AT and the IEP

Assistive technology is generally an accommodation and should be included in four places in the IEP.

1. Present Levels of Performance: AT information should be included under present levels of performance to document use of equipment or software. Speak to the student's current use of the technology.  Provide data/evidence of what the technology is, why it's being used and when it is used. If a student is no longer in need of a piece of technology, speak to what changed and why it's no longer in use. 

2. Consideration of Special Factors: Assistive Technology must be addressed under Consideration of Special Factors in Project Education.   See below for details.

3. Accommodations: Listing any appropriate assistive technology systems or devices under accommodations. **Avoid Brand names to describe the assistive technology and list the function it performs. Naming a particular device or software program only locks a student in to using that specific product, which may become obsolete or not be appropriate in a given situation. Flexibility in the IEP allows the student’s team to find and use the most appropriate tool for each task. ( If a piece of technology is no longer being used, make sure to remove it from accommodations) 

4. State and District Assessments: Depending on the student, AT may also be included as an accommodation for state and district assessments for state and district assessments.  

** If you have questions, please contact your SWAAAC representative for your school. 

 Under Consideration of Special Factors:

Question: Answer the question “Does the child/student require assistive technology services or devices?"

DO NOT USE BRAND NAMES OR SPECIFIC DEVICE OR SOFTWARE NAMES

If yes, Check YES in the Assistive Technology Box in the Related Services on the IEP.  

Write in:

Access and use of assistive technology to support [FILL IN 1- Communication, Writing, Reading, Access, etc ], due to STUDENTS’s difficulties with [FILL IN 2- reading, fluency, writing, spelling, organization, expressive language, etc.]  See the Accommodations section of the IEP for AT Accommodations. 

EXAMPLES for FILL IN 1:

expressive communication, participation in the classroom,

 written communication, access to the environment, social interactions, academics, etc.

EXAMPLES for FILL IN 2: 

Expressive communication, reading, fluency, decoding, spelling, fine motor access, etc. 

Question: Answer the question “Does the child/student have unique communication needs?"

If your student uses Augmentative Alternative Communication to communicate, you will want to reflect this under Unique Communication Needs.  Refer to CDE’s document: CDE Unique Communication Needs

Accommodations

EXAMPLE FROM IEP SOFTWARE:

Under Accommodations and Modifications:

DO NOT USE BRAND NAMES OR SPECIFIC DEVICE OR SOFTWARE NAMES

EXAMPLE FROM IEP SOFTWARE:

EXAMPLE WORDING OPTIONS:

 -Access to a computer for use of cause-and-effect and educational software/websites during reading centers.

 -Use of switches and voice output switch across the school setting and school activities. 

- Use of auditory/visual scanning for choice making and expressive communication (Partner assisted scanning, voice output device, or eye gaze.) 

-Access and use of eye gaze board for communication across the school setting and school activities. 

-Use of environmental control unit for access during activities of daily living, Use of picture exchange communication across the school setting and school activities.

-Use of voice output device for communication throughout the day.

 -Use of personally owned speech generating device for communication throughout the school day

 -Use of word prediction software for all writing tasks

 -Use of adapted keyboard to access the computer during computer class or when working on writing, etc

TRY TO REMEMBER TO STATE  WHEN AND WHERE THE AT ACCOMMODATION WILL BE USED

Goals and Objectives

Support for Goals and Objectives:

The use of AT is not a goal in itself. AT can be included in IEP goals and objectives. 

General format: Using (AT solution), Student will (curriculum standard) with ____%accuracy ___/___ times.