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Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology (AT) enables individuals with disabilities to engage in activities that might otherwise be challenging or impossible. AT facilitates participation in play, school, community, and work settings, enhancing communication with others. Often serving as a pivotal factor, AT plays a crucial role in enabling children, youth, and adults with disabilities to achieve success and foster greater independence. AT supports students in developing independence across various skills such as communication, reading, writing, math, and organization. Moreover, it facilitates access to the general education curriculum. AT encompasses a wide range of tools, from basic adaptations like adapted toys and pencils, reading guides, and graphic organizers, to cutting-edge technologies such as computers equipped with reading and writing apps, voice output systems, and eye gaze communication systems. Its versatility allows for use at any age or grade level, without prerequisites, adapting over time according to individual needs and technological advancements.
What about the law and AT?
The federal law defines AT as both a device and a service. According to IDEA (2004), an AT device is defined as: “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 a child with a disability.”
The federal law defines AT service as, “Assistive technology service means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.”
Services
We offer two different types of AT Consults:
BCIU provides assistive technology support services to districts of Berks County through the Training and Consultative (TaC) provisions. These services include:
Support to district teams conducting assistive technology assessment
Loans of equipment for trials with assistive technology
Information on borrowing, acquiring, and implementing assistive technology
Staff training on assistive technology systems
Consultation with school teams
When requesting Assistive Technology, please submit the following form TOGETHER with the Request for Professional Development form. Both forms must be submitted for service.