IEP Considerations and Assistive Technology

In order for the teacher, the school, and the administration to be able to serve their students adequately and lawfully, all three of the aforementioned partners must adhere to the Individuals with Disabilities Act or simply known as IDEA. According to IDEA if a student has learning disability, then assistive technology must be considered. Let me rephrase, the right kind of assistive technology must be considered.

So how does the IEP team assess correctly each student's AT needs? They begin by addressing the following questions.

1. What are the student's strengths?
2. In what areas does the student struggle?
3. What is the student's skills, interests and experience in regards to technology?
4. What are the specific needs and challenges of the student?
5. In what settings & situations will the student be using the AT?

Once these questions are answered, it should be noted that IEP's and the use of AT within those IEP's is not a decision set in stone. Much like the flexibility a teacher must have in the classroom, the IEP must also have the ability to be adjusted according to a student's progress or lack thereof. 

With that in mind, AT assessment, implementation and success, is a team effort!