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K4: Awareness of the pre-referral, referral, and placement process used for identifying and serving students with Other Health Disabilities.

K7: Understanding of basic assistive and health technology used to support students with OHD.

S2: Demonstrate the ability to adapt, modify, or structure the environment to accommodate the diverse needs of students with OHD.

S3: Demonstrates the ability to modify instructional methods as needed by students with OHD (including selecting, adapting, and using specialized materials and instructional strategies to maximize learning) in accordance with the Individualized Education Program.

1aR

3aR

Supporting Students with Assistive and Health Technology

Picture of a para helping a student use a computer. Some of the students who come to school with chronic and acute health care conditions also come with health care and/or assistive technology aids and devices. These technologies help the student manage his/her health condition and assist the student in making academic progress. Some of the assistive technology may have already been purchased and used prior to coming to school. For any assistive technology that the educational system provides, the student’s educational team must determine what is essential for the student to manage his/her health condition in an educational setting or to make academic progress and must include its use as a part of the Individualized Educational Program (IEP).

No matter who provides the technology, it is important for the paraprofessional to become familiar with the specific technologies or devices used by the student. You need to become familiar with and understand the role that technologies play in supporting the student’s academic progress or health condition. It is also important to know who is available for technical assistance and instruction in using the device. If the device is not working properly or needs repair, you need to know who to call for assistance.

It is important to understand the difference between assistive technology and health technology. The following definitions can help you understand these differences.

Health technologies are any items, pieces of equipment, or products that assist the student in managing a health condition and maintaining good health at school. Because these can vary widely, from inhalers to feeding tubes, the paraprofessional must seek information about and become familiar with the specific health technologies used by the student they support.
Assistive technology devices are any items, pieces of equipment, products, or system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. Assistive technology can be used to help the student communicate more easily and effectively or get around the classroom. Assistive technology can be “low-tech” such as special grip for pens and pencils or simple splints use to position pens and pencils in the student’s hand or “high-tech” such as computers, augmented communication devices, or Braille readers. These assistive devices can be homemade, purchased from stores and suppliers, or specially designed to meet the needs of a student.

References

Minnesota Department of Education. (2007). Other Health Disabilities Companion Manual (Draft). St. Paul: Author. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/SpecialEd/documents/Publication/001683.pdf

Parents, Let's Unite for Kids (PLUK) and Federation for Children with Special Needs. Family guide to assistive technology. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html