Assistive Technology
| Assistive Technology by Jerry Harris Assistive Technology Specialist |
What Is It?
Who Gets It?
How Is It Provided?
Who Gets It?
How Is It Provided?
| Must assistive technology be considered for each individual with a disability? |
Yes, the amendments to the
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) require
that the Individualized
Education Program (IEP) team
consider whether the child
requires assistive technology
and services.
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) require
that the Individualized
Education Program (IEP) team
consider whether the child
requires assistive technology
and services.
| Educational Necessity |
Is the assistive technology
device or service essential for
free appropriate public education
(FAPE)?
Is an assistive technology device
or service necessary for the child
to be educated within the least
restrictive environment (LRE)?
Are the assistive technology
devices and/or services a
necessary related service?
Given assistive technology
services and/or devices, will the
person with disabilities have
access to school programs and
activities?
device or service essential for
free appropriate public education
(FAPE)?
Is an assistive technology device
or service necessary for the child
to be educated within the least
restrictive environment (LRE)?
Are the assistive technology
devices and/or services a
necessary related service?
Given assistive technology
services and/or devices, will the
person with disabilities have
access to school programs and
activities?
| Low Incidence Eligibility |
Students with the following low
incidence disabilities may be
eligible for Federal/State
reimbursement to the school
district for certain services and
devices.
Deaf
Blind
Deaf-Blind
Severely Orthopedically
Impaired
incidence disabilities may be
eligible for Federal/State
reimbursement to the school
district for certain services and
devices.
Deaf
Blind
Deaf-Blind
Severely Orthopedically
Impaired
| What is Assistive Technology? |
Assistive Technology Services
Assistive Technology Devices
Assistive Technology Devices
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The term "assistive technology
device" means any item, piece
of equipment or product
system, whether acquired
commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is
used to increase, maintain, or
improve functional capabilities
of a child with a disability.
device" means any item, piece
of equipment or product
system, whether acquired
commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is
used to increase, maintain, or
improve functional capabilities
of a child with a disability.
| Assistive Technology Services |
The term "assistive technology
service" means any service that
directly assists a child with a
disability in the selection,
acquisition, or use of an
assistive technology device.
service" means any service that
directly assists a child with a
disability in the selection,
acquisition, or use of an
assistive technology device.
| Assistive Technology Device |
| Such term includes: |
the evaluation of the needs of such child, including a
functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary
environment;
purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition
or assistive technology devices by such child;
selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,
maintaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology
devices;
coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or
services with assistive technology devices, such as those
associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and
programs;
training or technical assistance for such child, or, when
appropriate, the family of such child; and
training or technical assistance for professionals (including
individuals providing education and rehabilitation services) to
employ, or otherwise substantially involved in the major life
functions of such child.
functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary
environment;
purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition
or assistive technology devices by such child;
selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,
maintaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology
devices;
coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or
services with assistive technology devices, such as those
associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and
programs;
training or technical assistance for such child, or, when
appropriate, the family of such child; and
training or technical assistance for professionals (including
individuals providing education and rehabilitation services) to
employ, or otherwise substantially involved in the major life
functions of such child.
| Variation/Accommodation/Modification |
Variation: Eligible students may have testing variations if regularly used in the classroom.
Accommodation: Eligible students shall be permitted to take the examination/test with
accommodations if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section 504 Plan for use on the
examination, standardized testing, or for use during classroom instruction and assessment.
Modification: For the STAR Program and CELDT, eligible students shall be permitted to take the tests
with modifications if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section 504 Plan. Eligible students shall
be permitted to take the CAHSEE with modification if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section
504 Plan for use on the examination, standardized testing, or for use during classroom instruction
and assessment.
Accommodation: Eligible students shall be permitted to take the examination/test with
accommodations if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section 504 Plan for use on the
examination, standardized testing, or for use during classroom instruction and assessment.
Modification: For the STAR Program and CELDT, eligible students shall be permitted to take the tests
with modifications if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section 504 Plan. Eligible students shall
be permitted to take the CAHSEE with modification if specified in the eligible student's IEP or Section
504 Plan for use on the examination, standardized testing, or for use during classroom instruction
and assessment.
| Kinds of Assistive Technology |
It is important that members of the IEP team recognize that technology
is just one strategy in a multi-faceted approach in addressing the
needs and strengths of students with disabilities. IEP teams will
therefore need to balance the degree of technology assistance with
the student's learning potential, motivation, chronological age,
developmental level and goals/objectives, which include:
is just one strategy in a multi-faceted approach in addressing the
needs and strengths of students with disabilities. IEP teams will
therefore need to balance the degree of technology assistance with
the student's learning potential, motivation, chronological age,
developmental level and goals/objectives, which include:
| Low-Tech |
Equipment and other supports
readily available in schools,
including off-the-shelf items to
accommodate the needs of
students, which can be provided
by general/special education
through the Student Study Team
(SST/IEP process (e.g., calculators,
tape, recorder, pencil grip, and
larger pencils).
readily available in schools,
including off-the-shelf items to
accommodate the needs of
students, which can be provided
by general/special education
through the Student Study Team
(SST/IEP process (e.g., calculators,
tape, recorder, pencil grip, and
larger pencils).
| High-Tech |
Support students who may need
more specialized equipment and
support services beyond basic
assistive technology, often
students with low incidence and/or
significant/severe disabilities, who
requires more in-depth
assessment (e.g., closed circuit
television ( CCTV), FM systems,
augmentative communication
devices, sound field systems,
alternative computer access, and
specialized software).
more specialized equipment and
support services beyond basic
assistive technology, often
students with low incidence and/or
significant/severe disabilities, who
requires more in-depth
assessment (e.g., closed circuit
television ( CCTV), FM systems,
augmentative communication
devices, sound field systems,
alternative computer access, and
specialized software).