ICATER Aims to Help UI, Community with Assistive Technology

ICATER's goal is to train all Teacher Education students in assistive technologies.

School presents many challenges for students. Grasping a new mathematics concept, reading a book filled with unfamiliar vocabulary words, or writing a paper on a science experiment can test the brain and the will for any student.

But for students with physical disabilities, learning is only half the battle. Simply viewing a computer screen, typing on a keyboard, or turning the pages of a book can prove monumental obstacles to getting a good education.

The new Iowa Center for Assistive Technology Education and Research (ICATER), housed in The University of Iowa College of Education, is working to level the playing field so students of all abilities can succeed in school. ICATER isn’t limited to helping students. Through training, education, and research, ICATER also seeks to assist educators and parents to achieve full access and participation in their communities.

Stachowiak trains local teachers in the use of assistive technologies.

ICATER is the only program of its kind in a college of education within

the Big Ten. In addition to providing hands-on assistive technology training to College of Education students and faculty, ICATER also conducts and supports research examining the effectiveness of various devices in education, living, and work.

Dean Sandra Damico wants all students attending the college to be given training in assistive technologies.

“Many teachers encounter situations in class where assistive technology may be helpful, but they don’t know where to begin,” said James Stachowiak, ICATER’s coordinator. “So it’s important that future teachers and counselors know how the technologies work and are able to identify students who may benefit from their use.”

ICATER also serves the wider Iowa community and is prepared to provide training and education to schools across the state through in-service programs, demonstrations, or hands-on learning experiences.

In the area of research, ICATER is exploring how assistive technologies developed for students with disabilities may actually have benefits for all students. ICATER also plans collaboration with the Iowa Testing Programs to address issues related to assessment and accessibility.

An example of the technology available through ICATER is the high-tech HeadMouse Extreme. A camera mounted on top of the computer uses infrared to track the movements of a small sticker on the user’s forehead, and relays the movements to the cursor.

The ZoomText is just one of the many tools available at ICATER.

“There’s software called Kurzweil 3000 that scans documents and reads it aloud to you,” Stachowiak said, adding that the program also allows users to organize information, highlight words, and adjust the read-back rate. “We’ve found that students who hear subject matter read to them retain it better than if they had simply read it to themselves.”

And while there are some labs across campus equipped with assistive technologies, ICATER is the only lab dedicated to the service, with five specially equipped computers.

Stachowiak said heading up ICATER has been a fulfilling experience, personally, and professionally.

“When I was working on my biomedical engineering degree, one area I looked at was rehabilitative engineering,” he said. “I thought it was a great way to use engineering to directly help people in need. In my hospital internship, I’d see a lot of people with spinal cord injuries and they’d think, ‘This is it. What am I going to do now?’ When they were introduced to assistive technologies, they saw they could do many things they could do before their accidents.”

For more information on ICATER, visit www.education.uiowa.edu/icater.