Assistive Technology Act

The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA) provides assistive technology to individuals and students with disabilities through access to federally allocated funding. The act recognizes the great benefits provided to disabled persons through assistive technology and so has attempted to increase funding to states to support their distribution of such technology, to include persons with disabilities and their families in the provisions and legislation decision making process in relation to the ATA, and to increase the outreach of the ATA to rural and other areas. The ATA also strives to increase awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities to have access to said technology, and to increase the funding available to private and public agencies which help pay for devices to assist persons with disabilities (AT1998).


Within the classroom, students or teachers can identify students who could benefit from Assistive Technology through an AT Evaluation. “A special education evaluation includes eight areas: Health, Vision, Hearing, Social/Emotional, General Intelligence, Academic Performance, Communication and Motor. Assistive Technology can help in each of those eight areas. The evaluation assesses whether or not the Assistive Technology can help your child. They should be conducted in places that your child is familiar with such as a classroom, a playground and at home” (Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, IPAS).

After the results of the evaluation are received the school can begin to administer such technology to aid your child through applying for a grant. If however AT is determined as unnecessary for your child, both you -the parent- or the teacher can apply for AT under the provision of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which states that schools must provide the assistive technology if: “the device or service is a needed aid. If the device or service allows your child to go to a regular classroom with other students who do not have disabilities. If the device or service allows your child to play with children without disabilities for sports and other activities outside the classroom” (IPAS). After receive monies to purchase assistive technology for your students, the teacher and school will modify the child’s IEP (Individual Education Program) to reflect the use of such devices in the following areas: “present levels of performance, goals and objectives, special education services and related-services, supplementary aids and services, modifications, and specialized equipment” (IPAS).

More information can be found at:

http://www.section508.gov/docs/AT1998.html (The actual legislative act text)

http://www.in.gov/ipas/2376.htm (A guide to making sure your child/students receives the AT they deserve as dictated by the ATA)