Assistive Technologies

Most current successes of technology for individuals with disabilities are examples of "adaptive" or "assistive" technologies. Assistive technologies are applications (either hardware or software) designed specifically to assist disabled individuals in overcoming barriers. Examples include:

Matthew, 3^rd grader with physical disabilities who cannot speak or use his arms or legs, uses electronic switches to drive a wheelchair and operate his computer to write and communicate.

Katherine, a 6th grader who is blind, uses screen reader technologies to navigate the Internet and do her social studies homework.

Nina, who has a brain injury that causes her to be aphasic, uses an electronic augmentative communication device to speak to her friends and collaborate on schoolwork.

Even more spectacular assistive technologies are under development, including devices that can be implanted in the brain for hearing, for vision, for control of paralyzed muscles. These essential uses of technology for individuals with disabilities will require sustained federal support. There is simply not enough profit in developing for these "low incidence" students to attract the investments of the private sector.

Recommendations Regarding Assistive Technologies

1. Congress should continue to fund IDEA Part D research and technology development to ensure that new assistive and augmentative technologies are developed, particularly those that interface with new learning technologies (see below) and those that support cognitive as well as sensory and physical access.

2. Congress should support, through technical assistance grants or contracts, the training of assistive technology specialists so that every school district has access to trained individuals who can teach children to use these powerful technologies in a timely fashion, can assist their parents in understanding and advocating for their use, and can assist teachers and administrators in successful classroom implementation of assistive technologies.