Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Help a Special Needs Teen Work with Assistive Technology
Step1
List activities that the child will be doing as she carries out her transition plan.
Step2
Pinpoint changing needs in post-secondary or life-skills education. Find out if the school or government can provide tape recorders, electronic note takers that use Braille or calculators and words processors modified for special needs teens.
Step3
Consider what the disabled person would need in order to use a computer. Technology options include spoken word, large print or Braille displays, modified keyboards and alternatives to the mouse, such as touch screens and joysticks.
Step4
Ponder the necessities of independent living. Weigh the effectiveness of an animal companion, a switch system (a single switch to operate lights, TV, opening, closing and locking doors) and an emergency alert button.
Step5
Think about the assistive technology needed for several different jobs. Telephone amplification, a document reader (a scanner that "reads" the words aloud) or a specialized sewing machine could make a job easier for a disabled person.
Step6
Consult an IDEA counselor concerning your rights to assistive technology for training, employment, health care and independent living.