Alliance for Technology Access: A confederation of Centers located throughout the United States that provide various types of assistive technology services to consumers of assistive technology, their families, and the general public.

Applied behavior analysis: A structured approach to teaching and behavior management that employs observation and charting of student behavior, task analysis, systematic application of sequenced teaching procedures, reinforcement, and monitoring of student performance.

Braille: A tactile reading code for people who are blind that is based on a braille cell consisting of six dots embossed on heavy paper, similar to that used for file folders. The raised dots on braille materials are "read" with the fingers.

Competency-based instruction: A technology of teaching in which knowledge and skills to be attained as a result of instruction are clearly specified, as are the criteria to be used in evaluating when competencies have been met.

Dialysis: A medical technology in which a machine is used to remove impurities in the blood that appear as a result of kidney failure. Dialysis enables those with kidney failure to stay alive and lead productive lives.

Direct Instruction: Systematic teaching methods that are applied in very precise ways and have been found to be effective with students who have disabilities. Model-lead-test is a type of direct instruction in which the teacher models the student's desired response, leads the student in making the desired response, and then tests to ensure that the student can respond correctly when prompted to do so.

Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142): Federal legislation which mandates that all students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. As a result of this legislation, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are developed for each student enrolled in a special education program. It has been amended several times, the most recent being in 1997 (see IDEA).

glossaryword value="Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336): Federal legislation that define disabilities and the rights of people with disabilities to access buildings, facilities, telecommunication and transportation systems, and equipment typically found in the workplace.

High-tech: The use of sophisticated technological devices typically involving the use of computers and other complex electronics.

IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PL 105-17): The 1997 amendment to Public Law 94-142. One of the most significant additions is the requirement that assistive technology be considered when a student's IEP is being developed and during annual IEP reviews (see Education for All Handicapped Children Act).

IEP: Acronym for Individualized Education Program mandated by IDEA; a plan that is developed for a student enrolled in a special education program by a team of professional educators, the child's parents, and, when appropriate, the child. The IEP must include a statement of the student's present levels of educational performance, annual goals, short-term objectives, specific services needed by the student (including assistive technology services or devices), dates when those services will begin and be in effect, and when the student should be reevaluated.

IFSP: Acronym for Individualized Family Services Plan; an extension of the IEP process to pre-school students with disabilities.

ITP: Acronym for Individualized Transition Plan; a mandate under IDEA which requires that all students 14 years of age, or older, who are enrolled in a special education program have a specific plan to prepare them for the post-school environment. Some school districts develop separate ITPs, while others incorporate the ITP into the IEP.

IWRP: Acronym for Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan; applies the same principles as those used in preparing IEPs when planning rehabilitation services for those who are eligible for them.

Instructional computer software: Computer programs designed for different instructional purposes. The major types of programs are tutorial, drill and practice, simulation, exploration, and problem solving.

Interactive multimedia program: An instructional program that makes use of various media and requires student responses. For example, a CD-ROM based program may present text, graphics, and sound to instruct the student.

Kurzweil Reader: A machine, about the size of a desktop copier, that converts printed pages into spoken text. For example, a book can be placed on the glass top of the machine, which then scans each line of text. As each word is scanned, the machine pronounces it aloud. It is used by those who are blind or others who are unable to read.

Learning strategies: Procedures, systems, and techniques that are taught to students with learning disabilities to enable them to perform specific tasks, such as dissecting unknown words, studying new material, or participating in tasks of daily living. Direct instruction is used to teach students how to use learning strategies.

Low-tech: Assistive devices that do not require mechanical or electronic manipulation. For example, Velcro can replace buttons or zippers; a plastic overlay with holes in it to correspond to a keyboard can enable a person with limited muscle control to locate and press keys on a computer keyboard; and a comb with an extra long handle can assist a person who has limited arm movement with grooming.

Medium-tech: Relatively uncomplicated mechanical or electrical devices that people can use to increase their independence. Examples include wheelchairs, hand-held audio recorders, and hand-operated automobile driving controls.

Microprocessors: Computer chips that have special instructions encoded on them to enable machines to perform specific functions. These include the central processing units or "brains" of computers, the devices that make sophisticated toys "talk," and control the operation of hand-held message devices and cell phones.

Near-errorless learning: A type of learning that results from direct instruction presented in such a fashion that the errors learners make when mastering a specific skill are minimized (see Response prompting).

No-tech: Procedures or services that do not require the use of devices or equipment. For example, a physical therapist may provide assistance in strengthening a student's back muscles to enable the student to sit upright. Another example is the use of a guide dog for a person who is blind.

Perkins Brailler: A device, analogous to a typewriter, for producing printed braille materials (see Braille).

Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Federal legislation that bans discrimination on the basis of disability (Section 504). It is considered to be the civil rights act for people with disabilities. A later amendment added Section 508, which ensured that federal offices, including equipment and computers, be accessible to people with disabilities.

Response prompting: A form of instruction based upon principles of applied behavior analysis in which the teacher either shows the student what to do (in the case of physical skills) or repeats the correct answer (in the case of cognitive skills). Time Delay is one such instructional strategy. Students are instructed to wait if they don't know the answer and the teacher will provide the correct answer. Theoretically, students who learn to wait can master tasks without making errors using this procedure (see Near-errorless learning).

Spelling checker: A computer program that automatically scans text files, comparing spellings with words that are spelled correctly in a dictionary file. Words that do not match a word in the dictionary are flagged by the program. The user is given the opportunity to correct the word manually or have the spelling checker change the spelling automatically to match the word in the dictionary.

Synthetic speech production: The capability of a computer to convert printed text to spoken words. Synthetic speech is a significant assistive technology for those who are blind or who are unable to read.

Tech Act: The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (PL 100-407) provided financial assistance to so enable the States to provide assistive technology services to people with disabilities.

Technology continuum: A concept that is used when making decisions about the selection of assistive technologies. The spectrum of the continuum ranges from no-tech, to low-tech, to medium-tech, to high-tech. When making technology decisions, it is advisable to start at the lower end of the continuum prior to moving further up the continuum.

Uncontrollable body: A condition in which a person has difficulty making voluntary movements. For example, some people with cerebral palsy have difficulty controlling the muscles that are used in talking, walking, or other movements.

Word processing: The use of a computer to create, enter, manipulate, and print text.