Is it AT? Promoting Success by Any Other Name

Scenario: you are asked to evaluate a High School student with learning issues, on an IEP for support in written language, reading, organization and study skills and social skills with goals written for each area.

There are three computers in the classroom with internet access, printer and scanner access.

You follow the SETT framework - identify additional appropriate student, environment and task information and develop your recommendations as follows:

IEP goal focus area - Reading (bright student reading four years below grade level)

1. All material will be available in digital format so that it is accessible to student
2. Recommend WordTalk, PowerTalk, Click,Speak and Accessibar be downloaded to each computer (All free, some offer highlighted words as they speak, color choices, can adjust speed and pitch)
3. Recommend download higher quality voices from nextup.com - student can choose which voice sounds best to him.
4. Show power of voice and color tools that are available in Word (which school has)

a. Recommend use insert sound object tool, drag to toolbar for easy access whenever student needs it. Teachers use it to record directions, embed prompts when completing assignments

b. Create default for student with customized font, font size, font spacing, font color and background color that supports student's learning style.

IEP Goal Focus Area - Written Language

1. Offer student multiple methods of expression to demonstrate what he knows.
2. Pre-writing activities – use free online graphic organizers such as bubbl.us, mindomo, mindmeister, Mind42
   
3. Explicitly teach spell check, synonym support to reflect use of grade level vocabulary
4. Teach use of text-to-speech tools recommended above to improve editing skills
5. Allow use of voice tools such as “insert sound object” in Word or Voice Thread
   

IEP Goal Focus Area – Organization/Study Skills

1. Teach use of tools embedded in Word – highlighting, autosummarize, outlining, etc.
2. Download electronic flashcards (for example, Cue Card, StudyCard) tools available on internet or use internet flashcard resources (for example, StudyStack
3. Set-up student to use iGoogle or similar free resource, as customized homepage with tools necessary for organization success – To-do lists, Notes, homework assignments

IEP Goal Focus Area – Social Skills

1. Create scenarios using digital video tools such as cartoon callouts with graphics in Word, Voice Thread, PhotoStory, Flickr with Captioner etc, that promote social skill development.

You get the point. Of course, there are more free resources, tools and strategies and I could also recommend tools such as Kurzweil, Read & Write Gold, Inspiration, etc. But by only recommending free resources or using what is currently available, is that still AT? The tools are supporting the student’s IEP goals and objectives.

(And you know that educators are more likely to incorporate tools that are easy to use and readily available and your goal is to promote independence and success for the student.)

Is this AT? Why or why not? Does AT for the high incidence populations have to cost money?

I strongly believe that this is assistive technology as defined by IDEA 2004 as these are "off-the-shelf" and "increase, improve or maintain" the functional abilities of a student with disabilities. It's all about independence and success and I believe we are setting a student up for success when we use these types of tools that are accessible ANYWHERE.

Your thoughts?

photo credit - http://flickr.com/photos/leefly/416980365/