Tutorial eight

Define Assistive technology
Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "...products, devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities...", according to the definition proposed in the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

Assistive Technology products can enable people with disabilities to accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life. Assistive Technology devices can help improve physical or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent the worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness, help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing limb.

Retreived on 01 of May 2011 from
http://www.rehabtool.com/forum/discussions/1.html

In a nut shell assistive technology, as mentioned in the above defination and as the word suggessts itself, to assist, support, enhance, improve, lengthen, accomplish ADL and overall improve the quality of life for an individual with disability with the help of technology.
Technology is tailor made to suit and fit the needs and wants of the individual, hence modified to cater to their needs. Assisitive Technology is developed to better the quality of lives of individuals who have impairments of kinds like physical or mental.
Recently we had a lecture on Assisitive Technology by Dave an OT form Wellington and i personally was very taken up with the amount of assistive gadgets to assist clients. There were Ipads, talking books, bed alarms, modified switches, white board, toys for young children, and wheel chairs etc.
I was personally very taken up and impressed with the white board/smart board.
The Smart Board is a reveloutionary white board in general having the features of a computer with touch screen facility on it.
The smart board can have either the 2Touch IWB which is an interractive way to resource and get access to the net and computer.
Due to financial constraints put upon educational systems , there is an alternative to the 2 Touch IWB which has the pen based affordability of the Interactive Gecko.

If you want to know more about them , you can click on the link below.
http://www.manzana.co.nz/html/solutions_intWhiteboards.php?sector=educ
http://www.manzana.co.nz/html/productDisplay.php?sector=educ&id=5634&return=L2h0bWwvc29sdXRpb25zX2ludFdoaXRlYm9hcmRzLnBocD9zZWN0b3I9ZWR1YyM1NjM0
http://www.manzana.co.nz/html/productDisplay.php?sector=educ&id=6018&return=L2h0bWwvcHJvZHVjdERpc3BsYXkucGhwP3NlY3Rvcj1lZHVjJmlkPTYwMTYmcmV0dXJuPUwyaDBiV3d2Y21WemIzVnlZMlZ6WDNacFpHVnZMbkJvY0Q5elpXTjBiM0k5WldSMVl5TTJNREUy

Manzana Limited | 192C Wairau Rd, Glenfield, Auckland, NZ | PO Box 34-619, Birkenhead, Auckland, NZ
0800-200-121 | P: +64-9-440-9988 | F: +64-9-440-9989 | sales@manzana.co.nz
The above Address and ph np are of the company Manzana ltd. who specialise in the  production and sales of White board and Smart Boards in NZ

Here is a cite i found on Daves Educational sector on Smart boards...... feel free to view the link below
http://davecormier.com/edblog/2010/05/15/smartboards-its-about-the-technology-and-it-isnt/


Retrieved on May02 2011 from
http://www.priceme.co.nz/Whiteboards/c-1704.aspx
the prices vary with different brands . You can follow the link above to get some quotes for the cost of White boards and their models and accessories.
This is a very useful and interractive device for the education system. It helps children to be more interractive and definately engages them more. They have a fun way of learning which helps in retaining the information better. Every child feels involved in the classroom and the interestlevel rises, learning becoming easy for all. especially for children with learning difficulties, it is a very useful assistive technology.
It is the new generation learning tool and is becoming ever so popular.
Here is a site i found where parents bring home the white board and it is marvellous.....
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/reportcard/archive/2011/04/05/north-vancouver-parents-bring-smart-boards-to-school.aspx

If we can get our funding together and get the cost hurdel out of the way, then we should alll vouch for the smart boards for our children and the education system.
They are a great way of learning.