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General A T Questions

1. What is Assistive Technology?
2. What is the I E P team's responsibility related to A T
3. When is it appropriate to request an A T evaluation by a district-level team?
4. If a parent reports that an outside provider recommends an A T device, do we have to adopt it?
5. If a parent brings an Assistive Technology device used at home and requests that the school use it, is the school obligated to use the device?
6. What is the difference between an A T device and devices that are used by some or all students in the class?
7. If a parent requests that an outside provider train staff on the use of an A T device, is the district obligated to use the outside provider?
8. What is the district's liability for maintaining, repairing, and replacing A T devices used at home?
9. Do A T devices purchased by the district for individual students belong to the students?
10. Are there A T devices that are used at home, but not at school that will enable the student to complete homework?
11. How do I determine if an item is Assistive Technology or just an instructional tool?

What is Assistive Technology?

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) defines A T in terms of "devices" and "services."

An Assistive Technology Device is defined as "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 the functional capabilities of children with disabilities" (IDEA section 300.5).

Some examples of Assistive Technology Devices:

• Low tech:
  • Colored filters.
  • Highlighters.
  • Dark-lined paper.
  • Pencil grip.
• Mid tech:
  • Calculator.
  • Portable speller.
  • Single-switch voice output.
  • Basic portable word processor.
• High tech:
  • Fully equipped computer.
  • Refreshable Braille output.
  • Video relay for the deaf.
  • Voice output with dynamic display of symbols.

An Assistive Technology Service is defined as "...any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device" (I D E A section 300.6).

Some examples of Assistive Technology Services:

• Assessment.
• Training.
• Acquisition of device.
• Maintenance of device.
• Storing device.
• Development of filing system for tools / device.

Back to Questions.

What is the I E P team's responsibility related to A T?

• A T is the only related service required by law to be considered for every child with a disability on an annual basis as part of the I E P process.
• When filling out the I E P Accommodations, the I E P team should ask, "If we take these tools away, will the child no longer be successful and/or will it impact the child's access to a Free, Appropriate, Public Education (F A P E)?" If the answer is "yes," then the tools recommended on the I E P Accommodations would be considered to be "Assistive Technology."

Back to Questions.

When is it appropriate to request an A T evaluation by a district-level team?

• If a parent requests a specific technology intervention for a child that is outside the scope of services typically delivered by the school and/or program, then the I E P team can request a formal evaluation from the district-level team to determine whether or not that technical intervention would be an appropriate match for the child's needs.
• If the I E P team has questions about whether or not other tools or interventions may be available to help a child with an area of difficulty, they may request an assistive technology assessment from the district-level team as part of the problem-solving process.
• Ultimately, there is nothing in the law that defines what a formal A T assessment should include. I E P team members are capable of doing "informal assessments" to determine assistive technology strategies.
  
  For example, if a teacher shows a child a yellow filter, but the filter doesn't make the page easier to read for that child, then the teacher would show the child other filters. After several trials with different colored filters, the child may find that a green filter helps him read more easily. This would constitute an "informal assessment" and the green filter would be considered assistive technology for that child because it supports his learning and his "equal access" to the curriculum.

Back to Questions.

If a parent reports that an outside provider recommends an A T device, do we have to adopt it?

No. The I E P team should:

• Find out who the outside source is that made the recommendation.
• If possible, get the contact information for the outside source from the parent.
• Recommend that the district-level team complete a formal assessment.
• Communicate to the parent that a part of the formal assessment process is parent involvement and input. Parents will be able to express what they perceive their child's needs to be and this information will be included in the data that is analyzed when matching a child's needs to an appropriate assistive technology device.
• Contact the district-level assistive technology (A T) team and request a "referral packet." Complete the referral packet and submit to the district-level A T team so that they can schedule an assessment. Be sure to provide the A T team with information about the outside source, if possible.

Back to Questions.

If a parent brings an Assistive Technology device used at home and requests that the school use it, is the school obligated to use the device?

No. The I E P team, of which the parent is a part, must determine whether or not the device will support any of the tasks the student is required to complete throughout the school day. These tasks may be specifically outlined in the I E P, or they may be informal tasks, such as communication or social tasks. If the I E P team is having a difficult time determining whether or not the device would support the child's programming at school, they may request an assessment from the district-level team.

Back to Questions.

What is the difference between an A T device and devices that are used by some or all students in the class?

An A T device is any device that provides a student access to the general curriculum that would otherwise be unavailable. A tool is considered to be A T for a student if that student would not have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (F A P E) without that tool. The I E P team should discuss whether the use of a particular device is "assistive technology" or an "instructional strategy."

For example, if a math teacher allows all of her students to use talking calculators in order to provide multi-sensory instructional experiences, that would be considered an instructional strategy. However, if one of her students happens to be blind, that talking calculator would be considered "assistive technology" rather than an "instructional strategy."

Back to Questions.

If a parent requests that an outside provider train staff on the use of an A T device, is the district obligated to use the outside provider?

No. Again, the I E P team needs to agree that the A T device is appropriate for the child. If the I E P team has made the determination that the device is appropriate for the child, the team has the right to explore training options that best meet the needs of the staff and that will provide the most expedient route for implementing the A T intervention recommended by the I E P team.

Back to Questions.

What is the district's liability for maintaining, repairing, and replacing A T devices used at home?

If the A T device was recommended by the I E P team as a necessary tool to be used at home, then the district is responsible for acquiring, maintaining, repairing, and, if necessary, replacing the device. Also, if the student uses the device throughout the school day, they must be allowed to have access to the device at home to support the I E P. If the device is purchased by the parent for personal reasons, the district is not responsible for maintaining, repairing, or replacing the device.

Back to Questions.

Do A T devices purchased by the district for individual students belong to the students?

No, the devices belong to the district and are loaned to the student for as long as the student needs the device, attends school within our district, and qualifies for special education or 504 services.

Back to Questions.

Are there A T devices that are used at home, but not at school that will enable the student to complete homework?

Yes. For example, if a child needs an advanced electronic writing device to complete assigned work, but they are physically unable to carry a laptop computer, one solution might be to provide a desktop computer in the home and a portable word processor for the child to carry at school. The portable word processor could be used to take notes, etc., that could then be uploaded into the home computer.

Back to Questions.

How do I determine if an item is Assistive Technology or just an instructional tool?

If removing an item from the student's educational programming would result in that student's failure to meet educational expectations, then that item is assistive technology for that student.

Back to Questions.