MUSCOGEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT


CONSIDERING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN THE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP)

  • What is an Assistive Technology device under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
    Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.
  • What is an Assistive Technology service?
    Any service that directly assist a child with a disability with the selection, acquisition, or use of an Assistive Technology device.
    • Evaluation 
    • Device procurement 
    • Device design, fitting, customization, adaptation, and repair 
    • Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with Assistive Technology 
    • Training or technical assistance for the child and family if appropriate 
    • Training and technical assistance for professional
    Assistive Technology devices range from low technology (low tech) to high technology (high tech).
    Many low tech devices can be purchased at a hardware store, selected from a catalog, or fabricated using tools and material found in home workshops.

    LOW TECH EXAMPLES: 

    • pencil grips 
    • markers 
    • paper stabilizers 
    • taped instructions 
    • note taking cassette recorders 
    • NCR paper/copy machine 
    • picture boards 
    • work books 
    • simple switches

    High Tech devices frequently incorporate some type of computer chip. 

    HIGH TECH EXAMPLES

    • "Talking" clocks 
    • calculators 
    • word processors with spelling and grammar checking 
    • word prediction 
    • voice recognition 
    • speech synthesizers 
    • augmentative communication devices 
    • alternative keyboards 
    • instructional software
When Assistive Technology (AT) is used appropriately it can often free up other resources, such as teachers and paraprofessionals, and enable these devices to be used in more efficient and cost effective ways. The Muscogee County School District, like all public school districts throughout the country, is legally responsible to consider AT for every student during the evaluation process and as a possible service on the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Research has demonstrated that Assistive Technology is necessary for some students with disabilities to learn, but it is also important for the student to achieve independence and self worth in the community of life.
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