Did you know that your child may be eligible for free digital text-to-speech books?
Learn more.
1. Your Child’s School
If your child qualifies for
special education services, a good first step is talking to the evaluator at school who is doing her AT assessment. (At some schools, there may be several people with this responsibility.) Evaluators often have relationships with manufacturers of AT equipment. Your child’s evaluator may be able to arrange a trial period for her to use the AT tool
before the school decides whether to buy it.
2. Retailers
If you’re not working with an evaluator at school or aren’t sure what kind of AT will help, you may want to ask your child’s teacher or guidance counselor for suggestions. Depending on your child’s learning issues, a basic laptop or e-reader might be the only hardware she needs for
assistive technology. Many retailers that sell tablet computers and other devices let shoppers play around with them in the store.
3. Colleges and Hospitals
Many community colleges and universities have AT centers for student use. You can contact a college’s disability support center and ask if your child can try out equipment in the college’s computer lab. Some hospitals, especially large teaching facilities, have AT centers as well. Call the hospital and ask if it has H.E.L.P.—a Hospital Equipment Loan Program. If so, the program’s coordinator can assist you.
4. AIM Explorer
AIM Explorer is a
free downloadable tool that can help children with reading issues figure out which AT tools and supports will meet their needs. The program is part of
CAST, which was founded as the Center for Applied Special Technology. It supplies learning tools to schools and has on its website
free and low-cost learning tools for students.
5. Pass It On Center
The Pass It On program helps reuse AT tools that people with disabilities no longer need. You can find
a center near you that participates in the Pass It On program and test out AT that is available for loan, purchase or giveaway.
6. Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
This group is a trade organization whose members make, sell and provide AT devices and services. You have to pay to attend the seminars at
ATIA conferences, but the exhibit hall is free. You and your child can try out and compare products on display there. You can also talk with people who can show you all the features and answer your questions in-depth.
7. Your State AT Act Project
The Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP) lists
each state’s programthrough which you can try out or borrow devices. You can also get information about financing programs to help find ways to pay for AT.
8. Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) Centers
This network of community organizations and companies helps children and adults with disabilities find and use AT. There are
ATA centers in nearly every state. Many of the centers have lending libraries so families can test out different kinds of tools.
In the 21st century classrooms, Web 2.0 tools are transforming the way students are supported and instruction is delivered. As it becomes more common practice for schools to incorporate technology into their classrooms, teachers will strive to select technology tools that enhance their instruction. Web 2.0 Tools are online software programs that allow users to do a number of different things. They can be used to teach curriculum content, store data, create/edit video, edit photos, collaborate and so much more. These programs are often free and are used by teachers, students, and sometimes parents, both in and out of the classroom, on a pretty regular basis.
