In 1988, the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) - (P.L. 100-407) was enacted. The 1988 act defined Assistive Technologies (AT) and services for people with disabilities but did not assign responsibility. In 1990 the Individuals with Disabilites Education Act was put into play. This outlined the school district's responsibility to provide students having disabilities, AT. The decision to incorporate AT was left to the IEP team as they saw fit.
In 1988, the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) - (P.L. 100-407) was enacted. The 1988 act defined Assistive Technologies (AT) and services for people with disabilities but did not assign responsibility. In 1990 the Individuals with Disabilites Education Act was put into play. This outlined the school district's responsibility to provide students having disabilities, AT. The decision to incorporate AT was left to the IEP team as they saw fit.
Well, apparently that idea was not good enough because in 1997 an ammendment to the 1990 Act was added to ensure that AT was considered on all student IEPs. That left many with a huge question. What AT devices help with which problems. School districts were left to answer this question.
As an Educational Computing Strategist (ECS), you would think that identifying AT devices for students would be a primary function of my job. Well, it is when I am asked. I am not privy to most IEP meetings and therefore can not make recommendations for people. So, you might ask, how do I know that we do not have AT for students. Well, I know that we do not because I work with the Technology Coordinator to help order equipment - hardware and software - and set up Technology Related Staff Development. This is the first year that we are beginning to see the light. We have adopted IEP Direct (district wide) and are looking into devices like AlphaSmarts to help some students in our middle school.
A student's best friend is not the ECS guy, but the informed classroom teacher. You are the one who works every day with the child, who should know their learning style and who has developed a relationship with that child. So if you are ready to go looking for answers, there is not a better place to start than the University of Buffalo's Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO ).
Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know - Daniel J. Boorstin, an American historian and writer, was the Librarian of Congress from 1975 until 1987.
Daniel, Boorstin. "Daniel J. Boorstin Quotes." BrainyMedia.com. 30 Jan. 2005.
Well, apparently that idea was not good enough because in 1997 an ammendment to the 1990 Act was added to ensure that AT was considered on all student IEPs. That left many with a huge question. What AT devices help with which problems. School districts were left to answer this question.
As an Educational Computing Strategist (ECS), you would think that identifying AT devices for students would be a primary function of my job. Well, it is when I am asked. I am not privy to most IEP meetings and therefore can not make recommendations for people. So, you might ask, how do I know that we do not have AT for students. Well, I know that we do not because I work with the Technology Coordinator to help order equipment - hardware and software - and set up Technology Related Staff Development. This is the first year that we are beginning to see the light. We have adopted IEP Direct (district wide) and are looking into devices like AlphaSmarts to help some students in our middle school.
A student's best friend is not the ECS guy, but the informed classroom teacher. You are the one who works every day with the child, who should know their learning style and who has developed a relationship with that child. So if you are ready to go looking for answers, there is not a better place to start than the University of Buffalo's Assistive Technology Training Online Project (ATTO ).
Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know - Daniel J. Boorstin, an American historian and writer, was the Librarian of Congress from 1975 until 1987.
Daniel, Boorstin. "Daniel J. Boorstin Quotes." BrainyMedia.com. 30 Jan. 2005
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