Access equipment helps children and students with physical disabilities to access the curriculum.
Assistive technologies give students with disability greater independence and access to the curriculum on the same basis as their peers.
Requesting equipment
Access equipment and assistive technology is available for students and children at public preschools and schools. Talk to your preschool or school to arrange the use of the equipment.
For assistive technologies related to vision impairment contact the South Australian School and Services for Vision Impaired.
Access equipment
Access equipment available for loan includes:
- portable wheelchair ramps (short term loan only for temporary measures)
- toileting equipment such as portable over-toilet commodes and frames, toilet chairs, toilet supports, toilet step and rails
- hoists and slings for lifting students
- electronic change tables to assist lifting and handling
- seating to meet postural and low-vision needs
- corner chairs.
Assistive technologies
Assistive technologies available for loan include:
- laptops
- iPads
- digital pens
- switches
- alternative keyboards
- alternative pointing devices.
Short-term loan
Short term loans of up to 4 weeks are available so teachers can trial and evaluate assistive technologies. This helps identify the equipment that meets the student's needs.
Long-term loan
If trial loans are successful, assistive technologies are provided on long term loan for students with physical functional barriers to access curriculum.
Long term loans can be for the entire time the student is at school. If they move to another public school the equipment is transferred to the new site with them.
Audiological equipment
A range of audiologial equipment is available for children and students who are deaf or hard of hearing or have auditory processing disorder.
A soundfield system can be used to overcome background noise and improve the signal to noise ratio from the teacher to the deaf or hard of hearing child or young person. Special educators (hearing) can arrange a short-term loan of a soundfield system for use at the school.
If the trial is successful the school can then get its own soundfield system.
