What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology Devices are used when an individual with a disability requires additional tools and support to gain equitable access to functions of society that would be rendered inaccessible to the individual on the basis of their disability. Assistive Technology Services should always be paired with the use of Assistive Technology Devices.

Defining Assistive Technology

According to IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), an Assistive Technology Device is 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 functional capabilities of a child with a disability.  Assistive Technology Services include any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device (IDEA, 2004).

Alternative Formats can be considered an Assistive Technology Service, and are created or distributed as an alternate to standard print format materials.  Examples of alternate formats are electronic, braille, audio, or large print, to name a few.

For more information on Assistive Technology Devices and Services, please read Chapter 1 of Wendt & Lloyd Links to an external site..