Bavaria District Assistive Technology Lending Library

WHAT IS IT? The Bavaria District has is a variety of assistive technology software and equipment available for nine-week loans to special education programs.  The goal is to explore various assistive technologies with students with special needs. If, after a nine-week trial, there is evidence that the assistive technology improves the student’s skills/performance/attainment of goals, the Case Study Committee  may consider the device to be necessary and possibly add it to the Individualized Education Plan. This ensures that a student has what is necessary for success.

 The Bavaria District Assistive Technology Lending Library also has videos covering a variety of topics related to children with special needs.  Many are useful for in-services with parents and/or teachers, others provide resources for staff on topics, such as: how to handle various behaviors associated with specific disabilities, how to effectively use para-educators, and information on autism.

 WHY DO WE HAVE IT? With the reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), all students with special needs should be assessed for assistive technology needs. Assistive technology is defined as anything that can help a student achieve the Individualized Education Plan goals and participate more independently within the general education setting.

WHERE IS IT LOCATED? The Bavaria District Assistive Technology Lending Library is currently located at the Bavaria DSO.

HOW DO I ACCESS IT?  Come by Bavaria DSO to browse and check out items or fill in the Checkout Form below and PDF by email to Jan Osier and John Avera and items will be mailed or delivered to you.  Items are checked out for nine weeks, often with an option to extend for another nine weeks unless there is a waiting list for that item. For more information, contact Jan Osier, Special Education Coordinator, Bavaria District (Jan.osier@eu.dodea.edu)

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Complete the form (Word Document) and PDF by email to Jan Osier and John Avera.  The requested materials will be mailed or delivered to your school with this form and the due dates filled in. Items are to be returned to the Bavaria DSO c/o Lending Library,  Unit 28614, APO AE 09177

Lending Library Inventory

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Assistive Technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. Assistive technology devices can be  “low tech,” “medium tech,” or “high tech.”

Assistive Technology service means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Is Assistive Technology Required? Each Individualized Education Program Team is now required to "consider" the need for Assistive Technology for every child in special education, as part of the new Special Factors requirement in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act '97.

What does it mean to "consider"? Consideration is a brief process, one that can take place within every Individualized Education Plan meeting. In order to consider the need for assistive technology, at least one person on the Individualized Education Plan Team must have some knowledge about assistive technology. When considering a child's need for Assistive Technology, there are only four general conclusions that can be reached.

1.     

2.  

 The second possibility is that Assistive Technology is already being used (or there has been a trial with Assistive Technology) so that we know that it does work. In that case, the Individualized Education Plan Team should incorporate the use of the device into the Individualized Education Plan goals and objectives. Check YES assistive technology is needed.

3.  

The third possibility is that the Individualized Education Plan Team may conclude that new Assistive Technology should be tried. In that case, the Individualized Education Plan Team will need to describe in the Individualized Education Plan the type of Assistive Technology to be tried, including the features they think may help, such as "having the computer speak the text as the student writes".   Check YES assistive technology is needed.

4.  

 Finally, the last possibility is that the Individualized Education Plan Team will find that they simply do not know enough to make a decision. In this case, they will need to gather more information. That could be a simple process of calling someone for help, or going to get some print, disk, or online resources to help him or her better "consider" what Assistive Technology might be useful. It could also be an indication that the Case Study Committee needs to initiate a formal assessment of the child's need for assistive technology.   Write in *Assistive Technology evaluation/assessment pending.

Assistive technology not available to all students in the classroom should be listed on the Individualized Education Plan if required by a special education student.  Assistive technology available to all students, (e.g., the computer lab) to which the child has access, usually is not specified on the Individualized Education Plan.  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires schools to provide assistive technology if it is required for a student to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).  Assistive technology must be provided at no cost to the parents.

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Last reviewed October 10, 2008