Assistive technology overview

What is assistive technology?

Assistive devices and technologies are those whose primary purpose is to maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence to facilitate participation and to enhance overall well-being. They can also help prevent impairments and secondary health conditions.

What does assistive technology look like?

Assistive technology comes in a range of forms, some technologies are more basic than others.

If a child or young person is being assessed or has involvement from a member of staff, assistive technology can be considered to meet an unmet social care need. Please discuss further with the allocated worker or contact Suleman Aswat, Commissioning Officer.

Kirklees Council already has a strong presence in the use of Assistive Technology (AT) of which some examples are below:

Alert a local carer

Bed occupancy sensor

Chair occupancy sensor

Epilepsy sensor

Fall detector

Door sensor

The use of assistive technology can enhance the learning experience for many children who struggle to get the most out of their education because of the barriers they face due to their disability. When students with a special educational need and disability (SEND) have the opportunity to use their strengths to overcome these challenges, it often results in a successful education. Assistive technology is an approach that allows students to work around their disabilities.

Teaching with Assistive Technology can address many types of learning difficulties, and make the education experience better for both the student and the teacher. Assistive Technology has tools which can be used to assist those with disabilities who struggle with listening, reading, writing, maths and organisation. Whether the student is visually impaired, dyslexic or has any other disabilities that cause skill deficits, assistive technology can be integrated into the education processes to help. There is research to demonstrate that AT can improve certain skill deficits, such as reading and spelling. Assistive technology in education helps to increase participation, achievement and independence, by improving the students access to the same general curriculum as other pupils.

THE SITUATION

Email received from a deputy headteacher querying if I had any access to any resources that might help a year 6 child who can’t read. He has a diagnosis of dyslexia but despite their best efforts with phonics and now precision teaching, he still can’t read and therefore cannot access all other aspects of his learning.

THE SOLUTION

Suggestions provided via email in addition to a Dyslexia Reader Pen being loaned:

- Text-to-speech (TTS) lets you see text and hear it read aloud at the same time. To use this tool, you click on or highlight words, and the words are read by a computer-generated voice. TTS works with any digital text.

- Audiobooks and digital TTS books let you hear books read aloud. Audiobooks are read by human voices.

- Optical character recognition (OCR) reads aloud text from pictures and image files. You can use OCR with worksheets and paper documents by scanning or taking photos of them. Like TTS, OCR uses computer-generated voices.

- Graphic organisers are visual tools that help you keep track of information as you read. Graphic organisers can be digital or pen and paper.

- Organised a Clicker Trial as an alternative option

THE OUTCOME

Child’s voice: When I first showed the reader pen to the child, his face has absolutely lit up. He said I can get a real book now as it can read it to me (and chose one out the reading area). He’s really enjoyed it being able to access books like other children in his class.

Teacher’s voice: The pen has really helped the child to be more independent and access tasks such as reading skills and reading books. We have just had to some boundaries in, so he’s not using it when he shouldn’t be. He is finding it really useful; he was upset it couldn’t read his own handwriting back to him! It has given him some independence ready for high school.

There is huge scope for greater use of Accessible technology to help children and young people.

Assistive Technology can

Promote independence and autonomy, both for the child and the family
Facilitate memory and recall
Help manage potential risks in and around the home
Reduce the need for a child to go into hospital/in care
Reduce the stress on parents/carers, improving their quality of life and of the person they are caring for
Improve safety at home and support independent living
Reduce the escalation of care needs at home (e.g., stepping up the level of home care support)
Save money

Assistive Technology in Education can:

Increase Access to Learning
Enhance Communication
Improve Independence
Customise Learning

These include:

Grab rails
Wet Room/Toilet Equipment
Pencil Grip
Post it Notes
Slanted surfaces
Raised line paper
Weighted pencils
Magnifying bars
Tactile letters
Covered overlays

These include :

Hoists
Mobility Equipment/Bath Seat/Chairs Buzzers
Portable word processors
Talking calculator
Switches
Lights
Electronic organisers
Apps
Sensors

These include:

E Readers
Touch screen devices
Computerised testing
Speech recognition software
Text to speech
Progress monitoring software
GPS
Eye gaze technology

Assistive technology has been successfully used in Kirklees for many years to help older people live safely and independently in their own homes.

We are keen to expand our offer to support children and young people with additional needs, mental health needs and those leaving care.

We would also like to see how we can use assistive technology to help ease the difficulties children and families face when moving between children’s services to adult services (known as transition).

Kirklees staff are currently working on developing a clear pathway for families and professionals supporting children and young people to request assistive technology.

In the meantime, if you think that a child or young person may benefit from assistive technology, whether at school or at home, please contact Suleman Aswat, Commissioning Officer via email on: suleman.aswat@kirklees.gov.uk or telephone: 01484 221000 or 07973978353.

Kirklees Council already has a strong presence in the use of Assistive Technology (AT) of which some examples are below:

Useful links

William Merritt Centre

Carephones

Kooth

Medequip

HFT Smarthouse