Assistive Technology
Technology can have an impact on many aspects for our lives. This section includes resources on the wide range of technology that is available today.
- Communication - This page provides technology resources that address any component of the communication process.
- Computer Access - This page supplies resources on programs, software and devices that provide alternate ways to access the computer.
- Home & Personal Care - This page offers resources on technology that assist with home life (cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry and managing money) and personal care (getting dressed, eating, grooming and bathing).
- Literacy - This page supplies technology resources that focus on literacy or reading and writing skills.
- Math - This page contributes technology resources that address math skills.
- Mobile Devices - This page contributes resources related to the array of mobile devices (iPads, Android, Kindle, etc.) that are available and how they can be used to support education.
- Science & Social Studies - This page supplies resources on technology with a focus on science and social studies.
Showing Results 201 - 250 of 289
Description: The Best Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE) is a free website created by the Johns Hopkins University School of Education’s Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE). It is intended to give educators and researchers fair and useful information about the strength of the evidence supporting a variety of programs available for students in grades K-12. The BEE mostly consists of systematic meta-analyses of research on effective programs in reading, mathematics, writing, science, early...
Description: The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education. Our goal is to provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions. We focus on the results from high-quality research to answer the question “What works in education?” Topics include: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Behavior, Children and Youth with Disabilities, English Learners, Teacher...
Description: The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) is an NSF supported project that began in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials, mostly in the form of Java applets, for math instruction (K-12 emphasis). What is Matti Math? The NLVM Computer App is an enhanced offline version of the NSF supported National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) for K-12 mathematics. It boasts an NSF supported library of uniquely interactive...
Description: Illuminations is a project designed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Illuminations works to serve you by increasing access to quality standards-based resources for teaching and learning mathematics, including interactive tools for students and instructional support for teachers. Our Resources Lessons and interactives searchable by NCTM’s Principles and Standards and by the Common Core State Standards. Over 700 lesson plans Over 50 activities; these are...
Description: The Code of Virginia at section 22.1-129.1 permits any Virginia school division that has provided a “child with a disability” with an “assistive technology device” to transfer that device to another school division or a state agency that will be serving the child, or to the student or the student’s parent. The permissive transfer may occur when the student exits the school division and the device continues to be necessary to the student’s functional...
Description: This is a tool for creating visual supports. The Different Uses section includes tips sheets on Choice Boards, Circle Time Boards, Labels, Rules, Schedules, Mini Schedules, First/Then Boards, I Want Board, Personal Stories and Token Economy.
Description: Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities offers information, research-based instructional approaches, and effective instructional and learning strategies to support school leaders, teachers, and other specialists working to better meet the literacy and communication needs of students with significant disabilities, including students with: moderate to severe cognitive disabilities complex communication needs multiple disabilities including deaf/blindness and/or...
Description: This site is intended for students age 14 and up, and for anyone interested in learning about our universe.
Description: Find your Regional TTAC - There are eight T/TAC Regions across the Commonwealth of Virginia that serve professionals in their local areas.
Description: Talking Calculators are designed for blind and low vision users as well as second language learners. They announce the numbers and calculation results in a clear voice.
Description: Figure This! - Helping families enjoy mathematics outside school through a series of fun and engaging, high-quality challenges The rigors and demands of our increasingly complex, technologically dependent society have made high student achievement in mathematics a top priority among educators, policymakers, and employers. Todays citizens need more than basic computation and rote mathematical skills. They must master the higher-level concepts and approaches to problem solving that are key to...
Description: CDC has FREE brochures, posters, fact sheets, and more for parents, health care providers, and public health professionals. These include: EHDI Program Update: CDC’s Progress in Detecting Infant Hearing Loss Decision Guide to Communication Choices Making a Plan for Your Child And more..
Description: The Digital Public Library of America amplifies the value of libraries and cultural organizations as Americans’ most trusted sources of shared knowledge. We do this by collaborating with partners to accelerate innovative tools and ideas that empower and equip libraries to make information more accessible. The Education Guide to DPLA DPLA brings the wealth of U.S. libraries, archives, and museums to your classroom. If it’s your first time using our site, this guide will help you...
Description: How to use this board - This Paramedic & EMS Symbol Board was developed as a means to support two-way conversation. To gather information from a person who cannot communicate easily, simply show the individual the board, point to an appropriate picture and verbally ask the question that fits the symbol. It is important for the professional to consider that the individual, although nonverbal, may be able to read, write or use a keyboard to answer questions. Offering access to a...
