Assistive Technology & the IEP

Sue Loeffler, M.A., CCC-SLPAssistive Technology SpecialistDenver Public Schools

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines AT as both a device and a service

Assistive Technology Device:

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.

Definition better defined …

Think of it this way…◦ If the school can’t supply it as standard items,

equipment that are routinely available at any school – and you need to get it from an outside source (AT Services, Vision, Hearing, or otherwise) – then it is considered AT.

◦ Grey Area: Visual materials such as picture cards, posters, vocabulary books, etc. that you create. If it is part of standard classroom programming →

not AT If it is outside typical teaching methods, and

specific to the student’s needs not shared by all peers, then it may be. Contact Sue to discuss before marking IEP.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines AT as both a device and a serviceAssistive Technology Service:

Any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive

technology device.

AT on the IEPPLAAFP – Communication Page

◦List equipment in general terms such as: Picture Communication System Digital/Voice recordable or Synthetic

voice device Static or Dynamic screen Recorded books Custom programming Portable word processor Software for written language support Etc.

AT on the IEPSpecial Education and Related

Services page (LRE page)

Does the student require:Special Transportation? Yes NoLearning media plan? (For Vision Disability) Yes NoA communication plan? Yes No

Assistive technology? (if yes, describe): Yes No

AccommodationsCurricular Accommodations/Modifications:(In order to justify appropriateness of accommodations for any state mandated tests, the testing accommodations listed below should be used consistently within a student's academic program over the previous year.) Minimum of 3 months

Annual GoalsOkay to write goal around

device/equipment but have allowances in place if it is not available, broken or not as affective any longer◦ John Doe will use their communication device

to greet peers …Best to list device/equipment as one

means of achieving goals◦ John Doe will increase MLU from 1.0 word

average to 2.5 word average using verbal utterances, sign language, augmentative communication device …

Annual Goals - ContinuedDo not list the equipment or

software by name!◦Use general description or terms on

the IEP, just enough that others can tell what type of AT is being used Examples: picture vocabulary cards,

voice recordable communication device, multiple level overlay communication device, dynamic screen communication device, etc.

If you name/list the AT, we must supply that specific item - or - the IEP must be modified

Specific AT DocumentationThis is where you can/should be specific

with terminology so others know exactly what was used and how successful/unsuccessful it is:◦WATI◦EZ Med Notes◦Tx Notes◦Emails

Consider terms such as:◦Trials/trialing◦On-going assessments with …

Adding AT - DocumentationMake documentation clear:

◦Why the student is being considered for AT what was tried prior and why it didn’t work

◦What AT is being trialed/used general description in IEP, specific in WATI,

clinical notes & daily lesson plans

◦Who is responsible for making sure the equipment, software is working, used and supported SLP, special educator, OT/PT, list other This may be more than one person! Implied or

specific on IEP, specific on WATI, EZ Med, notes

Removing AT - Documentation

◦Why it is no longer being used, supported, necessary

◦ Is an AT/Specialist consult required/good idea? Help in recognizing why it isn’t working Ideas for an alternate approach, other AT that could

be trialed

◦Who made the decision? Make sure you have data to back this up Include progress and success w/o AT and that it is

documented on the IEP (don’t check the box), Include notation on the WATI &/or in a formal report

that is in the student’s cum Notify AT and supply/verify with a copy of the

documentation

Accessing General AT Equip & Service Needs in Districts:SLP’sOT/PT’sVisionDeaf & Hard of HearingAutism SupportsBehavioral SupportsAT Services