General IEP and AT Guidance

• General IEP Guidance for AT: This document provides a basic outline of each of the current areas in the Iowa IEP that should be addressed with regard to AT. 

• General If-Then for AT and the IEP:  This document, along with the General IEP Guidance (linked above) provide a review of the required areas for AT.   This document also includes references to AIM as a special consideration of the IEP.  Other areas of special consideration that specifically involve AT include Braille.  Refer to the Vision Dept. for additional guidance in this area. 

• AT as a Goal?   The question sometimes arises about whether or not AT can be written specifically as a goal.  This document provides general guidance and points to consider.

• When to Check the AT Box : This document can be used to help decide if the AT checkbox should be checked YES or NO.  

• AT Use outside of the Typical School Day - Home and Extracurricular : This document was developed to provide general guidance related to use of AT devices in extracurricular and home/community environments.  

• Acquisition of AT - Guidance: This document can be used as guidance as teams consider assistive technology in the IEP and is intended to illustrate the inclusion of AT in the IEP is addressed in the same way that all decisions are made within the IEP team and team meetings. 

• District-Wide AT Selection Guidance: The following provides guidance for selecting district-wide tools that are used in the provision of a universally designed learning (UDL)  environment and as specifically selected assistive technology (AT) for students with disabilities.  

When completing an IEP, should an AT Service provider be added on the Services Tab in MBAEA?  

Current guidance is that AT services check is for the addition of an AT-specific service provider.  In MBAEA,  this service would not be checked unless the district has an AT specialist or a person who will be providing only an AT service and has not been included in any other service listing .  This checkbox is not intended for MBAEA AT Department staff.   The AT services, e.g., acquisition, funding, maintenance, interventions, instruction, are provided by the teacher, SLP, OT, hearing teacher, vision teacher, or other staff who are already providing services and are listed in the IEP under AT Support on Services- Activities Tab. 

Where do you document the important activities related to AT devices and services?  

Services-Activities Tab:  Devices (the thing) and Supports (the activities - selection, acquisition, design, fit, coordination, interventions, training, maintenance, etc.).  

NOTE: AT and AEM are not the same thing, but they are related. A student may require AT for many different things and not require AEM.  If a student requires AEM, they will also require AT in order to get/use AEM.