Description: How to use this board - This School Nurse Symbol Board was developed as a means to support two-way conversation. To gather information from a person who cannot communicate easily, simply show the individual the board, point to an appropriate picture and verbally ask the question that fits the symbol. It is important for the professional to consider that the individual, although nonverbal, may be able to read, write or use a keyboard to answer questions. Offering access to a keyboard, paper...
Description: Hey, Can I Try That? A Student Handbook for Choosing and Using Assistive Technology - There are many things that you can use to help with school tasks such as reading and writing and studying. If school tasks are hard for you, there are some tools that you could try. Learning about new kinds of technology can be fun and exciting. It can also help you to do new things that you may have thought were too hard for you. If you find the right tool, you may be able to improve your work in: writing...
Description: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. This law applies to public elementary and secondary schools, among other entities.
Description: Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything - As an educational technologist, I continue to learn each day. When I develop new presentations or explore a new passion, I create a page of resources. This site will serve as the entry point to these resources, ideas, tips, and tricks. Topics include: Assessment Creativity Devices Emerging Technology Information/Digital Literacy Pedagogy Professional Growth Workshops
Description: The Digital Learning Integration were approved by the Virginia Board of Education in October 2020. These standards emphasize the essential role of technologies in the deeper learning experiences of students in content areas, as digital citizens in an ever-increasing digital world.
Description: The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) works to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are hearing, including family members, service providers, and the general public.
Description: Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodology. We’re a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children. Our outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on enabling Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing...
Description: A free public service, Virginia Relay connects people who are deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind or speech disabled with standard telephone users, relaying the conversation between both parties. Relay services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no limit on the number or length of calls a user may make.
Description: FamilyConnect is a service offered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) to give parents and other family members of children who are visually impaired–and professionals who work with them–a supportive place for sharing and finding resources on raising their children from birth to adulthood. Every parent wonders, “Will I do a good job raising my child?” If your child is blind or visually impaired, you’ll have the same question…and many more....
Description: WonderBaby.org is dedicated to helping parents of young children with visual impairments as well as children with multiple disabilities. Here you’ll find a database of articles written by parents who want to share with others what they’ve learned about playing with and teaching a blind child, as well as links to meaningful resources and ways to connect with other families.
Description: Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) Assistive Technology Network (AT Network) addresses priorities of VDOE with centralized coordination, implementation, and dissemination of information about the laws which define AT devices and services, the process of consideration of AT by Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams, and AT assessment and resources. It includes a section on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). In support of these priorities, the network has several...
Description: Communication is an essential part of everyday life and is considered to be a profound and indisputable individual right. Impairment in communication is one of the diagnostic characteristics of ASD. This means that every student identified with an ASD will experience communication difficulties. It is now widely regarded that communication is an essential life skill and should be a primary goal for students with ASD.
Description: Five Tips to Better Digital Classroom Accessibility, Presented by : Dr Kimberly Avila, PhD, TBVI, COMS at George Mason University Position Papers Organizations, Agencies and Useful Websites
Description: With Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time, you can block or limit specific apps and features on your child's device. You can also restrict the settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for explicit content, purchases and downloads, and privacy.
Description: Disability rights are civil rights. From voting to parking, the ADA is a law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life. ADA.gov includes: Topics, Guidance & Resource Materials, Laws, Regulations & Standards, Enforcement, File a Complaint
Description: Assistive Technology is to improve student achievement, productivity, independence, and inclusion by increasing student access to assistive technology devices and services and enhancing educator knowledge of assistive technology.??
Description: FOR OVER 25 YEARS, the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services and the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Center for Technology in Education (JHU CTE) have collaborated to bring you the Maryland Assistive Technology Network (MATN). The need for intentional and strategic integration of assistive technology (AT) into specially designed instruction and daily routines is critical as educators, providers, and family...
Description: These chapters can be downloaded from WATI website's Accessing Students' Needs for Assistive Technology: Chapter 1: ASNAT Process Chapter 2: AT for Seating, Positioning and Mobility Chapter 3: AT for Communication Chapter 4: AT for Computer Access Chapter 5: AT for Writing, Including Motor Aspects Chapter 6: AT for Composition of Written Material Chapter 7: AT for Reading Chapter 8: AT for Mathematics Chapter 9: AT for Organization Chapter 10: AT for Recreation and Leisure Chapter 11: AT for...
Description: Get Ready to Read! is designed to support educators, parents, and young children in the development of early literacy skills in the years before kindergarten. Intended for use with all children, the resources and information provided on this site promote skill-building, communication between adults, and ways to address concerns.
