Assistive+Technology+Awareness

media type="custom" key="7568565" media type="custom" key="6817969" This video gives a glimpse about what augmentative communication can mean for the quality of life for people with disabilities. It can mean communication in a way they may never have experienced before. You can not help but feel the emotion of a young man who says, "Now people will know I am intelligent." He was never taught to read. People never knew he was capable. Imagine no one knowing you were actually learning. Imagine wanting to learn and no one bothering, because they thought you weren't capable. It's a devastating thought, but it is what has been happening to so may people for so many years. This video shows help is on the way.

media type="custom" key="6866487"This video gives you a look at how a life can change with the help of Assistive Technology, especially when it comes to augmentative communication. This man has cerebral pals, and many people have trouble understanding him. With his communicating device you can see the smiles on his face as he clearly expresses to you what it means to his life. He is able to communicate without a struggle or without hesitation. You can also see how his Assistive technology helps him even in leisure time.

media type="custom" key="6866213"For this young girl, her disability created many limitations from communication, to movement, to manipulating her environment. Her augmentative communication device not only helps her communicate her thoughts and emotions to the world, but it allows her to explore and manipulate her world. I once again find myself feeling the pain of those who did not have the opportunity to have the same experiences. I see the future for other children like this little girl, and I wonder what else may be in store for other children. Will we soon feel sorry for this little girl, because others after her have even better opportunities. I sure hope so.

media type="custom" key="6866535"This video is a different from the others. Instead of being a first hand account of the benefits of Assistive technology, it is actually a program teachers can use for their students. It is a program called Voice4Me that helps students communicate and can be custom built. It is a program that could help, without expensive communication devices. I included it to give options for educators who have students struggling now and are looking for options.

media type="custom" key="6866551" I work with students who have all of their senses available to them. They are able to communicate, they are able to express their needs and wants and talk to their peers. They are able to develop relationships. They are able to live full and happy lives. When I see children like the one featured in this video, I realize how much Assistive technology has changed lives completely. The focus in this video is a young girl who is not able to communicate because of neurological damage. Augmentative communication allowed her to not only narrate the video but communicate in every day life. She is able to communicate her intelligence and her emotions in a way she never would have been able to. media type="custom" key="6866581" This video is an overview of what augmentative and alternative communication can do for individuals of all ages. You can fee the emotion of those who are able to speak for the first time and tell people how they are feeling. Especially touching is the story of a man who was able to skip three grades after finding a means to communicate. Imagine for the parents who are able to hear their childrens' voices for the first time. Imagine being the child who can finally communicate their opinions, views, and intelligence. Technology is an amazing thing.