Nathanael Flores

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Assistive Technology
Nathanael Flores Assistive Technology EDUC
518 February 20, 2006
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Assistive Technology
In this presentation we will explore how
assistive devices can impact the lives of
individuals with disabilities.
Assitive technology Devices and services that
improve the functional capability of students
with disabilities to enhance and increase
learning, independence, mobility, communication,
environmental control and choice.
Visual Impairment
Paralysis
Dyslexia
Source http//adulted.about.com/cs/adaptivetech/a
/aa_technologies.htm
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Paralysis Statistics
Prevalence and incidence statistics for
Paralysis Prevalence of Paralysis 9 per 1000
- NHIS95 (paralysis of extremities
complete/partial) Prevalence Rate approx 1 in
111 or 0.90 or 2.4 million people in USA

• Statistics on Paralysis
• 2 million Americans are living with paralysis of
  the extremities
• 4 million Americans are living with the effects
  of stroke and about 600,000 people have strokes
  every year
• 500,000 children and adults in the United States
  manifest one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral
  Palsy
• Spina bifida, the most frequently occurring
  permanently disabling birth defect, affects
  approximately one out of every 1,000 newborns in
  the United States
• Human and Economic Costs of Paralysis
• Healthy People 2010 reports that the number of
  people with disabilities is increasing among all
  age groups
• More individuals with disabilities report 1) no
  leisure-time physical activity 2) less social
  participation 3) being overweight 4) more adverse
  effects from stress 5) lower employment rates 6)
  more environmental barriers 7) less access to
  preventive services and 8) more activity
  limitation than people living without
  disabilities
• Additional strategies must be undertaken to
  promote health and prevent secondary conditions
  among individuals with paralysis

Sourcehttp//www.christopherreeve.org/hopenetwork
/hopenetwork.cfm?ID527c102
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with paralysis
Assistive technology, including the powerful
personal computer, can help improve ones
physical and mental functioning, strengthen a
weakness, and improve a person's capacity to
learn, or even replace a missing muscle system.
Kenx is a device that allows the use of
alternate input devices with Macintosh PC
computers. Kenx has its own customizing software
program called Kenx Create, its own software for
digitized speech and sounds called Kenx Sounds,
over 500 icons, and an overlay maker.
DiscoverSwitch puts full keyboard and mouse
functions on the computer screen the keys on the
screen scan and students press DiscoverSwitch to
select the key they want.
Don Johnston Developmental Engineering,
Inc. http//donjohnston.com 800-999-4660 (U.S.
Canada)708-526-4177 (fax)
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with paralysis

• There are several levels of driving control
  technology to compensate for the loss of strength
  and/or range of motion. Some of these include
• Reduced effort steering systems to compensate for
  reduced strength
• Servo brake and accelerator control to compensate
  for reduced range of motion and strength.
• Joystick driving systems, allowing one hand
  operation of brake, accelerator and steering.
• Cains Mobility Systems Inc.
• 5767 Plantation Road - Theodore, AL 36582 
• Phone [phone] or 1-888-877-4530 
• http//www.cainsmobility.com/

