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What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology (AT) is any kind of technology that can be used to enhance the functional independence of a person with a disability. AT helps to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities by providing them a way to fully engage in life's activities. AT devices are tools to help overcome challenges and enable people living with disabilities to enhance their quality of life and lead more independent lives.

Michigan Alliance for Families has partnered with Alt+Shift (formerly known as MITS) to produce an Assistive Technology Guide for Parents and Educators. In addition to the information here, we also have a free On Demand webinar available on this topic.

What does the law say about AT?

Assistive technology is defined in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as both the AT device and the training/support to choose and use an AT device.

Devices―any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability (excludes a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device).

Services―directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Besides IDEA, there are other assistive technology laws to help individuals access AT.

How does this fit into the IEP process?

Because assistive technology has so many benefits , all IEP teams are to consider the need for assistive technology. Any needs identified should be reflected in the PLAAFP statement.

Start the process by requesting an assistive technology evaluation ( sample AT request) . You can also contact your regional AT coordinator.

What should be included in the evaluation?

To determine the assistive technology needs of a child, an AT evaluation should assess the child's strengths as well as areas of weakness.

What help is available in Michigan?

In Michigan, we have Alt+Shift, a statewide project focusing on assistive technology, universal design, and accessibility. Resources available on their website include

Additional Organizations and Initiatives in Michigan

What about an iPad?

There is a lot of interest in using iPads/iPods to meet the assistive technology needs of students. Obtaining an iPad as an AT service would follow the same process outlined above for any other AT device.

What else is out there?

Check out these quick factsheets from the Center on Technology and Disability

Organizations related to assistive technology:

Learning Ally (previously known as Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) a non-profit volunteer organization operating nationwide. It produces and maintains a library of educational accessible audiobooks to people who cannot effectively read standard print because of visual impairment, dyslexia or other disability.

Bookshare, ensuring that all individuals with print disabilities have equal access to print materials. Bookshare is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities, thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs.

Center for Implementing Technology in Education identifies evidence-based practices for integrating instructional technology to support the achievement of all students.

Assistive Technology Considerations for Your Student - from the Michigan Alliance for Families Webinar Series

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Assistive technology (AT) is any kind of technology that can be used to enhance the functional independence of a person with a disability. AT helps to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities by providing them a way to fully engage in life's activities.

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Options for accessibility are there for people with vision, auditory, and physical impairments that can prevent them from accessing resources otherwise.

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Options for accessibility are there for people with vision, auditory, and physical impairments that can prevent them from accessing resources otherwise.

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Here are some resources from popular software and websites that offer accessibility options that many people don't know about.

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Here are some resources from popular software and websites that offer accessibility options that many people don't know about.

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Magnifier works like a digital magnifying glass, using the camera on your iPhone or iPad to increase the size of anything you point it at - from a prescription bottle to a candlelit menu. For those who are blind or have low vision and want more information about their physical surroundings, Detection Mode in Magnifier combines input from the camera, LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to offer intelligent tools like People Detection, Door Detection, Image Descriptions, Text Detection, and Point and Speak.

If you're standing in line, you can use People Detection to determine a person's proximity to you. Door Detection can help you navigate by identifying doors, text, and the presence of symbols - such as a restroom symbol, a no smoking symbol, or an accessible-entrance symbol - within a few feet of you. Image Descriptions and Text Detection let you hear more about people, objects, landscapes, and text in your camera's field of view. And Point and Speak makes it easier to interact with physical objects that have text, like household appliances, keypads, or labels on files. As you point and move your finger over or under different buttons or elements, your iPhone or iPad reads the text out loud, so you can perform everyday activities and tasks with more ease and independence.

Put moments into words.

Match your levels to your location.

Look down for a heads‑up.

Pinch.
Pinch.
Chat.

AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch lets people with upper-body limb differences use their Apple Watch without ever having to touch the display or controls. Using built-in motion sensors and on-device learning, Apple Watch detects subtle differences in muscle movements and tendon activity, letting you control the display through hand gestures like a pinch or a clench. Answer incoming calls, control an onscreen motion pointer, and access Notification Center, Control Center, and more. You can also use AssistiveTouch for Apple Watch to run shortcuts with Siri to complete tasks or modify VoiceOver and Switch Control settings on your iPhone.

AssistiveTouch for iOS and iPadOS helps you adapt standard gestures - like pinch, rotate, or swipe - to make them more comfortable for you. You can make other actions, like changing volume, accessible from the AssistiveTouch menu.

Cue
magic
here.

Let your voice call the shots.

Make your own calm.

This feature speaks for itself.

Assistive Access makes it easy for people with cognitive disabilities to tailor iPhone and iPad to reduce cognitive load and suit their specific needs. Designed with feedback from individuals with cognitive disabilities and their trusted supporters, this feature helps people focus on the activities they enjoy most and that are foundational to iPhone and iPad - connecting with friends and family, taking and sharing photos, and listening to music.

Assistive Access offers a distinctive interface with high-contrast buttons and large text labels, as well as tools to help individuals and trusted supporters focus the experience in specific apps - Phone and FaceTime (which have been combined into a single Calls app), Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music. You can also choose a more visual, grid-based layout for your Home Screen and apps, or a row-based layout if you prefer text.

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Apple products and services have built-in accessibility features to help you connect, create, and do what you love in the ways that work best for you.

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With technology, we have ample resources for our students to have access to content and curriculum. 

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With technology, we have ample resources for our students to have access to content and curriculum. 

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Accessibility Technology & Tools | Microsoft Accessibility

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Explore accessibility and inclusion technology from Microsoft Accessibility. Ensure and empower those around you to participate in activities at work or play.

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Use the Caret Browsing extension to move around a webpage using your keyboard instead of a touchpad or mouse. You can also select and move through text, and click links and other page controls.

To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click Caret Browsing .

If you have a Chromebook, you can also press Search + Brightness up on your keyboard to turn the extension on or off.

To use the extension:

To move word by word, press Ctrl + arrow key.

To move between focusable controls, press Tab.

To select text, press Shift + arrow key.

When a focusable control (like a list) requires arrow keys, exit it by pressing Esc and one of the arrow keys.

Using the Color Enhancer extension, you can adjust the color in webpages, like removing specific colors that are difficult for you.

To use the extension:

1. To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click Color Enhancer .

2. Click Setup.

3. Choose the row of color combinations with the greatest level of color confusion.

4. Move the slider to adjust the level of color correction. Choose a setting where you can see as many stars as possible with the least amount of color distortion.

5. When you're done, click OK.

You can make reading text and seeing image details easier using the High Contrast extension. It has filters to adjust color contrast, flip black and white, or remove colors altogether. You can also customize your settings by website.Note: Some built-in webpages on Chrome can't be adjusted, like the Chrome Web Store, the New Tab page, and the Chrome settings page.

To use the extension:

To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click High Contrast .

To adjust images and text on the page, click High Contrast . Under "Color scheme for [site]," select the color scheme you want.

To turn off the extension, click High Contrast Disable.

You can also browse in Dark theme or Dark mode.

With the Long Descriptions in Context Menu extension, you can add an item to the context menu, then right-click any element on the page and open its long description. The extension uses the "longdesc" and "aria-describedat" attributes in HTML, which are used by some assistive technologies.

To use the extension:

Right-click on any element on the page, and open its long description.

To help you identify images that have a long description, add a color border:

1. To the right of the address bar, click Long Descriptions .

2. Click Options.

3. Next to "Add border to elements with aria-describedat or longdesc attributes," check the box. Your change will automatically save.

4. Close the "Options" tab.

How can we improve it?

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Use Chrome with accessibility extensions

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Use the Caret Browsing extension to move around a webpage using your keyboard instead of a touchpad or mouse. You can also select and move through text, and click links and other page controls. To turn on the extension, to the right of the address bar, click Caret Browsing .