Disabilities Rights Center

Assistive Technology Devices are "Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." (P.L. 105-394). Assistive Technology can be useful for people with either physical or cognitive impairments.

Some examples of assistive technology devices are:

• voice activated computers
• tools to use to reach or pick up things
• speaker phones
• devices that help pull zippers, light switches, turn on/off buttons, etc
• wheelchairs
• braces, hand splints
• beeping or vibrating prompts and alerts
• walkers
• personal computers
• augmentative communication devices
• adjustable workstations
• hearing aid, TTY

The Disabilities Rights Center helps individuals with AT related problems such as:

• A child needs AT in order to receive a free, appropriate public education, and the school district fails to provide the needed device or services;
• A person needs AT in order to become employable, and Vocational Rehabilitation will not provide it as part of the person's rehabilitation plan;
• A client of an area agency needs AT and is not receiving it, or has the equipment and it is not being used.

Disabilities Rights Center Presents...Assistive Technology at ATech Services - video

Rap Sheet Spring 2005: Better Living Through Assistive Technology PDF version Text Version

Special Education and Assistive Technology, from DRC's Special Education series

last updated: September 21, 2011

The Law:

• Assistive Technology Act of 1998
• Assistive Technology Act of 2004
• Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
• RSA 171-A, Services for the Developmentally Disabled, Section 6(II): A comprehensive screening evaluation, coordinated by the staff of the area agency, shall determine the scope of the person's disability and the locus and nature of services to be provided and shall include an assistive technology evaluation both as part of the person's initial evaluation and at least on an annual basis thereafter when the person is screened for an assistive technology evaluation. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the evaluation. The initial evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, a physical examination and individual intellectual assessment and functional behavior scales and shall take into account the provisions of and services established under RSA 186-A.
• NH Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities:
  Ed 1113.09  Equipment, Materials and Assistive Technology.
  • (a)  Each LEA shall provide appropriate instructional equipment and materials adequate to implement the IEP for each child with a disability, as required by 34 CFR 300.105.
  • (b)  Each LEA shall monitor the proper functioning of hearing aids, as required by 34 CFR 300.105, low vision aids, and other orthotic and prosthetic devices and assistive technology services and devices defined  in 34 CFR 300.5 – 300.6 used by children with disabilities in school. Each LEA shall also provide for the necessary repairs for hearing aids, low vision aids, and other orthotic and prosthetic devices and adaptive equipment.
  • (c)  Each LEA shall ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services, or both, are made available to a child with a disability if required as part of the child’s special education, related services or supplementary aids and services stated in the child’s IEP and as required in 34 CFR 300.105.

DRC Cases:

• December 03: Assistive Technology Training as Important as Assistive Technology Devices, Special Education Hearing Officer Decides

DRC Offers Training: Your Rights to Assistive Technology

Resources

• NH Assistive Technology Resource Directory
• AT in New Hampshire, from the NH Assistive Technology Partnership
• AbleData, Source for Information on Assistive Technology
• The Alliance for Technology Access
• Assistive Technology as a workplace support, from Worksupport.com
• Assistivetech.net, a national AT exploration center
• ATECH Services, an Alliance for Assistive Technology, Education, and Community Health (New Hampshire)
• Axistive, "The world's leading news portal for assistive technology"
• Bookshare -Accessible Books and Periodicals for Readers with Print Disabilities
• CAST, The Center for Applied Special Technology
• Center for Implementing Technology in Education
• Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation
• Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program - for employees with disabilities in the Department of Defense
• DRC brochure: Special Education and Assistive Technology PDF Version Text Version
• Family Center on Technology and Disability
• Institute for Human Centered Design
• National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project, located at Neighborhood Legal Services
  • DISABILITY, DIVORCE, SSI AND MEDICAID; Using Creative Alimony, Child Support, and Property Settlements to Maximize SSI, Obtain Medicaid, and Create Funding for Assistive Technology
  • The Public School's Special Education System as an Assistive Technology Funding Source: The Cutting Edge, by Ronald Hager, Esq.
  • Funding of Assistive Technology to Make Work A Reality, by James Sheldon, Esq. and Ronald Hager, Esq.
• National Assistive Technology Research Instutute
• National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education
• National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
• National Center on Universal Design for Learning
• New England ADA and Accessible IT Center
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of America
• Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.