The History of AT
In the beginning the technology had no defining name. Its pioneers included
earnest engineers aiming to help their own kids with disabilities or their friends’
children, or a neighbor or a school. Then, in 1982, a writer specializing in this
emerging technology, while researching an article he was preparing for the
Washington Post, tried to conjure an evocative name for what he was describing.
“The story was about a blind user of a talking terminal. I began to jot down
possible names for the technology, but I couldn’t pronounce them,” recalls the
writer, John M. Williams a lifelong stutterer. “All the words were associated with
‘aids’ or ‘helps.’ Then I arrived at the word ‘assists.’ I looked at that word on my
writing pad and said to myself, ‘Yes, that’s what the technology does, it assists.
But I couldn’t pronounce the various forms of ‘assists’ - until I came to assistive
technology. That was a term I could pronounce. I used the term in the story and
the editor let it go by.” Soon, he remembers, friends and colleagues began telling
him how much they liked the name assistive technology. “They said it was
unique, accurate and memorable.”
Assistive Technology Definition:
 devices, software, or services for people with disabilities that
promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform
tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish
 provides enhancements to or changed methods of interacting
with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks
 It's anything that helps someone do something. All technology
is assistive. It can be something designed for everyone, like a
grocery cart; specifically designed for a segment of the
population, like a plumber's adjustable wrench; or, uniquely
designed for a specific person, like prescription eye glasses.
However, the term is most often used to
 describe devices that help people with disabilities be more
independent at work, school, home and any other place they
happen to find themselves.
 It's estimated that there are over 18,000 specific technologies
that can help someone with a disability be more independent.
 Since technology is ANYTHING that can help a person do
something, it is impossible to come up with a list. It can be as
low tech as Velcro or as high tech as a computer system that
speaks for a person who is not easily understood. That broad
definition can be frustrating for people who are new to the field,
or don't encounter people with disabilities often in their work or
social life.
Choosing the right Assistive Technology?
Choosing AT is most often a decision that you make, together with a
team of professionals and consultants.
The team is trained to match particular assistive technologies to
specific needs so the person can function more independently. An AT
team may include family doctors, regular and special education
teachers, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation engineers,
occupational therapists, and other specialists including consulting
representatives from companies that manufacture assistive
technology.
Funding AT
There is no one answer to this question. It will depend upon the
particular technology, its user, and its use. First, however, and most
importantly, you have to find out what assistive technology you
need. Many kinds of assistive technology may cost you little or
nothing – and that is true even for some very expensive items. Here
are some examples:
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Schools systems pay for general special education learning
materials as well as technology specified in an IEP.
Government programs (whether Social Security, Veteran’s
benefits, or state Medicaid agencies) pay for certain assistive
technology if it is prescribed by a doctor as a necessary
medical device.
Private health insurance pays for certain assistive technology if
it is prescribed by a doctor as a necessary medical device or
used for rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation and job training programs, whether funded by
government or private agencies, may pay for assistive
technology and training to help people get a job.
Employers may pay for assistive technology that is determined
to be a reasonable accommodation, so an employee can
perform essential job tasks.
There may be other sources of funds in your state or community,
including private foundations, charities and civic
organizations. Remember, almost all companies that sell assistive
technology can give you more specific answers about funding
opportunities for their products and may help you find financial
support from these or other funding sources.
Sometimes people have to use their own money for the assistive
technology they think is important. But remember that persistence
pays. Funding availability has changed over the years, and some
technology that was not covered only a few years ago is now
funded. Find the technology you need first – then look for the money.
 The first report from that study, entitled The Wide Range of
Abilities and Its Impact On Computer Technology, revealed
surprising results:
 57% of working-age adults in the United States are likely to
benefit from the use of accessible technology.
 44% of computer users with mild or severe
difficulties/impairment use accessible technology however 57%
can benefit.
 Only 24% of computer users with severe
difficulties/impairments are using the assistive technology
products they need to make computing effective.
 35% of computer users with severe difficulties/impairments
reported they didn't know if there were additional assistive
technology that would enhance their use of computers.
 33% of computer users rely on friends and family to help them
find the assistive technology products they need.
