Assistive Technology (AT) are tools that can help students with disabilities complete difficult tasks. AT can help students with reading, writing, speaking, understanding, and using classroom materials. AT is not always a high-tech device, but also includes low-tech and no-tech tools such as paper-based graphic organizers and communication books. Overall, assistive technology are tools that help students access the existing curriculum and learning environment. Assistive technology comes in various categories, including AT for communication, learning, and access. Although vision and hearing are also categories of AT, the vision and audiology teams support these.
If you have any questions, you can contact [email protected], and someone can help answer your question.
Learning Tools that help with reading, writing, and understanding Examples include text to speech, word prediction and manipulatives. |
Consultation Collaborative decision-making process between the Assistive Technology (AT) team and school-team using existing data. School-team trials AT and collects trial data with AT team guidance. |
Evaluation Comprehensive decision-making process completed by the AT team member. The AT team member works with your child and collects data.
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During each annual IEP meeting, your child’s team will discuss the need for assistive technology tools during the AT consideration process. This discussion will include your child’s strengths and needs, the tasks that are challenging, the tools that are currently in place and if they are helping your child, and the need for potential AT tools.
If the team decides that your child would benefit from AT tools, the school team may have the AT tools necessary to support your child or they may need help to determine which AT tools may support your child. If help is needed, your school may ask for the support of the AT team. The AT team can help the school team’s decision-making process for the most proper AT tool for your child through AT device loans, consultations, training, or comprehensive evaluations by request.
Device Loan Loaner devices provided to the school-based team for use with the student. |
Consultation Collaborative decision-making process between the Assistive Technology (AT) team and school-team using existing data. School-team trials AT and collects trial data with AT team guidance. |
Evaluation Comprehensive decision-making process completed by the AT team member. The AT team member works with your child and collects data. |