Alerting Devices

Crafted to respond to alarm situations, these devices serve to alert individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired to various occurrences, including smoke alarms, doorbells, or a baby's cries.

AT Category: Sensory
- Hearing
- Vision
- Safety

Low - Mid Tech

Considerations

Take the following considerations into account when selecting and implementing AT to ensure that the chosen tools are well-suited to the student’s needs, align with their goals, and seamlessly integrate into their educational journey. By embracing a collaborative approach and considering the specific skills, tasks, and implementation context, educators can provide students with the necessary support to thrive academically and functionally, promoting inclusivity and fostering their overall success.

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Occupational Therapist (OT): An OT may be a member of the multidisciplinary team that evaluates or reevaluates students suspected of having a disability, including dysgraphia, and participates as an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee member in writing the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP), drafting annual goals, and recommending assistive technology services and/or the related services of occupational therapy. An OT may provide services that are academic and/or functional in nature. Examples are graphomotor skills needed for handwriting; fine motor skills which include small, finely coordinated hand movements; visual perceptual skills which include the ability to understand and interpret what is seen; visual motor skills which include the ability to coordinate visual and motor skills; and/or self-care skills which include feeding, dressing, hygiene, and toileting skills for increasing independence in necessary life skills. The OT may be a member of the Local Education Agency (LEA) assistive technology (AT) team.
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): An SLP is a member of the multidisciplinary team that evaluates or reevaluates students suspected of having a speech impairment (SI) and participates as an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee member in writing the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP), drafting annual goals, and recommending assistive technology services and/or the special education service of speech therapy. An SLP may provide services that are academic and/or functional in nature depending on the age or grade-level of the student's curriculum. Speech therapy in schools most often addresses communication skills in the areas of articulation, language, and fluency. SLP services can be provided 1:1, in a small group setting, or may involve the SLP providing inclusive support in a general education classroom. The SLP may be a member of the LEA assistive technology (AT) team.
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI): A TVI is a licensed teacher who has received specialized training and certification in meeting the educational needs of students who have visual impairments ages birth to 21 years. This role may involve adapting teaching methods and materials to accommodate the unique needs of students with varying degrees of vision loss. They are skilled in using and teaching students to use assistive technologies such as screen readers, braille displays, and audio books.
Teachers of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (TODHH): A TODHH is trained to facilitate the academic, social, and linguistic development of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, ages birth to 21 years. They possess expertise in a range of communication modalities, including American Sign Language (ASL), English-based manual-visual languages, and spoken language. TODHHs assess individual student needs, develop tailored instructional plans, and collaborate with other professionals to ensure inclusive learning environments. They employ adaptive teaching strategies, assistive technologies, and specialized curricula to optimize students' educational experiences and promote their overall success in academic and social settings.

Skills and Tasks What skills or tasks will the student utilize this tool for? What areas, functional or academic, does this tool support?

Alerting through alternative hearing devices

Implementation Context In what activities, classes, or environments will the student utilize this tool?

An alerting device is a device designed to alert individuals with sensory impairments to important signals or events in their environment. These devices can include alarms, flashing lights, vibrating signals, or audible alerts to notify users of various situations such as incoming calls, doorbells, smoke alarms, or other emergencies. They are especially helpful for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired, enabling them to maintain awareness and safety in their surroundings.