Respond in a paragraph to the discussion board. In your response, DO NOT JUST AGREE OR DISAGREE IN THE RESPONSE, tell the reason for your response. Your response must be at least 100 words.  Each answer separately. Use APA 7. 

Peer1

Odalys

Assistive Technology Information for Families and Communication

Lecture 1: Assistive Technology (AT) for Families

The lecture notes are comprehensive and outline several aspects that can be viewed as either positive or negative. On the positive aspects, the lecture notes provide a comprehensive explanation of what ATs are and their uses. For instance, it is stated that they are pieces of equipment or product system that improve the functionality of children with disability (FCTD, n.d). Also, the lecture notes provide AT’s uses and state that they are essential in aiding daily living, communication, and access to communities.  

There are, however, negative aspects that can be noted in the lecture.  The lecture highlights some of the policies that protect the education of the learners with disabilities, the notable being IDEA, IEP, and Rehabilitation Act (FCTD, n.d). However, it fails to explain to the readers where individuals can seek redress when these provisions are violated. The lecture also provides that individuals can be helped to afford the ATs, especially when they are incapable of purchasing them (FCTD, n.d). It, however, fails to explain the specific criteria that need to be met. For instance, it is stated that the age factor is a determinant for funding but fails to state which age bracket of learners can benefit from financial help.

Lecture 2: Assistive Technology (AT) for Communication

 The lecture notes have some positive and negative aspects regarding ATs for communication. The positive aspect is that it highlights several ATs that foster communication for learners with hearing, reading, and visual impairments (Piere, n.d). ATs that are highlighted include large print books, Audiobooks, and Desktop magnifies. The lecture also provides ATs procedures for communications, such as ensuring large screen resolution and high contrast settings (Piere, n.d). These procedures are essential accommodative approaches for these learners. However, the lecture has some negative aspects. First, it fails to explain how learners from low economic backgrounds can be helped access the ATs for communication. Also, the lecture does not explain the complexities of using ATs and how they can be addressed. 

References

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) (n.d). Assistive Technology Information for Families.

                            Piere (n.d). Lecture 2: Assistive Technology (AT) for Communication.

Peer 2

Patricia

Assistive Technology Information For Families Lecture

Positive Points:

• Assistive Technology can aid in uses for daily living
  eating, dressing, recreation & leisure, and home living
• Assistive Technology can also aid in communication, such as speech to text.  Students are also able to work at their own pace, accomplish more individually and be included into the regular classroom.

Negative points:

• Acquiring Assistive Technology is an ongoing process and your child’s needs will change and their technology needs will as well.
• No Assistive Technology is perfect, it will help your child access many aspects of the curriculum and  daily life but their may be obstacles that the parent may need to work with along with the educational providers of the student.

Assistive Technology for Communication Lecture

Positive Points:

• AT for communication in print material gives students access in the form of:

Large print books / Audio Books / Desk top magnifiers

• AT for communication also gives students’ computer access for students

               with visual impairments.  These AT are available in the following forms:

• Lower screen resolution
• High contrast settings
• Screen magnification software
• Screen reader software
• Scan and read software
• Refreshable Braille output

Negative Points:

• Majority of assistive technologies are very expensive for schools to purchase.
• To be able to use the technologies properly, training has to take place which is very time consuming.