Legislation
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 - Public Law 105-394 [29 USC
2201]
Also known as the “Tech Act”
Provides funds to states to support three types of programs:
1. Assistive technology (AT) demonstration centers, information
centers, equipment loan facilities, referral services, and other
consumer-oriented programs
2. Protection and advocacy services to help people with disabilities
and their families, as they attempt to access the services for which
they are eligible
3. Federal/state programs to provide low interest loans and other
alternative financing options to help people with disabilities
purchase needed assistive technology.
Purpose of the Tech Act
The Tech Act is intended to promote people’s awareness of, and
access to, assistive technology (AT) devices and services. The Act
seeks to provide AT to persons with disabilities, so they can more
fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on a
level playing field with other members of their communities. The Act
covers people with disabilities of all ages, all disabilities, in all
environments (early intervention, K-12, post-secondary, vocational
rehabilitation, community living, aging services, etc.).
The statute of the Tech Act is the bill that was passed by Congress
into law and signed by the President. As mentioned above, the most
recent reauthorization took place in 2004 as Public Law 108-364.
Officially, this last reauthorization of the Act is called The Improving
Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Act of
2004.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Public Law 101-334 [42 USC 12101]
ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the following
areas:
- Employment
- State and Local Government
- Public Accommodations
- Commercial Facilities
- Transportation
- Telecommunications
The law is organized by section, or “Title”
Title I – Employment
Any employer who has 15 or more employees must offer “equal
opportunity” to employment related activities
Title II – State and Local Governments
Insists that all people with disabilities must be given equal access to
public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care,
and other areas under their control
Title III – Public Accommodations by Private Companies
Public accommodations must be made by all private companies,
including private schools, restaurants, stores, hotels, and doctors’
offices.
Title IV – Assistive Technology
All telephone companies must provide the necessary services to
allow people who are deaf or hearing impaired to use
telecommunication devices.
IDEA
Originally passed in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped
Children Act (EHA), IDEA guarantees that eligible children and youth
with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education
(FAPE)
Amended many times, most recently in 2004
Requires that all electronic and information technologies that are
developed and used by any Federal government agency must be
accessible to people with disabilities. These technologies include:
Websites
Video and audio materials
Electronic books
Televised programs
Any other type of electronic media
Does not apply to the private sector or to organizations that receive
Federal funds. (It does, however, apply to materials developed by
those organizations for the Federal government and funded by
government agencies.)
Defines vocational technical education as organized educational
programs offering sequences of courses directly related to preparing
individuals for paid or unpaid employment in current or emerging
occupations requiring other than a baccalaureate or advanced
degree.
Requires schools to:
Integrate academic, vocational and technical training
Increase the use of technology
Provide professional development opportunities to staff
Develop and implement evaluations of program quality
Expand and modernize quality programs
Link secondary and post-secondary vocational education
Requires states to:
Submit an annual report on how special populations, including
persons living with disabilities, engaged in vocational education are
faring relative to the state’s performance guidelines
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
29 USC § 794d
http://www.section508.gov
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical
Education Act Amendments of 1998
P.L. 105-332 Section 1 (b) [20 USC 2302]
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/sectech/leg/perkins/index.html
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Title I - Public Law 104-104 [47 USC 255] & [47 USC 613]
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/unframed/47/225.html
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/unframed/47/613.html
The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988
Public Law 100-394 [47 USC 610 (b)]
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/unframed/47/610.html
Federal Government Procurement of Accessible Information
Technology
Public Law 105-220 Section 408 [29 USC 794 (d)]
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/unframed/29/794.html
Workforce Investment Act of 1998
This law defines technology in the vocational rehabilitation process
and mandates its use in job planning, acquisition and retention of
people with disabilities.
Case Study1
Young man with muscular dystrophy teaching Accounting at a
college.
Barrier: Had extensive mobility impairments with very limited finger
movements.
AT Used: Power wheelchair
AT Chosen with evaluation:
Speech recognition for access to the computer and for a writing
system
Mini Touch pad for mouse pointing
Super mini keyboard for quick access to navigation keys for
accounting software – i.e. arrow keys
Scanner to convert print materials to a digital format for independent
manipulation
Electronic books to enable independent review in class and
manipulation through the computer
Acrobat Pro – an off the shelf software - to utilize built in tools i.e.
highlighter, etc to take notes and prepare learning materials for class
Electric powered adjustable height table that was accessible to his
power and manual wheelchair – controller positioned at front of table
for independent access.
