Assistive Technology For All

Kailha Winter-Smith Assistive Technologist ,Student Accessibility Centre

Agenda

• What is Assistive Technology

• Goals of Assistive Technology

• Who are the Users?

• AT Assessment Process and the

SETT Model

• Assistive Tech Tools Overview

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Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of

equipment, software program, or product system that is

used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional

capabilities of persons with disabilities.

Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty

speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing,

hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different

disabilities require different assistive technologies.

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

THE PRIMARY GOALS OF

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• To enhance capabilities and remove barriers.

• Assistive technology with training and strategies is a step

towards independence.

• Assistive technology needs are related to a task, not a

disability.

• Assistive technology does not replace social and

academic skills.

• Assistive Technology selected should be the simplest

option without compromising the benefits.

Student’s with barriers around;

• Vision• Hearing• Neurodiversity• Learning• Mobility• Mental Health• Everyone!

WHO IS USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

My Assessment ProcessReview any assessments or previous notes from Medical professionals

Meet with the student one on one

• No need to take notes

• Education (What are they studying)

• Current AT/Technology using or have used

• Their Strengths

• I will ask the students to tell me what specific tasks in the following

areas they have barriers in or struggling with.

Reading

Writing

Math

Notetaking

Organization

Studying

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My Assessment Process continued…

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• Demonstrate Assistive Technology

• Set up trials and Free Assistive Technology that is available

immediately.

• Go over recommendations from Assistive Technologist

• Set up follow up appointment for training

• For follow up to the appointment, send an email about the

information discussed in the meeting, including links to resources.

If needed, begin to source products/quotes.

ALWAYS TRIAL FIRST WHEN

POSSIBLE!

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

OneNotehttps://support.office.com/en-us/article/video-start-using-onenote-6f4d0683-9b32-4467-

9d38-76424d355673?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

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• OneNote a free Note taking tool that can support you

with taking notes in class as well as support your

organization of notes, projects, to do list etc.

• You can use it across all devices. It saves and stores

automatically, so no matter where you are or where

you log in, your notes will be there.

• A tool that can support all abilities and all students.

From this…

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To this…

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Smart Pen

• Aegir Smart Pen ( IOS, and Android)https://www.livescribe.com/site/aegir/

• Livescribe Smart Pen (IOS, and Android)https://www.livescribe.com/site/livescribe3/

• Echo Smart Pen ( Windows and MAC Computer)https://www.livescribe.com/site/livescribe-2/echo/

Aegir Smart Pen

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• All the storage for your notes, and more.

• 10 hours of Battery life• One smartpen multiple devices.• Handwriting made mobile• Super light• Desktop program coming soon!

https://www.livescribe.com/site/aegir/

• Record voice while you are writing• Your handwritten notes are searchable• Sync with cloud services ( Dropbox,

Evernote, Google Drive, and OneNote)• Handwritten to text with simple swipe• Share your notes in many formats (PDF,

SVG, Plain Text, DOCX and more) • Smart App ( Android and IOS)

Prizmo Go https://creaceed.com/prizmogo

Reading support on the Go!

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• Take pictures of text and have it read to you right away.

• Support individuals with low vision• Translates• Available on IOS only

Natural Reader https://www.naturalreaders.com/

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Free Version includes the following features;

• Text to Speech

• Works with PDF, Docx, TXT and ePub

• Change speed and speaker

• Floating bar to read text in other

applications

• Works with Windows and Mac Computers

• Natural Reader Web Version available

For either a subscription or one time payment

you can get the following added features;

• Extra Natural Voices included

• Text to Audio Files

• Read Web Pages directly

• Pronunciation Editor

• Batch File Converter ( Professional

Version only)

• 500 pages of OCR EBooks or 500 pages

of scanned documents (Professional

Version only)

• Unlimited OCR in (Ultimate version only)

Writing Support Ginger Software

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Ginger Software can help you….• Write with confidence• Correct your text as you Type• Improve your writing skills

Features included in Software;• Grammar Checker• Sentence Rephrase• Translation• Dictionary• Text Reader• Personal Trainer• Add it to Google Chrome for Free !• Works with Windows Computers

https://www.gingersoftware.com/

Writing Support Contd. Grammarly Software

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Grammerly Software can help you…• Compose bold, clear, mistake-free writing !• Save your valuable time• Write Effectively• Learn and improve as you go• Free Trial/download

Features included in software; • Critical grammar and spelling checks• Advanced checks for punctuation, context, and sentence structure• Vocabulary enhancement suggestions• Plagiarism detector • Plus some other features….• Works with Windows and MacOS

https://www.grammarly.com/premium

Microsoft Dictationhttps://dictate.ms/

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• Available in all Microsoft programs• You can dictate in different languages ( French, English, Spanish…)• No training required

Mac speech to texthttps://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202584

• Available on all Mac laptop and computers

• You can dictate anywhere once enabled

• No training required

IOS accessibility right at your fingertips…Iphone/Ipad

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These are some of the Accessibility features under learning and literacy, Reading Support • Dictionary• Speech• Safari Reader• Guided Access and Screen Time • Siri

There is also accessibility features that support; Vision, Hearing, and Physical and motor Skills, you can learn all about them in the link below.https://www.apple.com/ca/accessibility/iphone/

Android Accessibility at your fingertipshttps://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006564?hl=en

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• Android and Google based phones have many accessibility features to support you and your students needs.

• Screen Reader

• Change your Display

• Interaction Controls

• Use Braille Display

• Audio and on-screen text

• Android Accessibility Suite App

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback&e=-EnableAppDetailsPageRedesign)

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