Assessing Student's Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT)

Chapter 2 – Computer Access
♦ The Computer- Cause and effect is the basic and underlying skill required for computer interaction
due to the number of adaptations available to users today. The computer is accessible to individuals
from the very young to the very old, with and without disabilities. The computer can be used to
establish the above stages of switch use. Or it can empower the user who has established the above
stages to engage in more diverse and complex tasks. The computer is a tool for individuals with
disabilities to experience independence, control, immediate feedback, and successes, and to become
active participants in the world around them.
A final thought as you leave this section, only if a child does not have adequate hand use, head control,
or toe use or is unable to use voice recognition, should you consider switch access. A wide variety of
switches is available to meet almost any student’s needs but consider switches last because they are the
least efficient method of accessing a computer, augmentative communication device, or other
applications and devices. A table of switch categories and advantages and disadvantages is provided as a
guide to selection.
Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology (2004) 72