Assistive Technology and Persons with Disabilities
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990 and its amended version in 2004 represent a step forward in eliminating some of the learning barriers experienced by students with disabilities in the United States. This legislation, Public Law 94-142, mandates that eligible students with disabilities have access to the same public school education as students without disabilities. In order to facilitate this access, schools/school districts are required to provide reasonable accommodations designed to address the student’s unique educational needs. One such accommodation is the use of assistive technology (AT). Although there is research that documents the role of AT in facilitating education, employment, and independent living outcomes of adults with disabilities, little attention has been paid to the identification of AT needs in the school system.
According to the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988, an AT device is defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified or customized, that increases, maintains, or improves functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (ATA, 2000; Bryant & Bryant, 2003; Tech Act; Public Law 100-407). This definition emphasizes what it is, how it is made, and the intended use of the technology. Legal mandates such as the Rehabilitation Act Amendments, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act support the provision of AT services to individuals with disabilities to address educational, employment, and independent living needs. Examples of AT devices vary widely and include but are not limited to low-tech items such as pencil grips, crutches, large print, and Braille; mid-tech devices such as tape recorders, talking calculators, and manual wheelchairs; and high-tech devices such as power wheelchairs and computer applications such as scan and read, screen reader, or speech recognition programs.
Traditionally related to the professions of rehabilitation counseling and special education, AT is often associated with the provision of and access to computer and related technologies for individuals with disabilities. Literature suggests that the earlier AT is introduced, the more likely the individual will acquire skills needed to succeed in different environments (Judge, Floyd, & Jeffs, 2008). Also, AT has the potential to increase developmental skills and provide solutions to behavior, attention, and communication challenges faced by students with disabilities or considered at-risk in early childhood settings (Parette & Stoner, 2008). The role of AT in school as well as other settings (e.g., home, work, community, etc.) is to include and integrate persons with disabilities by facilitating the completion of required environmental tasks. Research suggests that AT is a valuable asset in promoting the employability of persons with disabilities (Gamble & Satcher, 2002). AT has been regarded as a factor that would facilitate employment placement and improve job tenure (Langton & Ramseur, 2001). Other researchers such as Mull and Sitlington (2003) discussed the ways in which AT can be used to address the needs of students with disabilities during their elementary and high school years and in transition to postsecondary education. The rational being that if students with disabilities enter postsecondary education and obtain a degree, they may avoid entering into low pay entry jobs typically associated with this population (Estrada-Hernández, Wadsworth, Nietupski, Warth, & Winsdow, 2008; Frank & Sitlington, 2000; Siegel & Gaylord-Ross, 2001). Yet, research that documents the needs and potential effects of AT on the wages earned by students with disabilities after high school completion are limited.
Often people with disabilities are limited in their abilities to exercise personal choice over how many of their daily-life activities are carried out. This creates a problem in relation to the quality of life of these individuals. Fortunately, with the advances of technology, especially in the field of AT, many of these individuals are able to exercise more control and choice over various aspects of their daily environments (Bryant & Bryant, 2003). Activities of daily living may include tasks required for completing tasks such as eating, grooming, dressing, maintenance of one’s environment, and recreation activities. All these tasks are essential for all people and their proper execution provides an important sense of empowerment and self-care. AT devices such as adapted sports equipment, environmental control units, modified kitchen utensils or talking calculators are all examples of daily living tools that can facilitate a person with a disability living independently. This chapter has provided a brief introduction to AT and its use by persons with disabilities to address various essential human needs. The following sections will focus on the aspects of measuring AT needs and its many potential outcomes.