Accessing Adaptive/Assistive Technology

President Bush signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). IDEA is the main federal program authorizing state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities. (Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004, n.d.) Resulting from an interview with the Special Education Department Head at North Forsyth High School, a list was determined of the various assistive and adaptive technologies available at Forsyth County schools. Each school has a technology lab specifically reserved to assist special education students. The technology labs have twelve computers available for student use. Kurzweil is a computer program that reads and/or enlarges text with varying speed and language to visual and learning impaired students. Kurzweil is leased by the school system and is loaded on four computer desktops in each technology lab. An eye gaze computer is available for a special needs student at one high school. This computer is attached to the wheelchair of a
physically handicapped student, allowing him to communicate via the eye movement’s coordination with a special computer screen. Each high school has one talking board that allows words to be spoken after specific button are pushed. This tool is used for non-verbal or low-verbal students. There are thirty Alpha Smarts available for checkout at each high school. Alpha Smarts are word processors utilized for classroom instruction that allow students to type in text that can be downloaded to network computers. The Library of Congress, the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, provides thirty-five tape recorders/players for our school. At the start of each school year, each special education department requests from the Library of Congress free, taped copies of every novel in the English curriculum. (personal communication, March 28, 2010) In the 2004 IDEA legislation, sections were added defining the provision of textbooks and instructional materials in accessible formats for students who are blind or print disabled. The National Instructional Material Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) is a technical standard used by publishers to produce source files that may be used to develop multiple specialized formats (such as Braille or audio books) for students with print disabilities. Because Forsyth County works directly with the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, schools can find access to needed instructional materials for students with print disabilities. (What is the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard?, 2009)
High school teachers should be more educated concerning the assistive and adaptive technologies currently available for students. A presentation at a professional development meeting could increase awareness and possibly increase the use of this technology.

Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004. (n.d.) Retrieved June 13, 2010 from http://idea.ed.gov/

What is the national instructional materials accessibility standard? (2009). Retrieved on June 13, 2010 from http://nimas.cast.org/