Implementation of Assistive Technologies in Schools Ch 12 of Assistive Technology in the Classroom

IDEA 2004 , section 504 of rehabilitation act,and americans with disabilities act all say:
students with disabilities must have access to education, are protected from discrimination based on having a disability
IDEA requires consideration of students' needs for assistive tech during the development of their IEPs

Integration of assistive tech into IEO:
sections in which assistive technologies appeear in IEP:
1. description of special instruction
2. description of supplementary aids and services
3. description of supplementary aids and services\
(may also be included in other areas)

assistive technology should be a means for students to meet general curriculum goals
objectives must be clear enough for everyone to understand the expectation

obstacles:
*digital divide
access to information technology or not, discrepancy between schools, urban vs roural, SES impact
*cultural influence may lean away or towards intervention and display individualism or collectivism
*language of IDEA may be misunderstood, specifically "consideration"
*professional lack a knowledge or skill to maintain the technology
*failure to implement the assistive tech recommendations (usually a matter of time and skill)
*information technology policies (often times, IT personnel are the only ones with the access to frequently change and modify existing technology)
*Funding
IDEA mandates assistive technology but does not fund the system
families may seek financial assistance for assistive technology of a medical nature through Medicaid as well as private health insurance

See the CEC for standards