Assistive TechnologyAT Approach Dr Khaled Eskaf Assistance Professor

Assistive Technology(AT) Approach Dr. Khaled Eskaf Assistance Professor Intelligent System College of Computing and Information technology

Objectives: 1 - Assistive Technology Definitions 2 - Assistive Technology Assessment 3 - Assistive Technology Accessibility 4 - Assistive Technology Adaptability and Personalization

Define AT Assistive Technology is any object or system that increases or maintains the capabilities of people with special needs (disabilities).

Define Assistive Technology In the context of SWING, we will focus on tools and services: a) Used by students with special needs (disabilities) in order to perform learning activities and participate to university life. b) Used by academic staff for their teaching activities and that can be useful for students with special needs. c) Used by administrative staff in order to provide university facilities and that can be useful for students with special needs.

AT Definitions 1. AT is a broad range of tools and services The AT solution stands in the integration of mainstream products and services, accessible hardware and software, and specifically designed devices.

Technology

AT Definitions 2. AT is a system An AT solution is not a single tool or piece of equipment Most of time it’s a system composed by different tools, tools services and skills that interact togheter to help disability people

AT Definitions 3. AT are mediators (between the person and the context) Disability is always an interaction between features of the person and features of the overall context in which the person lives. Within this interaction AT can be either barriers or facilitators Seeing Impaired: Magnisight Explorer LCD CCTV

Technology for the Disabled • • Hearing Impaired: Listenor Pro Personal Amplifier Seeing Impaired: Magnisight Explorer LCD CCTV Learning Disabled: Text-to-Speech Physically Disabled: Sip-and-puff System Select the right tool for the specific disability

AT Assessment 1. Evaluation of AT related students needs The needs of the student, the student's environments within which technology will be used. 2. International Classification of Functioning (ICF) based checklist as a tool for AT assessment: assessment a) Identifying student’s needs in relation with University domains of activities and participation (e. g. Lessons, Studying, Exams, Social engagement, Orientation) b) Within these domains, pinpoint existent facilitators and barriers (e. g. environment, tools, resources, network) in different contexts (e. g. university classroom, student dormitory, library, canteen, etc. ) c) Identifying possible appropriated AT solutions (e. g. mobility, hearing and visual aids, etc)

AT Accessibility 1. AT are interfaces (between human and environment) Every AT solution is a combination of hardware and software interfaces (e. g. icons, buttons, visual and sound feedback, etc). Accessibility depends on design and interaction of these interfaces.

AT Accessibility 2. Universal Design The most pertinent definition on universal design today is put forward by the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

AT Adaptability and Personalization 1 - AT could be invented and modified with the user involvement 2 - Students with disabilities can design workarounds, ways of overcoming the flaws of existing devices. 3 - Technological innovation should be intended not only as achievement of new products but also as new patterns, new ways of employing technological devices that already exist.