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Assistive Technology Learning Lending Lab (ATL3)

The Georgia Southern Assistive Technology Learning Lending Lab is a College of Education initiative to provide information and resources to faculty and students for the use of assistive technology in K-12 and university settings. The learning lending lab operates as:

A learning lab for university professors and students on the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses.
A lending library for Georgia Southern students to apply their learning in school and community settings.
A training and resource library for professors to infuse assistive technology into their coursework and community outreach projects.

LENDING LAB

OPEN HOURS

Armstrong Campus: University Hall
- Fall 2022 Open Hours: TBA

Statesboro Campus: College of Education, Room 2158
- Fall 2022 Open Hours, TBA

WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ?

Assistive Technology (AT) is any product, equipment, or system that enhances learning, working, or living for individuals with disabilities (ATiA, https://www.atia.org/home/at-resources/what-is-at/). Assistive technology in the classroom can be physical equipment in the learning environment (high tech, low tech, and even no tech) but it can also describe the services that students are provided to increase their access learning materials, their ability to express themselves, or their engagement in lessons.

Assistive Technology in Action

PROFESSOR ACTIVITIES

Class Assignments:
- Digital ATL# Exploration (WEB)
- AT App Review for Students (PDF)
- CAST Scavenger Hunt (WEB)
- Extended Project- AT Case Study (PDF)
AT in Current Literature (PDF)

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Assistive Technology Consortium (WEB):
- “A RESA (Southeast GLRS) supported community that is centered around providing the best AT tools for Georgia teachers serving students in Special Education. Regular meetings review this resource page and provide training. Join a meeting to learn more about assistive technology tools, implementation procedures, and support available to your district. Sessions include AT experts to expand on new content and answer questions for participants, topics based on participant requests and needs.”
Georgia Tools for Life (PDF):
- “Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program, is dedicated to increasing access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for Georgians of all ages and disabilities so they can live, learn, work and play independently and with greater freedom in communities of their choice.” Tools for Life is a partner of the Georgia Southern Assistive Technology Learning Lending Lab.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN THE NEWS

AT in Online Instruction (PDF)
Using the Adapted Texts from NewsELA in Remote Teaching (WEB)
National Public Radio stories on assistive technology – https://www.npr.org/tags/477055867/assistive-technology (WEB)
Developing Assistive Technology- https://www.wichita.edu/about/wsunews/news/2019/12-dec/levy_engr_202_7.php (WEB)
Boards help nonverbal students communicate during recess (WEB)
Dad builds Nintendo games controller for disabled daughter (WEB)
An 11-year-old ‘Star Wars’ fan got an R2-D2 bionic arm (WEB)

Resources

Let’s Explore Assistive Technology (AT)

IDEA defines an ‘assistive technology device‘ as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability. (20 U.S.C. 1401(1))

IDEA defines an ‘assistive technology service’ as any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Such term includes –

(A) the evaluation…
(B) purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices…
(C) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing…
(D) coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices…
(E) training or technical assistance for such child, or …the family of such child…
(F) training or technical assistance for professionals… (20 U.S.C. 1401(2))IDEA 2004,
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, p. 49.

Watch the following video to explore 5 myths about assistive technology use

Assistive Technology in Education and Disability Law

There are several laws governing the use of assistive technology in our classrooms. The summaries below describe the development of AT in the law (adapted from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center website).

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) first referred to assistive technology in its initial enactment in 1975, but later amendments defined the terms “assistive technology device” and “assistive technology service” in federal education law. See the language in the current, 2006 Part B regulations under 34CFR§ 300.105 and the current provisions for children from birth to three in 2011 Part C Regulations.
The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-364) “increased access to, availability of, and funding for assistive technology for all individuals with disabilities, including very young children.”
“Additionally, children with disabilities, even those who are not eligible for special education under IDEA may have a right to assistive technology under either Title II or Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which protects the rights of individuals with disabilities of all ages in many different aspects of their lives.”
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) “supports the effective use of assistive and instructional technology to enhance teaching and learning.”

You can read more about the history of AT in the law using this Summary of Assistive Technology in the ESSA (2016)

Assessing for Assistive Technology in the Classroom

SETT Framework Webquest:

Part 1- Visit Joy Zabala’s website and explore the SETT Framework Documents (PDF)

Part 2- Search the web for examples of the SETT Framework in action.

Part 3- Complete an AT case study (ask your professor or see your course assignment)

Georgia Project for Assistive Technology

AT Evaluation Guidance and Resources

AT to Consider for Transition (PDF)

Assistive Technology Examples and Case Studies

Assistive Technology App Databases

AT Tutorials and Case Studies from Tools for Life
BridgingApps is a resource where users can search for apps reviewed using standards-based assessment tools as well as find resources on how to use mobile devices to effectively target skill development. BridgingApps is a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston.
Techmatrix is an online tool for finding assistive and learning technology products for students with special needs. It was created by the National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) and the Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd).
For more databases and resources, please visit the MASS Match website.”

Assistive Technology Resource Grid for Common Learning Barriers

Common Case Scenarios (WEB)

AT in Everyday Tech	AT for Reading	AT for Writing and Social Studies	AT for Math and Science
AT Chrome Extensions (PDF)	Reading Comprehension and Access- Office 365	Graphic Organizers (WEB)	Digital Math Writing (WEB)
Power Point (PDF)	Text-to-Speech (WEB)	Speech-to-Text (WEB)	National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (WEB)
Office 365 and Mac Tools (PDF)	Read and Write (WEB)	Writing AT Examples (WEB)	Math and Science AT Examples (WEB)
Ms Word Document Accessibility (PDF)	Early Literacy AT Examples (WEB)

Assistive Technology Resource Grid for Less Common Barriers to Learning

Less Common Case Scenarios (WEB)

Communication	Access	Mobility and Positioning
Explore AAC (WEB)	Alternate Achievement Adapted Texts (WEB)	AT for Positioning, Motor Control, and AAC Access (WEB)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Examples (WEB)	Lexile Leveled Texts on Current Events and Ed. Topics (WEB)	2019 AT for Mobility Examples (WEB)
Symbol Board Creation-Boardmaker Online (WEB)