Assistive technology refers to devices and services that help individuals with disabilities function independently. In classrooms, assistive technology includes any equipment, software, or product that increases, maintains, or improves the learning abilities of students with disabilities. Examples of assistive technology used in learning include iPads, SmartBoards, special computers, recorders, and various software and applications. Federal law requires schools to consider if students need assistive technology and provide funding through individualized education programs or Section 504 plans. If students do not qualify for these, options for funding assistive technology include private health insurance, nonprofit organizations that provide refurbished devices, and state low-interest loan programs.

1. Assistive Technology
Principles and Practice

2. What is Assistive
Technology?
Assistive Technology is an umbrella term that
includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative
devices for people with disabilities and also includes
the process used in selecting, locating, and using
them.

3. What Is Assistive Technology
In The Classroom?
Assistive Technology (often abbreviated as AT) is
any item, piece of equipment, software or product
system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve
the learning capabilities of individuals with disabilities
in classrooms.

4. ADT Learning Devices
• iPads
• SmartBoards
• Special Computers
• Recorders
• Software and Applications

5. Learning with iPads

6. Learning with Smart Boards

7. 21st-Century Learning?
"21st-century learning" is generally used to refer to
certain core competencies such as collaboration,
digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving
that advocates believe schools need to teach to help
students thrive in today's world.

8. 21st Century Learning Model

9. AT Funding
Federal law requires school districts to consider whether a child needs assistive technology.
Depending on your child’s issues and how much their school or doctor says those issues affect
their ability to learn, there are options to providing financial support. Listed below are four options:
• Public Schools: Some students with disabilities may be eligible for special education and
services. If so, and if the school determines that an eligible student also needs assistive
technology, the device will be provided at no cost as part of the student’s Individualized
Educational Program (IEP) or 504 plan.
• Health insurers: Not every child with a disability will qualify for an IEP or 504 plan . When kids
don’t qualify for these things, it’s pretty rare for private health insurance to pay for certain
kinds of assistive technology. The same is true for government programs such as Medicaid.
For insurers to cover assistive technology, a doctor has to prescribe it as being “medically
necessary.” This typically doesn’t apply to a handheld device, unless a child has been
diagnosed with a communication disorder.
• Nonprofits: In some instances, families may be able to get free devices from nonprofit
groups. When companies donate computers they no longer need, there are groups that
refurbish these devices and give them to kids with disabilities.
• Low-interest loans: There are also dozens of states that have low-interest loan programs to
help families buy assistive technology.

10. AT Funding Groups
• Access on Main Street at
www.accessonmainstreet.net/
• National Assistive Technology (AT) Advocacy
Project www.nls.org/natmain.htm
• Funding of Assistive Technology:
http://assisttech.info/at_info/funding.htm
• the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance
Center