa Education
Services for the Blind and Visually
Impaired
• * Advise the Teacher of the Visually Impaired
(TVI) regarding assessment needs in order to
determine what assistive technology is best
for the individual and unique situation.
• * consult with Teachers of the Visually
Impaired, paraeducators, and other staff
regarding student use of assistive technology
in the general education environment.
• * Provide technical assistance as possible.
• * Conduct school visits to observe and/or
assist with equipment as requested by the
TVI.
• * Offer classes for the TVI and paraeducators
in use of various assistive technology.
• * Teacher of the Visually Impaired should be
first point of contact.
• * Provide equipment demonstration and
exploration at Low Vision Clinics.
• * Provide in service and training regarding
various aspects of assistive technology.
Assistive Device Center:
• * Form must be filled out by the TVI
in order for equipment to be
checked out.
• * Equipment may be checked out if
student technology is out for repair.
• * TVI may check out equipment for
six weeks for assessment purposes.
Braille Sense
Braille Note Taker
http://hims-inc.com/
Low Vision Assistive
Technology
•
•
•
•
•
•
* paper and writing utensils
* Reading stands
* lighting considerations (including lamps)
* non-electronic magnifiers
* monocular
* standalone electronic magnification
devices
• * near/far electronic magnification devices
• * hand-held electronic magnification
devices
VisioBook Near/Far
Electronic
Magnification
www.aph.org
Assistive Technology is
Available for Many Content
Areas
•
•
•
•
* Daily living
* Orientation and Mobility
* math
* science
BlindSquare GPS
Navigation App
https://itunes.apple.com/us/a
pp/blindsquare/id500557255?
mt=8
Braille Note Takers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
* BrailleNote
* Braille Sense
* Braille Plus 18
* iOS paired with refreshabraille display
* computer with refreshabraille display
* mountbatten brailler
* braille writer (standard, electronic, and
smart brailler)
Apex BrailleNote
www.humanware.com
Book Readers
• * Book port Plus from APH and many
other book readers (Victor Stream,
Book Sense)
• * Book readers built into note takers
• * iOS apps for book reading
Read2Go
Voice Dream Reader
Book Port Plus
www.aph.org
Screen Readers for the
Computer
•
•
•
•
•
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* Window-Eyes for PC
* JAWS for PC
* Voice Over on Mac
* built-in screen readers for PC
* free software such as NVDA
Serotek screen reader and more
Free Window-Eyes Offer
Must have Office 2010 or higher
http://www.windoweyesforoffice.com/
Many low and high tech options
are available that could not be
covered in this introduction.
Initial and on-going assessment
are extremely important to
determine the best assistive
technology for individual
students.
Often, students use many
assistive technology tools to meet
various goals and complete tasks
in several environments.
Teachers of the Visually
Impaired may contact Rosa
at any time for
consultation.
Rosa Mauer
[email protected]
319-899-0139
Visit my Web Page for Rubrics, Lesson
Plans, and More:
https://sites.google.com/site/assistivetech1/