Assistive Technology: The Bridge Between Disability Impact and Achievement
by Hilary Laxson
This article is primarily aimed at people who have Specific Learning disabilities, ADHD, or dyslexia. Assistive Technology can be used under any of the 13 eligibilities under the IDEA. If you need more help with Assistive Technology and some other disability, you could google as an example "Assistive Technology and Autism" a wide variety of resources are available.
Does your child struggle to get the words out?
Does the physical labor or requirement of writing leave your child behind the rest of the class?
Does your child search for words and often lose their train of thought?
Does it seem like the quality of your child’s work improves with the use of common technology?
Eligibility for Assistive Technology
Did you know your child can have Assistive Technology (AT) with either a 504 plan or an Independent Education Program (IEP)?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that provides appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children.
According to the IDEA, Sec. 300.5, Assistive Technology, "Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such a device."
Assistive Technology (AT) covers anything from a calculator to a personal computer to even a wheelchair.
Assistive Technology allows a child who struggles to remember how to spell words and uses predictive text to help them find the right word. It allows someone to stay on task using various forms of technology such as timers or focus apps. AT can help someone use graphic organizers to help with writing. It can help them use mind mapping charts to develop their more complicated writing. What AT does in general for anyone is allow a child to use technology to achieve their true capacity even with their disability.
How does a parent get Assistive Technology for their child?
If you're currently in the process of being evaluated for special education in your local public school, it should be a part of a comprehensive evaluation for Special Education. Federal Law in the IDEA says this about AT evaluations. According to the IDEA Sec. 300.324 (a), "Consider whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services." Often schools fail to consider technology. Assistive Technology is sometimes an entire afterthought. The I.E.P. team should make decisions about assistive technology devices and related services based on your child's unique needs to help them reach their true capacity and become independent. Federal law requires schools to use assistive technology to "maximize accessibility for children with disabilities." (20 U.S.C. 1400(c)(5)(H)). Sometimes you will hear that a district can't afford assistive technology or training for its personnel. They can't use the lack of money or availability of devices to determine whether they can provide it or not.
For example, a dyslexic child may struggle to spell words for the rest of their life. Using a computer or tablet would allow that child to use programs that support dictation, predictive text, spelling, and grammar. With someone who has any reading disorder or dyslexia, they may spend so much energy trying to spell a word that they don't remember the rest of their thought. This causes a lot of frustration and other problems which could easily be avoided using AT.
The blessing of the COVID world and changes was that it forced schools to adapt and change their inclusion and use of technology. Fortunately for my family, when COVID started, we were the only child at our middle school of 800 using GoogleClassroom with all their work done electronically so we could use all kinds of AT to help us write more complex work and help with spelling and grammar.
If you ask for an assistive technology evaluation and you are told "no" by the local public school, you would need to ask for a Prior Written Notice (PWN). PWN is required by law.
What if you currently have an I.E.P. for your child?
The easiest way to get an Evaluation for Assistive Technology is to email the I.E.P. Case Worker and ask for an evaluation for Assistive Technology. It can be done with a simple email template; download it here. In the event you are told NO to your request, you need to email the I.E.P. Case Worker and ask for a Prior Written Notice. You might want to direct this type of request to the District Office and Head of Special Education. Knowledge and training vary from school to school; you might not get the same result at the district level as your local child's school.
How Does Assistive Technology help my child who has ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, or any other learning disabilities?
Assistive Technology for someone who has a reading disability or writing disability might include technology such as:
Tablet or IPad, ChromeBook, Personal Computer (Text to Speech, Speech to Text, and Predictive text), Spelling programs, grammar programs, graphic organizers, mindmap, word banks, and helpful keywords relevant to the subject.
The world of software and programs using technology is quite vast. This is why asking for an AT evaluation helps identify what might help your child. If your school completes an AT evaluation and you don't like the results, your rights under IDEA give you the right to ask for an Independent Education Evaluation (I.E.E.) to complete a new evaluation at public expense. Usually, the person completing an I.E.E. for Assistive Technology comes from a private or state university or a private party with degrees in education focusing on technology.
What are some free resources on Assistive Technology?
Google "your state" Department of Education and "Assistive Technology" almost all the states have an AT Department run by the state Department of Education. Here is a link to California and Virginia.
Microsoft is a wealth of knowledge on dyslexia and technology. Check out their website.
Made by dyslexia produces many videos, graphics, and other materials to help your student in school.
What are some APPS you can use at home or temporarily to help your child while you wait for help?
What are some programs or APPs that might be more complex you can use?
Some of these have both free and paid versions. If the paid version is required for your child to get access at school, it can be added to your I.E.P. I.E.P. formatting can vary from State to State, but it goes on the I.E.P. somewhere. It might go under a section called "Student Supports" on the I.E.P. under "Supplements Services and Supports." You can also add teacher training in an I.E.P. as long as the I.E.P. team agrees on it. AT technology training or any other training could go under the I.E.P. under Training for Personnel.
How does AT help my child, regardless of their disability impact, achieve success or level the playing field?
A dyslexic or any student with a learning disability may struggle with working memory issues, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. For a student who can convey more information and detail orally but struggles to write or elaborate, assistive technology allows that child to keep up with peers and write more complex writing. It levels the playfield to their peers. For someone who has ADHD, a timer on the device might help them stay on task without as much adult intervention, allowing them to develop independence and remove some of the embarrassment from teacher-led intervention. Someone with ADHD or Dyslexia could use a read-out-loud technology that might help them not skip words and miss content in an assignment.
Grab this free resource from The Dyslexia Life on Assistive Technology Apps and Programs here
Need additional assistance?
As a result of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the DoD is required to provide special education-trained attorneys and advocates. Check with your local EFMP office, from the APP on your phone, or your school district's military liaison officer if you are active-duty military and part of the DoD (Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy). If you are NAVY and live in San Diego, then the Navy Pilot Special Education Program is available. You can Request Help from SEALKIDS here.
ONE LAST NOTE: If your child is not enrolled in Special Education, here is a link to download a sample letter to use to request an evaluation for special education services from your local school district. This should be emailed and mailed to your principal and director of special education services. I strongly recommend you do so in writing to create a paper trail.
HELPFUL FORMS:
CLICK HERE for the U.S. Department of Education form on Prior Written Notice
CLICK HERE for Request for Evaluation for Special Education
CLICK HERE for a sample Parent Concern letter
CLICK HERE for a link to a glossary of terms related to special education
By Hilary Laxson
Hilary Laxson was a Coast Guard spouse for 12 years and has been in the military community since 2000. She graduated from the University of Denver in 1999 with a BSBA in Finance and obtained a graduate-level paralegal degree in 2000 from the University of San Diego.
She spent time in California, Georgia, and Hawaii as a Coast Guard Family member. She has a child with severe dyslexia and other learning disabilities in high school. She’s the parent volunteer for Decoding Dyslexia Military for Georgia and is actively involved in advocacy for active-duty families in the State of Georgia. Last February, she attended “Say Dyslexia” Day to help bring more attention to dyslexia in the State of Georgia. Georgia passed SB48 “the Dyslexia Law” in 2019. She runs a parent support group on Facebook called Warrior Parents of Dyslexics for parents all over the USA who need help navigating the world of dyslexia. You can find her on Facebook Here. Feel free to send Hilary or SEALKIDS any questions you may have!
