This document discusses assistive technologies that can help teach children with visual impairments. It describes technologies such as screen magnifiers, screen readers, braille keyboards and displays, digital book readers, video magnifiers, portable note takers, and scan and read systems. These technologies can assist students who have low vision, are functionally blind, or completely blind by enhancing or converting visual information into formats they can access using their other senses. The document provides examples of how each type of technology can help visually impaired students learn in the classroom.

1. ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
teaching children with
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

2. PRESENTERS
DEVON MC CLEAN
CYRILLA GUMBS ZHANA GEORGE
DEVON MC CLEAN

3. What Technlogy does my student need?
The teacher is faced with a dilemma: finding the appropriate Assistive
Technology for the visually impaired student:
“Does this student require HARDWARE or SOFTWARE?”
The answer depends on the student’s ‘visual acuity’ or
visual need. Is he considered low vision, functionally blind
or blind?

5. Low vision
• Mary can see. However, she needs to have her
text magnified. John needs acute contrast and
Kain just needs a different font. They can learn
with their visual sense- they simply need their
material enhanced. They have Low Vision.
Click on the link below to see how one school assists those with Low Vision
The Interactive Whiteboard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBX_raHKhtA

6. Functionally Blind
Carl can see well enough to move around in the
classroom but he cannot see well enough to
work on his own. He is Functionally blind.
(How would you teach the children in your class to
take care of the functionally blind student?)

7. BLINDNESS
Darcy is in total darkness. She relies
entirely on her other senses to glean
information about her surroundings. She
needs assistive technology to learn. She is
completely blind.

9. Adaptive keyboards
Offer a variety of ways to provide input into a computer through
various options in size, layout and complexity.
Students use these to take notes in class or type assignments

10. SCAN / READ SYSTEMS
These allow the user to scan documents into the computer and have them
read aloud to him. e.g. stories (during Language Arts), assignments (in class or
for Home Work) and exams.
Open book
Kurzweil

11. VIDEO MAGNIFIERS
These use television technology to enhance the image of text, pictures and
small objects.
The map that the teacher uses for Social- Studies or the chart mounted for
Mathematics would be greatly enhanced by this mechanism

12. PORTABLE NOTE TAKERS
Persons who prefer to take notes by typing can do so on these light weight
machines. They are built with a special keyboard of Braille and can be
connected to computers and printers for uploading or downloading
information. They can also read the notes aloud.
The Note Taker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba6qHT3MGzk

13. Braille
Refreshable Braille display: this type of hardware provides tactile output of
information presented on the computer screen.
Braille writing equipment: this is used for the creation of paper Braille
materials. These can be manual or an electronic device.
Braille printer: a machine that does just what it sounds like. It is an embosser
that prints in Braille.
The student uses this equipment to take notes during class

14. DIGITAL BOOK READERS
These are designed to play CD books on the computer during the Language
Arts . To which strain of the Language Arts would this equipment be most
appropriate?

16. SCREEN MAGNIFIERS
This software works in real time with the computer’s software to
increase the font of text and pictures on the screen by
magnification, 2x up to 20x magnification).
The program can magnify the entire screen/ parts of it or only around
the cursor. It can also invert colours and tracking options.
MAGic
Zoom Text
Big Shot
Magic

17. SCREEN READERS
These work with the software on the computer to read everything
from text to images on the screen
JAWS
WINDOWS- EYES
ZOOM TEXT
Jaws

19. Hotlist
AT for children
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/atclassfact.htm
What is assistive technology and how is it used in schools?
http://www.sc.edu/scatp/cdrom/atused.html
Teachers Using Technology. Assistive technology for the visually
impaired.
http://www.teachers-using-technology.com/at-and-visually-
impaired.html

20. Hotlist
Out Of Sight: Technology Helps Visually Impaired Students Thrive
http://www.edutopia.org/edward-r-murrow-technology-visually-impaired
Assistive Technology Tools: Keys to Learning for The Visually Impaired
http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-visually-impaired-video
Assistive technology for students with visually impairments
http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/74539.aspx

22. REFERENCE
1) Adaptive Technology Centre for New Jersey Colleges. Assistive technology for college students who are blind or
visually impaired Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://adaptivetech.tcnj.edu/resheet/blind.htm
2) Blind Student Davao School and Rehabilitation Center for Visually Impaired. Retrieved November 3rd, 2011 from
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=visually+impaired+children&hl=en&sa=X&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=550&tbs=it
p:photo&tbm=isch&tbnid=d-siXae7V8GkzM:&imgrefurl=http://dsrcvi.com/&docid=cbky8rKWzls-
hM&imgurl=http://dsrcvi.com/images/pic13.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=XLuqToSIEJSltweS3_nyDg&zoom=1
3) Cox, P. & Dykes, M. (2001) Effective Classroom Adaptations for Students with Visual Impairments Retrieved
November 1st 2011, from http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCEC/International
/StepbyStep/ResourceCenter / ClassroomEnvironment/VOL.33NO.6JULYAUGUST2001_TEC_cox.pdf

23. REFERENCE
4) Digital Book Readers Retrieved November 1 2011 from http://portables.about.com/od/ebookreasers/ss/Ereader-and-
Education.htm
5) Frustrated Teacher, Mathematics and Multimedia Retrieved November 5th 2011, from http://mathandmult
imedia.com/category/high-school-mathematics/high-school-algebra/page/2/
6) Job Access with Speech Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://h33t.com/details.php ?id=417eda267 f002605c
17fa5d6a39ed1209119ed6a
7) Nalis http://www2.nalis.gov.tt/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=%2b%2fdRCTHAwlg%3d&tabid=58

24. REFERENCE
8) Portable Note Takers Retrieved November 1 2011 from http://www.topnews.in/deafblind-communication-device-
becomes-portable-2199326
9) Scan/ Read Systems Retrieved November 1 from http://www.optelec.com/en_GB/press/314/optelec-unveils-
clearreader-an-intuitive-portable-reading-system-with-instant-ocr-and-text-to-speech-technology
10) Screen Magnifiers Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://www.csvrlowvision.org/AidsandDevices.html
11) Teacher Using Technology. Assistive Technology for the Visually Impaired.(n.d.) Retrieved November 5, 2011, from
http://www.teachers-using-technology.com/at-and-visually-impaired.html
12) Video Magnifiers Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://library.rehabmart.com/?last=3/15/2011&uid=115050
13) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM6GtXOi9iY
14) The Mountbatten – Assistive technology for the Blind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLaUx7BJ4r0