1. Assistive Technology
in a Severe Special Education
Classroom
Lauren Costa, M.Ed, LICSW

2. Definition of Assistive
∗ “Assistive technology device means 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 the functional
capabilities of a child with a disability. The
term does not include a medical device that is
surgically implanted, or the replacement of
that device.”

3. Types of Assistive Technology
Used
∗ Positioning and Mobility
∗ Communication
∗ Sensory Integration
∗ Leisure/Access to the Environment
∗ Reading
∗ Writing

4. Assistive Technology –
Positioning and Mobility
∗ Orthotics
∗ Wheelchairs
∗ Walkers & Gait Trainers
∗ Standers
∗ Bathroom Chairs
∗ Recreational Seating

5. Orthotics
∗ Orthosis: a brace that supports any part of the
body through any of the following means:
∗ Helps eliminate pain or further injury through
immobilization
∗ Supports non-functional parts of the body
∗ Controls the motion of a functional body part
∗ Common Orthotics
∗ AFO
∗ Body Jacket

6. “AFO”
∗ Ankle Foot Orthosis
∗ Controls the movement
of the foot and ankle
∗ Commonly used for
children with Cerebral
Palsy and Muscular
∗ Picture & Information Provided by: Dystrophy
http:// ∗ May be used to maintain
www.eagleorthopaedics.com/
ortho.html a good position of the
foot while seated or to

7. “Body Jacket”
∗ TLSO Brace – Thoracic
Lumbar Sacral Orthosis
∗ Commonly used with
children who have
curvature in the spine
∗ Halts progression of
scoliosis by correcting
posture by supporting the
shoulders, back and
abdomen
∗ Picture Provided by: http://

8. Wheelchairs
∗ Promotion of
Independence
∗ Things to consider:
∗ Classroom layout
∗ Safety navigating
classroom & hallway
∗ Picture Provided by: http://
wheelchairassistance.com/
power-wheelchair/head-

9. Walkers & Gait Trainers
∗ Walkers
∗ Individualized support
∗ Child uses legs to hold their
weight
∗ Gait Trainers
∗ Equipment holds child’s
weight so that child may use
legs
∗ Opportunity to move using
feet
∗ Seat, harness & accessory
supports
∗ Picture Provided By: http://
tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-pacer-

10. Standers
∗ Academic Benefits
∗ Access materials
∗ Social Benefits
∗ Same level as peers
∗ Physical Benefits
∗ Strong bones
∗ Increased flexibility
∗ Decreases tension &
constipation
∗ Improves breathing & digestion
∗ Picture and Information Provided by:
http://tadpoleadaptive.com/standers.html

11. Toileting Systems
∗ Things to consider:
∗ Storage
∗ Increased time for
toileting needs
∗ Privacy Concerns
∗ Picture Provided by: http://
tadpoleadaptive.com/rifton-
small-toilet-system-2.html

12. Recreational Seating
∗ Commonly used for
Leisure Activities
∗ Things to consider:
∗ Independence Level
∗ Age Appropriateness
∗ Picture Provided by: http://
tadpoleadaptive.com/special-
tomato-mps-push-chair-kit-
small-1.html

13. Assistive Technology –
Communication Aids
∗ Augmentative & Alternative Communication
(AAC)
∗ AAC Devices & Methodologies
∗ Communication Aids – Picture Exchange
Communication System (PECS)
∗ Dynamic Displays
∗ Auditory Scanning
∗ Facilitated Communication

14. Definition of Augmentative &
Alternative Communication
∗ “Methods of communication other than oral
speech that enhance or replace conventional
forms of expressive and receptive
communication to facilitate interaction by and
with persons with disabilities who are
nonverbal or have limited speech”
∗ MA Educator Licensure and Preparation Program

15. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
∗ Developed in 1985 by Andrew S. Bondy, Ph.D.
& Lori Frost, M.S., CCC/SLP
∗ Intervention for individuals with autism and
related developmental disabilities
∗ Created for families, resident care providers &
educators so that it may be used in a range of
settings
∗ Based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior
∗ Utilizes prompting & reinforcement strategies

16. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
∗ Six Phases of PECS
1. How to
Communicate
2. Distance &
Persistence
3. Picture
Discrimination
4. Sentence Structure
5. Answering

17. Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS)
∗ Video Describing the Six Phases of PECS
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=NbZhcyXfaNo&feature=related
∗ Video of PECS Phase One
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TxNR_jePRj8&feature=fvwrel

18. Dynamic Displays
∗ Use selects from an array of categories of
pictures for the communication of messages,
ideas, wishes, comments, needs, etc.
∗ Voice output available
∗ Unlike PECS, the user communicates through
display rather than exchange

19. Dynamic Displays - DynaVox

20. Two Successful DynaVox
∗ Sara Pyszka
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlC8G5nNE7k
∗ Augie Nieto
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gDKFNqrmtZ4

21. Auditory Scanning
∗ Form of dynamic display
∗ Provides an oral choice
from which the
communicator can select
a topic, letter, etc.
∗ Used for those who
cannot access tangible
symbols, pictures, or a
voice output
communication device
∗ Picture Provided By: http://

22. Assisted Auditory Scanning
∗ Video of Partner Assisted Auditory Scanning
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLb6-Oi3uR0

23. Facilitated Communication (FC) /
Supported Typing
∗ Individual uses pointing (pictures, letters,
objects) or typing (keyboard) to express him/
herself
∗ Involved communication partner for emotional
encouragement, behavior support, and
physical support to assist individual in
developing independence
∗ Video of Tim Chan
∗ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279h9QJ9ptw

24. Assistive Technology – Sensory
Integration
∗ Providing students with the
opportunity to experience the
world in a new way
∗ Therapy balls
∗ Squishy items (dog toys)
∗ Stretches
∗ Video about Multisensory
Room & Therapeutic Listening
∗ http://www.youtube.com/
watch?
v=2Ip_ezmqfGo&feature=relat
ed

25. Assistive Technology – Leisure/
Access to the Environment
∗ Switches
∗ Video about Switch Use
∗ http://
www.youtube.com/
watch?
v=x0CVVnw2s94&feat
ure=related
∗ Picture Provided By:
http://
www.thesensorycompany.co.uk/

26. Assistive Technology – Leisure/
Access to the Environment
∗ Video about Teaching
Cooking with Safe
Cooking Tools
∗ http://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=IRYFWa-
vNFw&feature=related
∗ Picture Provided By: http://
disabilitiesnews.blogspot.com/
2011/11/students-sharpen-

27. Assistive Technology -
∗ Environmental Print
Materials
∗ Edmark Reading Program
∗ Powerpoint Books
∗ Boardmaker Materials
∗ Red Light/Green Light
∗ Place Holders
∗ Picture Provided By: http://
www.donjohnston.com/products/
edmark/index.html

28. Assistive Technology -
∗ Pencil Grips
∗ Enlarged Keyboard
∗ Graphic Organizers
∗ Paper holder
∗ Small White boards
∗ Picture Provided By: http://
frontporchphotography.com/
services/page-ups/

29. Resources
∗ PECS Website: http://www.pecs.com/
∗ DynaVox Website: http://
www.dynavoxtech.com/default.aspx?
s_kwcid=TC|16134|dynavox||S|e|
15960397510&gclid=CKvnu-
OrgLECFUITNAodITS-Aw
∗ Syracuse University – Supported Typing: http://
soe.syr.edu/centers_institutes/
institute_communication_inclusion/
what_is_supported_typing/default.aspx

30. Resources Continued
∗ Article about Therapy Balls: http://
life.gaiam.com/article/how-sitting-ball-helps-
kids-focus-and-do-better-school