The appropriate implementation and use of assistive technologies has the ability to increase abilities and provide greater accessibility to educational opportunities for eligible students with disabilities. Assistive technology devices and services can be used to extend physical, social and communication skills and provide the means for academic inclusion. Many students with disabilities have successfully used assistive technologies to minimize barriers to gain access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).
Programs and Services
The Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) is a valuable resource which provides eligible students with disabilities access to a variety of assistive technology devices and services that may not be available at the school level. The ATRC provides the following services:
- Consultations: Meetings to provide strategies for assistive technology use, resource provision, and recommendations on whether assistive technology is needed and what supports may benefit specific students.
- Coaching: In-person or virtual assistance with implementation strategies for AT & AAC devices in the classroom.
- Assessments: An assessment conducted to help select the appropriate equipment and/or acquire knowledge of the appropriate strategies to give the student access to the curriculum and/or for communication.
- Equipment Provision: Upon the recommendation of the AT or AAC Evaluator, and the agreement of the IEP/504 Plan team, the ATRC will provide trial and/or loaner equipment for qualifying CPS students (if appropriate assistive technology is not available at the school level). All equipment, issued to individual students by the ATRC, is considered on loan to the student until they: a) no longer require the equipment to succeed academically, b) no longer are eligible for IEP/504 services, or c) leave the CPS school system.
- Training: A trainer provides instructions on how to use the assistive technologies to access the curriculum and/or communicate. Training resources such as webinars and websites are available online.
- Follow-Up: The ATRC is available to support school-based teams upon request. School staff should reach out to ATRC team members for ongoing training and assistance as needed.
- Technical Support: We offer support for device repairs and/or replacement for all ATRC recommended and/or loaned equipment.
Assistive Technology Processes
- School teams consider the assistive technology needs for all students who receive special education services or supports via an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- The IEP team should agree that the student has a need for assistive technology to meet a specific goal.
- The IEP team should consider and implement supports already available at the school level, e.g. accessibility features such as voice typing and text to speech built into school-based devices for curriculum access and core boards for communication.
- If the IEP team is unable to determine appropriate assistive technology, then a member of the IEP/504 Plan team can submit a referral for an assistive technology assessment via Specialized Services Management (SSM).
- The assigned ATRC staff will consult with the referring staff to determine if an evaluation or consultation is needed.
- Assessments are completed by a member of the ATRC team. Based on the information provided at the time of the referral, trials with technology, and a review of the student's needs, the ATRC staff will use his/her knowledge of assistive technology to select a strategy or technology solutions to assist the student with completing a specific goal/task.
- If equipment is recommended by the ATRC Staff, the IEP/504 Plan team will review the recommendation. If they agree with the recommendation, the student's IEP/504 Plan must be revised to include the recommendations and be associated with a goal (if on an IEP).
- When the ATRC Staff receives notification from the team that the IEP/504 Plan has been revised, because the team accepts the recommendations, the ATRC Staff will then either send equipment to the school for that student or provide the equipment at a large group training.
- School based staff, related service staff, parents and/or students will either receive training in-person or utilize online webinars and/or training resources.
- For AAC systems, training is required for staff working with students for whom a communication system is recommended. Training is open and strongly recommended for anyone within the student's community (i.e. parents, guardians, etc.).
- ATRC will use evidence collected from evaluation, consultation, and/or data provided by the school team when making recommendations. Data should be provided by school teams if they are inquiring about changes in recommendations.
- The ATRC will provide technical support for all ATRC equipment. We have a repair technician who will troubleshoot the equipment. When the equipment cannot be repaired internally, the technician will coordinate the repair with the vendor. Replacements will be provided for devices that cannot be repaired.
- All assistive technology equipment provided by the ATRC is loaned to a student while attending a CPS entity. When a student no longer attends CPS, the equipment must be returned to the ATRC. If a student transfers between schools, the equipment must be sent to the next CPS entity.
- It is expected that the assistive technology should be implemented within a student's curriculum and associated with a goal in the student's IEP. If the IEP/504 Plan team determines that the assistive technology is no longer needed or appropriate, then it must be returned to the ATRC.
- Referrals can be submitted for a re-evaluation based on changing needs of the student or demands of the school environment. The ATRC Staff will provide support and technical assistance to schools, parents and/or students for the assistive technology recommended and provided by the ATRC.
- Support for assistive technology obtained from any sources other than the ATRC will be considered on an individual basis.
