The SETT Framework and AT Assessment

The premise of the SETT Framework is identifying the characteristics of a Student, the Environments in which the student learns and grows, and Tasks required to be an active learner in those environments before trying to identify a system of Tools that enables the student to actively engage in the tasks in the environments. A critical feature of successfully applying the SETT Framework is a shared understanding across the educational team, the student, and the family when it comes to the "who" (student’s characteristics), the "where" (learning environment characteristics), and the "what" (tasks that a student needs to be able to do).

Upon establishing this shared understanding, the collaborative team can brainstorm ideas of the kinds of supports (tools) that could be helpful to the student. It is important to remember that such tools consist of more than AT devices; this could be additional accessibility features of educational software, supportive services, professional development training for the teacher or the family, etc. The tools a student might benefit from are much more than traditionally understood AT devices. For example, accessibility features like text-to-speech setting in a mobile phone might serve as a nice convenience to some people but might be a necessary support for an individual with a disability and, as such, be considered as AT for that individual.A team-based collaborative assessment of needs will lead to determining the most promising system of tools for the student, with a consideration of the environments this learner is in.

• SETTing up Staff and Supporters to Promote Student Achievement