Learn what assistive technology is and how it may help your child.
Assistive technology is any item that can be used to help a child with a disability be better able to function in his or her environment. Just as wheelchairs assist those who cannot walk, other technologies can help children who cannot read well, have auditory processing difficulties and other disabilities.
Assistive technology sounds as though it is a category that consists solely of high-tech devices. Although this can be true at times, more often than not, it is relatively simple devices that help the child. For a child who has difficulty grasping a pencil, assistive technology can mean a pencil grip. Other common items used are spell checkers, calculators, tape recorders, portable word processors and colored transparencies. More sophisticated assistive technology devices are special software for the child to use, augmentative communication devices, and myriad other technologies that have been created for severely disabled children.
Here are some examples of how assistive technology can benefit children with disabilities:
A child is able to track words in her reading book because she has been provided with an index card.
A child who cannot take notes uses a tape recorder in class so that he or she can listen to the lecture later.
A child who is unable to write legibly due to dysgraphia is provided with a portable word processor or laptop computer to use for her assignments.
A child who cannot speak is provided with a special keyboard and software so that he can type what he wants to say.
A child who cannot climb onto the bus due to being in a wheelchair is provided with a wheelchair mounting system.
For the majority of children with learning disabilities, assistive technology will be easy to implement, as it can be readily provided with items that are already on hand. In other cases, there may need to be a more extensive evaluation of the child's disability, purchasing of the equipment, maintenance of the equipment, and training and technical assistance for those who use the equipment.
The next time your child has an ARD meeting, consider that it is a legal necessity for the ARD committee to consider whether or not assistive technology is needed. The question that is typically asked in this regard is "Is the item necessary for the child's success?" Some districts may have an extensive process that includes a referral to an assistive technology team. If so, ask to be familiarized with this process. At times, this can turn into an example of how too many hands in the pot can drag out what can be a simple process into a not-so-simple one. Be sure to get everything that the ARD committee has agreed upon in writing, and don't be afraid to refuse to sign the paperwork if your child has not been given the assistive technology that you believe that he or she needs.
Getting the school's promise to provide assistive technology put into writing is very important. In one unfortunate case, a child and his parents were promised a laptop computer by an assistant principal who was ignorant of the procedure and the school's resources. The child, who could not write legibly due to dyslexia and dysgraphia, never received the use of the computer. In fact, the school and assistant principal then went on to deny that the device was ever promised, in spite of witnesses. You must make sure that your child's right to use an assistive device is put on his Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Assistive technology can really help students succeed. As always, you must be an advocate for your child and make sure that he gets what he needs. Children with disabilities should not be left behind, and assistive technology is what can help level the playing field.
