Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology Name: Institutional affiliation: Course: Date: Introduction Assistive Technology (AT) has made a big difference in the lives of disabled persons over the past few years by allowing them to handle tasks that may otherwise not have been achievable. According to Zallio & Ohashi (2022) AT as defined in the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act refers to any piece of equipment, item, or product, whether modified, customized, or acquired commercially, that is used to maintain, increase, or enhance the functional capabilities of people living with disabilities (Zallio & Ohashi, 2022). Since the term AT has been developing and expanding over the years, it has taken its place as a necessary and important tool in both communities and the education sector. This paper aims to present information on the background of assistive technology, its use in schools and communities, the incorporation of the best-suited assistive technology to the student’s IEP, and the IDEA laws on the use of assistive technology. The History of Assistive Technology AT has become a key engine for increased educational activity, innovation, and economic advancement in today’s societies (Hurst & Tobias, 2011). While a critical tool today, its development can be traced back to several centuries whereby the earliest known devices included eyeglasses and hearing aids. Although historical records show that AT dates back to the earlier periods of civilization, its evolution in the recent society started only in the 20th century owing to technological progress and the awareness of disabled people’s rights (Zallio & Ohashi, 2022). In the middle of the twentieth century, the American Disabilities Act of 1973 became a significant law as it paved the way for the protection of disabled people from any kind of discrimination in federally funded programs. This law paved the way for additional developments of AT and sparked newer advancements in the field of AT. Through this law and others AT has expanded and advanced to include several newer technologies such as screen readers, text-to-speech synthesizers, magnification applications, and speech recognition software, among others. Assistive Technology...