Amanda Benson
EDN 303
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is used to maintain, increase or improve the functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities. These items may include but are not
limited to any item, piece of equipment, or product, whether acquired off-the-shelf,
modified, or customized which help assist a student with disabilities. Assistive
technology includes any device that may be beneficial to the performance of a
student and the student’s success. Assistive technology however does not include
such items as medical devices that are surgically implanted or the replacement of
devices like that.
Many laws have been created and implemented concerning assistive
technology and to assist, protect and help students with special needs. In 1965 The
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title 1 was developed. This was put in
place to help ensure that every single child had equal access to education and as
well provides federal funding to schools with large concentrations of low income
students. In 1973 The Rehabilitation Act was created. Section 504 was the first civil
rights law that protected disabled persons and also kept federally funded public
schools from discriminating against in any way or excluding any person with
disabilities. This also stated schools must provide accommodations for disabled
students to allow them complete and full access to all activities, programs and
services available. Section 508 requires that all federal agencies’ electronic and
information technology services be accessible to any persons with disabilities. In
1975 The Education for All Handicapped children Act (EHA) mandated that free
and appropriate public education be available for all children with disabilities.
Children who have disabilities will be educated in the least restrictive environment
as well according to this law. Also, each child that is eligible for special education
and related services must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed
for them. This law also allows parents of disabled children to have the right to
participate in decsions regarding the identification, evaluations and placement of
their child. In 1988 the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with
Disabilities Act (Teach Act of 1988) was created. This was the first law to actually
define “Assistive Technology”. It also provides federal funding for the development
of assistive technology training and delivery systems. This is applicable to any
disabled persons of all ages. In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was
created. This is a civil rights law which guarantees equal opportunity for
individuals with disabilities in public accomidations, employment, transportation,
state and local government services and telecommunications. It mandates all
schools, including private schools, must provide services to disables students,
regardless of whether they receive federal monies or not. Also in 1990 the
Amendments to EHA were made. This was now renamed Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This focused mainly on keeping children with
disabilities in regular classes as much as possible. It also gives children with
disabilities the right to attend school with non-disables children. In 1998 the
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 was implemented. It provides program support
and grants to help states develop permanent, comprehensive programs of
technology-related assistance. It also helps individual states develop the
infrastructure needed to deliver assistive technology. In 2001 No Child Left Behind
was implemented with the best of intentions. This was implemented to ensure that
each child was receiving the same quality of education while requiring each state to
develop standardized testing to measure the school growth and achievement of their
students. This requires schools to follow testing accommodations for students with
disabilities if specified in the students’ IEP or 504 plan. Testing accommodations
must be the same as those used in daily classroom testing situations and students
with disabilities cannot be excluded from tests. They also must be tested on their
assigned grade level. In 2004 the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 redirected
funding from states to individuals by providing direct aid to persons with
disabilities focuses on delivery of assistive technology to disabled persons rather
than development of delivery systems.
There are many different categories of assistive technology which include a
variety of items. One category would be cognitive and learning aids. These are
things that are assistive technology aids that provide access to educational
materials and instruction in school and other learning environment. This could be
an item such as a prewriting motor skills aid. Another category would be
communication. This is products and equipment related to speech, writing and
other methods of communication. A student may use an electronic communicator for
example. Another category would include computer hardware/access. These would
be products that enable persons with disabilities to access, interact with, and use
computers. This may include things like a modified keyboard, like a color-coded
keyboard. Daily living aids are another category. These would be self-help devices
that assist person with disabilities in daily living activities such as dressing,
personal hygiene, bathing, home maintenance, cooking, eating, and etc. This would
be items such as timers or adapted scissors. Environmental aids are also a category.
These are systems that allow access to and control various environmental devices
such as appliances, electronic aids, security systems, etc. There are environmental
aid kits. Hearing and Listening aids are a category as well. These are devices that
assist deaf and hearing impaired individuals. These are things such as sign
language materials, smart pens and hearing aids. Mobility and positioning aids are
a category with items that are adaptive seating and positioning devices that aid a
person with physical disabilities. This would be something like an adjustable
mounting system. Another category would be recreation, leisure and sensory aids.
These are products that assist persons with disabilities as they participate in
sports, leisure and games. These would include toys, Wii games, sports equipment
as well as many other items. Switches are a category in which they provide access
to switch adapted devices for a person with physical impairment that affects their
fine motor skills. These could be large switches or even a switch-adapted bubble
maker. The last category would be vision and reading aids. These are aids that
assist those who have visual impairments. This could be items such as reading
machines (electronic book reader), braille material and other items.
If I have a student that is in need of assistive technology it will be in their
Individual Education Plan. It would also be to the child’s benefit for the principal to
bring it to your attention as well to be sure there is no miscommunication. SETT is
also used to determine if you have a student eligible for AT services. This stands for
Student, Environment, Tasks the student must accomplish and Tools to address
tasks. You get assistance with a child’s assistive technological needs through those
involved in the child’s IEP.
Nate’s scenario interests me the most only because I think this is a situation
that occurs most often. There are many children who have complications with
reading and understanding what they have read and comprehension. I feel like I
have seen many students in his situation.
I learned a lot about the laws that are developed to protect students with
disabilities. I did not realize there were so many in effect to assist students with
disabilities so that they may receive the best education possible.