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- The lesson addresses basic terms and concepts important to understand technology and its potential for people with disabilities.
- The lesson covers four major topics:
- technology's potential for improving the education, independence, and quality of life for people with disabilities;
- six different types of technologies;
- the "no-tech" to "high-tech" continuum of technology solutions to functional demands in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs);
- federal laws that include technology provisions for individuals with disabilities.
- Technology has the potential for dramatically improving the quality of education and the quality of life for people with disabilities.
- In technology plans, educators should integrate the vision for special education students with the larger vision for all students.
- Six different types of technology are recognized in special education: instructional technology, assistive technology, medical technology, technology productivity tools, information technology, and the technology of teaching.
- The technology of teaching refers to systematically designed and scrupulously applied instructional approaches.
- Instructional technology combines the use of systematic methods, hardware, software, and/or multimedia products in the delivery of instruction in the curriculum.
- Assistive technology consists of services and devices designed to help people with disabilities function within their environment.
- Technology productivity tools refer to computer software, hardware, and related systems that help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our work.
- Information technologies provide access to knowledge and learning resources.
- Various types of technologies are useful tools in helping individuals overcome problems in responding to environmental demands.
- Solutions to environmental demands span a continuum from "no-tech" to "high-tech."
- When making decisions about technology tools, a good approach is to start with the "no-tech" solution and then work up the continuum.
- The federal government has played a major role in stimulating technology applications in special education and rehabilitation.
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 reflected the realization that people with disabilities had been subject to discrimination for many years.
- Section 508 amended the Rehabilitation Act (Public Law 99-506) to ensure users with disabilities equal access to computers and other electronic office equipment in places of federal employment.
- IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 105-17), guarantees the right of all children with disabilities to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.
- IDEA mandates that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) be developed for students enrolled in special education and that assistive technology to be considered when developing IEPs.
- Public Law 100-407 (Tech Act) is aimed at financially enabling states to conduct needs assessments, identify technology resources, provide assistive technology services, and conduct public awareness programs.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Law 101-336) broadened the definition of disability, expanded the types of agencies and employers covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and mandated that facilities, equipment, transportation, and services be accessible to people with disabilities.
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