ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Teaching Children With
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
What Technlogy does my student need?
The teacher is faced with a dilemma: finding the appropriate Assistive Technology for the visually impaired student.
“Does this student require HARDWARE or SOFTWARE?”
The answer depends on the student’s ‘visual acuity’ or
visual need. Is he considered low vision, functionally blind
or blind? Low vision
•Mary can see. However, she needs to have her text magnified. John needs acute contrast and Kain just needs a different font. They can learn with their visual sense- they simply need their material enhanced. They have Low Vision.
Click on the link below to see how one school assists those with Low Vision
Functionally Blind
Carl can see well enough to move around in the classroom but he cannot see well enough to work on his own. He is Functionally blind.
BLINDNESS
Darcy is in total darkness. She relies entirely on her other senses to glean information about her
surroundings. She needs assistive technology to learn. She is completely blind.
Adaptive keyboards
Offer a variety of ways to provide input into a computer through various options in size, layout and complexity.
SCAN / READ SYSTEMS
These allow the user to scan documents, (e.g. stories, assignments and exams) into the computer and have them read aloud to him.
ØOpen book
ØKurzweil
VIDEO MAGNIFIERS
These use television technology to enhance the image of text, pictures and small objects.
PORTABLE NOTE TAKERS
Persons who prefer to take notes by typing can do so on these light weight machines. They are built
with a special keyboard of Braille and can be connected to computers and printers for uploading or
downloading information. It also reads the notes aloud.
The Note Taker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba6qHT3MGzk
Braille
Refreshable Braille display: this type of hardware provides tactile output of information presented on
the computer screen.
Braille writing equipment: this is used for the creation of paper Braille materials. These can be manual
or an electronic device.
Braille printer: a machine that does just what it sounds like is an embosser that prints in Braille.
DIGITAL BOOK READERS
These are design to play cd books on the computer.
SCREEN MAGNIFIERS
This software works in real time with the computer’s software to increase the font of text and pictures
on the screen by magnification, 2x up to 20x magnification).
The program can magnify the entire screen/ parts of it or only around the cursor. It can also invert
colours and tracking options.
ØMAGic
ØZoom Text
ØBig Shot
'SCREEN READERS
These work with the software on the computer to read everything from text to images on the screen
ØJAWS
ØWINDOWS- EYES
ØZOOM TEXT
Hotlist
AT for children
What is assistive technology and how is it used in schools? http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cdrom/atused.html
Teachers Using Technology. Assistive technology for the visually impaired.
Out Of Sight: Technology Helps Visually Impaired Students Thrive http://www.edutopia.org/edward-r-murrow-technology-visually-impaired
Assistive Technology Tools: Keys to Learning for The Visually Impaired http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-visually-impaired-video
Assistive technology for students with visually impairments http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/74539.aspx
Technology available in Trinidad
1 JAWS
2 Voice synthesizer,
3 Magic Professional
4 Screen Magnifier
5 The Braille Embosser,
6 Poet OCR.
Services
1 Books in large print
2 Braille
3 Audio formats
4 Recorded books
5 Talking books
