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Assistive
Technology: Tools and Technologies
Adapted
Levels of Text
- Marco
Polo provides a wide variety of resources including text
adapted for a wide range of reading levels on a variety
of topics.
AT Forms
- The
Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) site offers forms from
three sources that can guide AT assessment and decision making.
- The staff at the Access Center for Boston Public Schools
has developed
the Student
Access Map (SAM), a dynamic, user-friendly tool
designed to assist educators in aligning instructional supports
with student
needs.
Augmentative
Communication
- This
section of the Assistive Technology Training On Line website
contains an overview
of augmentative communication (AAC). It
is an excellent starting place to begin learning about AAC.
- This excellent website was developed by Ruth Ballinger
as a project for her Master’s Degree in Special Education. It is a great
place to get a good overview of augmentative
and alternative communication (AAC).
YAACK stands for AAC connecting Young Kids. It has three main sections, Getting
Started, Choosing and System and Teaching Tips.
- This is the place to get great tips
on AAC. Bookmark it and check back regularly.
It has many, many practical ideas including a Tip
of the Month. It is operated by Julie Maro and Caroline Musselwhite and is
a delight.
Beginning
Reading
- This site offers free over twenty free interactive
stories with a variety of tasks for the emergent
reader. It is phonics based and requires the child to be able
to click and drag.
- Scholastic sponsors this site which has stories
about Clifford that include
buttons to have lines of text read and
the ability to select words to add to the story.
- This
site from British Broadcasting Company has several interactive
reading opportunities. Text can be read aloud, but
it has a British accent!
- Mary
Cavanaugh’s
Children’s Stories has a variety of stories. They vary in quality. Many can be read aloud
if Real Audio Player is on the user’s computer.
- The Lil
Fingers website has several great stories for young children
that focus on recognizing
letters and numbers, potty time, parents, making faces, animals at the
zoo and more.
This
is a fun site.
General
AT Tools
- Abledata contains
information on thousands of AT products. It is sponsored by
the National Institute on
Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education.
It is a good place to find information on both current and discontinued
products.
- Ability
Hub. This
website offers information about adaptive equipment and alternative
ways to access a computer.
It is a searchable web site that can reduce the time it takes
to locate a potential tool. AbiltyHub.com is created and maintained
by Mr. Dan J. Gilman.
- For a handy list of AT
tools with pictures and resources,
go to this website
which was developed by the Miama-Dade County Public Schools
in Florida.
Click on Device Gallery in the navigation menu on the left.
Each item in the Device Gallery has a link to more information
by
clicking on the blue bubble that precedes each item. Note
the items listed were selected because they would be appropriate
for young children with disabilities.
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