Description: The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops international standards for the Web: HTML, CSS, and many more. The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops standards and support materials to help you understand and implement accessibility. You can use W3C WAI resources to make your websites, applications, and other digital creations more accessible and usable to everyone.
Description: This kit provides helpful information about students with autism to promote understanding and acceptance at school. It includes tools and strategies to increase learning for all members of the school community. The School Community Tool Kit is broken down into sections: About the School Community Tool Kit Information about the resources included, a section on how to use the tool kit, a note to families and caregivers, an "About Me" profile form, and more. About Autism In addition to general...
Description: Visual supports can be a very effective way for children and adults with autism to communicate. This tool kit provides a step-by-step, easy-to-understand introduction to visual supports and the ways that parents and other caregivers can begin using them. The kit includes: Types of visual supports Practical examples of how to begin integrating visual supports into a child’s daily routines Actual visual supports for parents to print, cut out and use Links to resources that provide more...
Description: Students of all ability levels should have the opportunity to experience literacy designed to help them learn new skills or review current abilities. Adapting literacy activities is one method used to make books accessible.
Description: Morphonix™ LLC has been developing award-winning games, apps, songs, and stories for more than 25 years. Morphonix was a pioneer in recognizing the huge need for alternative educational tools that stimulate children to learn about their brains in schools and at home. Morphonix has become known as the “Brain Game” company. Its energies have been focused on developing a series of computer games and mobile apps that make the abstract concepts of brain science more fun and...
Description: What is BrainPOP? Engaging learning games, animated movies, and activities. Designed with relevance, depth, and humor to encourage kids on their unique learning paths. Supporting teachers' roles and needs with classrooom-optimized tool, shaped by millions of hours of use by students and teachers in diverse learning settings. Learning made visible thourgh tools that challenge students to reflect, make connections, and engage in deeper, curiosity-driven learning. Covering universal topics with...
Description: The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Description: The goals of the English Standards of Learning are to teach students to read and to prepare students to participate in society as literate citizens, equipped with the ability to communicate effectively in their communities, in the work place, and in postsecondary education. As students progress through the school years, they become active and involved listeners and develop a full command of the English language, evidenced by their use of standard English and their rich speaking and writing...
Description: Autism Internet Modules - Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have unique strengths and challenges. Understanding the underlying characteristics of ASD and effective practices that support their needs is essential. Designed for those who support, instruct, work with, or live with someone with autism, the Autism Internet Modules (AIM) guide users through case studies, instructional videos, pre- and post-assessments, discussion questions, activities, and more.
Description: Many interventions exist for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, scientific research has found only some of these interventions to be effective. The interventions that researchers have shown to be effective are called evidence-based practices (EBPs). One reason for using EBPs is because, by law, teaching practices must be based on evidence of effectiveness. What EBPs have been identified? The NPDC used a rigorous criteria to classify 27 focused interventions as EBPs in 2014. The 27...
Description: Welcome to EZ AT II, a guide for parents and professionals who want to help infants and toddlers with disabilities participate more fully in daily activities. This guide shows how using simple assistive technology (AT) can help children with disabilities from birth to age 3 reach that goal. AT refers to a wide range of products, devices and strategies that help increase or improve a person’s ability to participate in life activities such as playing, reading, communicating, etc. AT opens...
Description: Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for Blind has spent nearly a century ensuring that individuals who are blind or visually impaired have access to the information, technology, education, and legal resources they need to live independent and productive lives. From our earliest days, we have amplified the voices of people with vision loss, and have been the engine of advancement and opportunity for every person affected by blindness or vision loss.
Description: National Library Service (NLS) is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS circulates books and magazines in braille or audio formats, that are instantly downloadable to a personal device or delivered by mail free of charge.
Description: RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. RESNA advances the field by offering certification, continuing education, and professional development; developing assistive technology standards; promoting research and public policy; and sponsoring forums for the exchange of information and...
Description: Their mission is to help you grow your assistive technology (AT) knowledge, enhance your instruction and build capacity using today’s best practices and implementation strategies.
Description: The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace. JAN’s trusted consultants offer one-on-one guidance on workplace...
Description: Based on brain science and leading instructional practice research, Learning Ally provides new, integrated tools to help educators drive sustainable transformational change in literacy leadership and student achievement. We help school systems and leaders address the equity gap through evidence-based solutions that combine early assessment, intervention, and accommodation with interactive professional development and coaching. Our programs help educators identify and prevent learning...