Case Study 2
Woman with MS working as a research assistant
Barrier : Her job was to review patient charts to gather data and
maintain a database. She needed independent setup since she was
often alone.
She had weak upper extremity strength and progressive limitations in
movement and had difficulty using the keyboard and mouse. She also
used a manual wheelchair with w/c table.
AT:
Speech recognition for inputting data. Customized with voice macros
and use of more advanced speech commands for quick access and
navigation.
Built-in Windows on-screen keyboard for access to all keyboard keys.
Had good head control - Use of HeadMouse as an alternative to
using a standard mouse which provided quick access to multiple
fields in the database.
Use of an inclined touch switch placed on the w/c table for performing
mouse clicks.
Case Study 3
Man with low vision working as a travel agent
Barrier: His job was taking phone calls and booking reservations
using an internet website to locate openings and document bookings.
Due to his sight limitations, he was unable to independently access
the websites necessary to do his job. He worked independently from
home so he needed AT that would be easy to use.
AT: Used Zoomtext magnification software – customized for
increased font, color contrast, pointer size and visual enhancements.
24” monitor
Computer display customized for font size, and color combinations.
Print form converted to digital format to track number of calls and # of
reservations;
Use of keyboard commands to access program features quickly when
on the internet and in email.
Case Study 4
Man with quadriplegia whose job is an office assistant
Barrier: Had partial arm and shoulder movement and had mobility
impairments. He used a power wheelchair.
AT:
Low tech tools - typing aides applied to the hands to assist with
accessing individual keyboard keys;
Scanner – to convert print materials to digital format for independent
manipulation; scanner positioned a edge of table to enable
independent operation – used hand applicances to position paper on
scanner bed.
Universal cuff – placement of utensils and writing tools and to enable
use of arm and wrist movements for some daily tasks – i.e. feeding
self, brushing teeth, limited handwriting;
Adjustable height wheelchair accessible table;
Trackball – as a replacement for the mouse.
Phone handset holder – to enable use of residual hand movements
for phone access.
Level handles – for doors
Electronic stapler for papers;
Case Study 5
Self Employment Example:
This consumer, who at the time was in her mid 50s, diagnosed with
CP and mild mental deficits, had a long established hobby of creating
greeting cards for staff and friends. She presents with dysarthria and
fine motor deficits and is non-ambulatory. She expressed an interest
in becoming more independent and in sharing her talent for card
design with people outside of her social circle. After a series of
brainstorming sessions with her treatment team [which included ways
to embellish her cards to make them more marketable], it was
decided that she would work closely with the OT to look into assistive
technology alternatives that would allow her to maximize her ability to
design and create her cards independently. The OT adapted several
commonly used tools such as an embossing gun [see picture] which
allowed this consumer to access this otherwise inaccessible tool via a
jelly bean switch [to turn it on and off]. He also adapted her stamps
[see picture] attaching a hand strap to allow for easier access.
Crayons, pencils and markers were all outfitted with adaptive holders
to increase their surface area and allow the client to grasp them more
firmly thereby alleviating the fatigue that had plagued her earlier. The
entire set up was extremely successful for this client and allowed her
to turn a hobby into a small business which has continued for 10
years as of 2011.
National Resources
- Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access |
http://assistivetech.net
Site allows you to compare products.
- AbleData | Provides objective information about assistive
technology products and rehabilitation equipment |
http://www.abledata.com/
- AccessIT: The National Center on Accessible Information
Technology in Education | http://www.washington.edu/accessit/
- Alliance for Technology Access | http://www.ataccess.org/
- Assistive Technology Industry Association |
http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
- Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO) | Provides
information on AT applications that help students with
disabilities learn in elementary classrooms |
http://atto.buffalo.edu/
- Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) |
http://www.fctd.info
- National Public Website on Assistive Technology |
http://www.assistivetech.net/
- Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT)
Program | Provides protection and advocacy services to help
individuals with disabilities of all ages acquire, utilize, and
maintain AT services or devices | To identify your state’s
program, visit: http://www.adap.net/palist/pas.html
- RehabTool | http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html
- Standards.gov |
http://standards.gov/standards_gov/assistiveTechnology.cfm
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