Source http//www.driver-ed.org/i4a/pages/index.c
fm?pageid106
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Visual Impairment Statistics
There are approximately 10 million blind and
visually impaired people in the United
States. Approximately 93,600 visually impaired or
blind students, 10,800 of whom are deaf-blind,
are served in the special education programs in
the United States. Approximately 109,000 visually
impaired people in the United States use long
canes to get around. Just over 7,000 Americans
use dog guides. Annually, approximately 1,500
individuals graduate from a dog-guide user
program. Approximately 5,500 legally blind
children use braille as their primary reading
medium. At least 1.5 million blind and visually
impaired Americans use computers. Approximately
46 of visually impaired adult Americans are
employed. Approximately 45 of individuals with
severe visual impairment or blindness have a high
school diploma, compared to 80 among fully
sighted individuals. Among high school graduates,
those with severe visual impairment or blindness
are about as likely to have taken some college
courses as those who were sighted, but they are
less likely to have graduated.
Sourcehttp//www.afb.org/
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with visual impairments
JAWS for Windows (JFW) is a program that reads
information from a computer display and speaks it
to you through a speech synthesizer. JFW supports
Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP Home and
Professional.
JAWS is a powerful software program designed to
work with a speech synthesizer to improve the
productivity level of visually impaired
employees, students and the casual user. By
streamlining keyboard functions, automating
commands, and eliminating repetition.
Freedom Scientific http//www.freedomscientific.c
om/ 727-803-8000 800-444-444311800 31st Court
North St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1805
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with visual impairments
QuickLook is an 11-ounce hand-held, full color,
electronic, print magnifier with an integrated 4
LCD flat screen display. You can View photos
magnified, enlarge the print on a prescription
bottle, or read anything. It's small enough to
fit in the inside pocket of a jacket or a ladies'
purse.
Slim line, compact and lightweight Weighs
only 10 ounces and is a mere 1" thin 4" Color
LCD display screen No monitor needed - its
built-in! Totally wireless - truly 100
portable Full COLOR display image for color
text and picture viewing
EnableMart Sales Office4210 E. 4th Plain
Blvd.Vancouver, WA. 98661 USA http//www.enable
mart.com/
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Dyslexia Statistics
Poor readers make up 20 of the population and
dyslexics are a subset of poor readers and make
up to between 5 to 7 of the population.
Government statistics show 25 million Americans
are functionally illiterate. The primary cause is
dyslexia or one of its many variations, such as
dyscalculia or dysgraphia. Dyslexia occurs about
3.5 times more often in males than females. The
source of their difficulties is probably
inherited, meaning their reading difficulties are
much more difficult to eliminate with regular
educational interventions.
Source http//www.jmk.su.se
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with dyslexia
WizCom makes a personal, portable scanning pen,
Reading Pen II, that help people read and use
text. Our pens let students, professionals, and
laypersons save time and money on important
reading related tasks. Using Reading Pen II
people can define, translate, and hear printed
text anytime, anywhere, and in many languages.
Designed for people with Reading or Learning
difficulties who have issues decoding individual
words when reading printed text - allows for
increased comprehension and vocabulary.
Captures text within seconds--Reading fluency
is maintained - no interruptions to reading flow
Single word or full line scanning--Flexibility of
how words are scanned Speaks the word out
loud--Hearing spoken words allows better
understanding of what is being read Displays the
definition.
USA WizCom Technologies Inc. 257 Great Road,
Acton, MA 01720, USATel 1-978-635-5357, Toll
Free 1-888-777-0552, Fax [phone]Email
usa.info_at_wizcomtech.com http//www.wizcomtech.co
m
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Assistive Technology Devices
for individuals with dyslexia

• Kurzweil 3000 for Windows was first introduced in
  1996. It has since become the leading reading,
  writing and learning solution for individuals of
  all ages with learning difficulties like
  dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and
  other literacy difficulties.
• Kurzweil 3000 provides students the tools they
  need to improve their reading speed and
  comprehension, plus a suite of features that make
  it possible for them to learn and study
  independently. For students who have difficulty
  physically accessing curriculum materials,
  Kurzweil 3000 provides a digital means of
  engaging with text and can support students who
  use alternative methods for accessing the
  computer.
• One-button scanning
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
• Edit Underlying Text
• Zone Editing
• Kurzweil Virtual Printer

Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.100 Crosby
DriveBedford, MA 01730-1402 1-800-894-5374info_at_k
urzweiledu.com http//www.kurzweiledu.com/
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Assistive Technology Devices
Resource Guide

• Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
  www.christopherreeve.org
• the foundation also vigorously works to improve
  the quality of life for people living with
  disabilities through its grants program,
  paralysis resource center and advocacy efforts.
• Christopher Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource
  Center
• http//www.paralysis.org/Tools/ToolsMain.cfm?Conte
  ntStyle2ContentTypeLnum1000
• - this website lists resources for individuals
  suffering from paralysis

Online Resource for Americans with
disabilities http//www.disabilityinfo.gov serves
as the official government website on
disability-related resources and programs for the
public. The site is managed across all federal
agencies under the New Freedom Initiative.
American Foundation for the Blind http//www.afb.o
rg/
International Dyslexia Association http//www.inte
rdys.org/