Providing Assistive Technology Information to Professionals and Families of Children With MRDD: Interactive CD-Rom Technology
By Hourcade, J. J.; Parette, P.; Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 272-279Publication Date: 2001
Article discusses the instructional CD-ROM Families, Cultures, and AAC from the Program Development Associates, which was designed to provide information about assistive technology (AT) and augmentative and alternative communication to families and professionals. The ways in which technology changes the way we access information are discussed, as are the ways in which students with mental retardation and developmental disabilities can benefit from AT. Professionals working with students in these populations require greater information on how AT affects families, especially those from diverse backgrounds. In turn, the parents and families of students with mental retardation and developmental disabilities need to have information about AT to be presented in a user-friendly format. The CD-ROM allows the user to switch from English to Spanish with the touch of a button to learn about electronic speech devices, communication boards, and head/mouth pointers, just to name a few. The program is Macintosh and Windows compatible, and includes both a glossary and a supplementary concept paper.
Published by: Council for Exceptional Children (Website:http://www.cec.sped.org)
Division on Developmental Disabilities (DDD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) (Web Site: http://www.dddcec.org )
