According to recent figures
published by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), between the years 1997-1998,
approximately 5.5 million students, ages six to twenty-one, received some
form of special education. Of these, almost .20 displayed speech or
language impairments and .053 displayed visual impairments. The webquest
you are about to engage in will direct prospective teachers such as
yourselves to assistive technology resources that are available for your
students with Speech, Reading or Visual special needs. Assistive
Technology, according to the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals
with Disabilities Act of
1998, is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether
acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used
to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals
with disabilities”.
