What to Expect

Principles and exemplary practice of assistive technology used by individuals with disabilities, including augmentative communication, seating, mobility, computer access, environmental control, home modifications, and worksite modifications

An overview of assistive technology for people who are blind or visually impaired, including screen magnification software, screen reading software, OCR software, braille technologies, low vision devices, and smart phone/tablet accessibility.

In the spirit of DIY projects, this class will introduce you to the use of entry level electronics utilizing microcontrollers such as the Arduino and Uno boards.  You’ll be guided in constructing projects with an Assistive Technology focus. Project options include making an adaptive switch to operate a computer game, creating an alternate input control for accessing the computer and/or building a basic EADL/ECU control. No previous experience with microcontrollers required only a proficiency with using a computer is needed.

This is a 10-week on-line course designed for therapists, educators, and service coordinators involved in the assessment
and training of assistive technology for children birth through age 5 years. The course content includes topics related to assessment
and intervention of assistive technology for the development of communication, play, movement skills including access, seating
and positioning, including equipment to be utilized in a variety of environments, as well as tools for computer and iPad access.

This online course focuses on the tool part of the assistive technology consideration process, by examining a range
of assistive technologies that support active academic participation and learning in educational settings for students
with both high and low incidence disabilities from the early grades through transition. Using the Georgia Project for
Assistive Technology AT Consideration Resource Guide as a foundational tool, this course will explore AT tools and
features for writing, reading, math, organization, physical access (to curriculum), communication, activities of daily
living, recreation and leisure activities, prevocational/vocational activities, and seating, positioning and mobility.

This course covers a range of augmentative communication assessment strategies and evaluation materials utilizing case examples for discussion of specific approaches for different ages, disabilities, and settings.  Students work hands-on with state of the art equipment, gaining experience  using a variety of access methods, rate enhancement techniques and vocabulary expansion tools to conduct feature analyses of  AAC systems. Special topics include vocabulary selection, communication display design, features of electronic communication aids, funding speech-generating devices, strategies for beginning communicators and partners, vision issues and the relationship between behavior and communication for individuals with complex communication needs. This course is taught primarily online with mandatory attendance at a 2 day hands-on lab at UIC in October.

An introduction to the delivery of assistive technology (AT) services in the PreK-12 educational setting. Includes the legal foundation, models of AT service delivery, and practical components of AT consideration, assessment, and documentation.

Explores instruction and intervention strategies that can be used in inclusive K-12 settings to aid language and educational growth for students who use augmentative communication systems.

This is a fully online course that focuses on the designs and components of manual wheelchairs for children and adults with physical disabilities.  Performance adjustments, transportation standards and securement systems, funding and applicable research are also covered.

Prerequisites: DHD 556 – Seating & Positioning for Wheelchair Mobility

This is a fully online course that focuses on the designs and features of powered wheelchairs for children and adults with physical disabilities.  Power seat functions, assessment, access methods, electronics, programming and applicable research are also covered.

Prerequisites: DHD 556 – Seating & Positioning for Wheelchair Mobility & DHD 557 – Manual Wheelchair Technology

This is class provides hands on experience with alternative controls for computers, augmentative communication devices and powered mobility. Emphasis on matching consumer’s need and assistive technology.

Prerequisites: DHD 440 – Intro to Assistive Technology: Principals and Practice

This hands on course provides an examination of the interaction between design and disability, through comparison of appropriate design theories, materials, and work on consumer-based issues