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Providing Assistive Technology:

An Administrator’s Perspective

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A Professional Development Module www.texasat.net

Collaboratively developed by• Texas Assistive Technology

Network, led by Region 4 ESC • Texas Education Agency

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Federal and state legal contexts Basic definitions and examples of AT The administrator’s role in provision of

AT services Quality Indicators in AT for

Administrative Support

Objectives

The Legal Evolution of Access

• EHA 1975 Access to schools

• IDEA 1990 Access to classrooms

• IDEA 1997 Access to general education curriculum

• IDEA 2004 Access to instructional materials

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IDEA 2004: Final Regulations Sec 300.5 AT Devices• Federal definition of Assistive Technology

• The school district must provide the AT devices that are required by the child as part of his special education, related services, and/or supplementary aids and services

• School-owned AT must be made available to the child at home or in other educational settings IF THE IEP Committee DETERMINES that access to the AT in those places is necessary for the child to receive FAPE.

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IDEA 2004: Final Regulations Sec 300.6 AT Services• Federal definition of Assistive Technology

• The school district must provide the AT services that are required by the child as part of his special education, related services, and/or supplementary aids and services

• Services include, but not limited to: • Assessment• Evaluation• Trials• Maintenance and repair• Follow-up – funding, etc.

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Administrator’s Role is usually Not…• Being an AT expert• Providing AT services• Making independent AT

decisions

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Your Role is…• Holding the vision• Understanding change• Building relationships• Building knowledge• Supporting student success

Michael Fullan: (2001) Leading in a Culture of Change

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Mission Perspective for AT

Students with disabilities receive the AT devices and services needed to benefit from FAPE. (Indicators 5a and 5b)

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Financial Perspective

Focuses on ensuring adequate funding and resources to sustain and improve the internal processes

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Learning, Growth and Innovation Perspective

Focuses on how an agency is innovating, improving, and learning in order to support student success.

Vision: Digital natives

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QIAT in Action Resources

Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services

www.qiat.org

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Quality Indicators in AT (QIAT): Administration www.qiat.org

1. …written procedural guidelines…

2. …dissemination of AT service policy and procedures…

3. …written documentation on job requirements…

4. …personnel with competencies….

5. …AT in the technology planning and budgeting…

6. …continuous learning opportunities…

7. …systemic procedures to evaluate AT services…

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1. Guidelines…The education agency has written procedural

guidelines that ensure equitable access to assistive technology devices and services for students with disabilities, if required for a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).  

Incorporating AT into the IEP

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2. Dissemination…The education agency broadly disseminates

clearly defined procedures for accessing and providing assistive technology services and supports the implementation of those guidelines.

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3. Job requirements…The education agency includes appropriate

assistive technology responsibilities in written descriptions of job requirements for each position in which activities impact assistive technology services.

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4. Personnel competencies…The education agency employs personnel

with the competencies needed to support quality assistive technology services within their primary areas of responsibility at all levels of the organization.

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5. Planning & Budgeting…The education agency includes assistive

technology in the technology planning and budgeting process.

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6. Professional development…The education agency provides access to

ongoing learning opportunities about assistive technology for staff, family, and students.  

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6. Evaluation…The education agency uses a systematic

process to evaluate all components of the agency-wide assistive technology program.

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Action Items

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Ensure students with disabilities receive the AT devices and services needed to benefit from FAPE

Identify people who can be resources Include a broad range of people in planning

Develop written operating guidelines Broadly disseminate and implement the operating guidelines

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Fiscal

Action Items • Include AT in planning and

budgeting• Allocate human, fiscal and

material resources • Provide structures for managing

resources which are efficient as well as legal and ethical

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Learning, Growth and Innovation

Action Items• Offer continuous learning

opportunities• Create a systemic procedure to

evaluate AT services at the agency level

• Monitor change and reevaluate needs

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Other Resources

• District Resources• Regional Resources• State Resources

–www.texasat.net

Contact information:

Kirk Behnke, M.Ed., ATPRegion 4 ESC

7145 West Tidwell RoadHouston, TX 77092-2096

(713) 744-6559kbehnke@esc4.net

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