WATI in AT Assessment

What is WATI?

WATI is an acronym for the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative. Hundreds of schools across the nation use a process that was developed by the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) to support AT consideration and assessment. This module provides an overview of the WATI assistive technology consideration, assessment and planning process. It also provides step-by-step directions for using the WATI process and forms to determine student AT needs and plan for successful implementation of selected AT devices and services. 

Describe what IDEA requires of school districts regarding the provision of AT

Federal laws (and corresponding state laws in all 50 states) require the provision of AT. That is, each school district is required to ensure that AT devices and services are provided if needed by a student in order to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). 300.308 states: Each public agency shall ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services or both, as those terms are defined in 300.5-300.6 are made available to a child with a disability if required as a part of the child's

Apply all aspects of the WATI AT assessment process to complete an AT assessment. (steps)

1. Team members gather information

2. Schedule a meeting

3. Complete the problem identification portion

4. Prioritize the list of tasks for solution generation

5. Solution Generation

6. Solution Selection

7. Implementation Plan

8. Implement Planned Trials

9. Follow Up on Planned Date

Describe the purpose of each of the WATI forms

Because some IEP teams need more guidance than provided by that very general question, WATI has developed a tool to guide the IEP team at this point. It is called the WATI AT Consideration Guide. The AT Consideration Guide leads the IEP team through a series of questions designed to help the team determine whether the student does or does not "need" AT devices or services.

Identify resources for learning more about AT tools

1. Maryland Assistive Technology Network in partnership with Maryland Learning Links

2. Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) 

3. Closing the Gap Resource Directory and Solutions