Scenarios

What This Section Is
This is an educational module designed to help pre-service teachers recognize the special needs of a student in an educational environment and determine appropriate assistive technology devices to help in task completion. Scenarios are used to give examples of what could be encountered in the classroom; however, all cases should be handled individually with the student’s needs in mind. A SAMPLE SCENARIO is provided with the correct answer given and a description of evidence from the story to support the correct answer.

What You Will Do in This Section
After going through the sample scenario provided, you will be given the choice of two scenarios. Jim’s is orientated towards elementary school and Wanda’s towards middle/ high school. Upon selecting one, you will be given a complete scenario about the student and a series of questions to answer. These questions are designed to get you familiar with the SETT framework, by having you select if the question asked relates to the student, the environment, or the task. Completing all of the questions will get you a summary of the correct choices and possible assistive technology devices which would be appropriate to use, based on cost.

What is the SETT Framework
To help narrow the search out of the thousands of assistive technology devices out there, this module uses the SETT Framework. The SETT Framework is an organizational tool used to help create Student-centered, Environmentally useful, and Task-focused Tool systems that foster the educational success of students with disabilities.

The Student
· What is the functional area(s) of concern?
· Special needs (related to area of concern)
· Current abilities

The Environment
· Arrangement (instructional, physical)
· Support (available to both the student and the staff)
· Materials and Equipment commonly used by others in the environment
· Access issues (technology, physical, instructional)
· Attitudes and expectations (staff, family, others)

The Tasks
· What specific tasks occur in the student’s natural environment that enables progress towards mastery of IEP goals and objectives?
· What specific tasks are required for active involvement in identified environment?

The Tools
Analyze the information gathered on the Student, the Environment, and the Tasks to determine possible assistive technology devices.
· Is it expected that the student will not be able to make reasonable progress toward educational goals without assistive technology devices?
· If yes, describe what a useful system of assisitive technology devices would be like.
· Search for Tools that could be included in a system that addresses student needs.
· Select the most promising Tools for trials in the natural environment.
· Collect data on effectiveness.

Sample Scenario
Elementary School Scenario
Middle/High School Scenario

@SETT Framework is property of Joy Zabala, 2001. PERMISSION GRANTED TO USE IF CREDITS ARE RETAINED.

This Assistive Technology website was developed by Gus Farmakidis (gfarmakidis@hotmail.com),
former graduate assistant on the REFOCUSTT Project.