Modules

This is information that I have learned while reading and watching videos about three modules.

The first one was about AT Assessment Process in the School Environment.  I knew some of the information about this topic due to being part of the team for my daughter.  My daughter is currently using a picture exchange system also known as PECS.  I was hoping that she would get to use an AAC device or an app on her iPad but they thought she should start with handing a picture to an adult to show the request.  I knew that there was a team that came in to evaluate her skills to determine if she was going to be able to handle and AAC and the team believed that it is too advanced for her at the time.  The group of people that are working with her have to be very familiar with the language device to make sure that it is implemented as much as possible.  We have some PECS pictures at the house to help reinforce it at home.  They use actual pictures for my daughter instead of the board pictures because she does not make the connection between a generalized picture and the actual object. 


The second module was about assistive technology in IEPs.  Assistive technology can help in many aspects and not just for language like the AAC device that I was referring to earlier.  They can help with reading, writing, math, learning and studying, vision, hearing, communication, access to the environment, activities of daily living, and social behavior.  These modifications can be from low tech to high tech.  Assistive technology is not only for severely disabled students.  The low tech can be a binder that creates a slanted desk for a child to use to be able to write easier.  This assistive technology can be used on any students that require this as a modification to help them.  Not all students with IEPs require assistive technology either.

The third module was about automatic speech recognition (ASR).  There are products to help students that struggle with writing and spelling.  Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a product that helps by a person talking into the microphone and it types what you have said.  For those that struggle with reading and writing, WordQ and SpeakQ help the students.  They provide a combination of word prediction, speech output, and speech input to generate written work. Dragon mobile assistant can help students on the go with an Android. These are all great products that can help students get their written point across despite their disabilities.