Federal Definitions of Assistive Technology

Technology Related Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988

The Tech Act described an assistive technology service as "any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device."

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

An assistive technology service is defined by IDEA 2004 as "any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." ( 34CFR§ 300.6). The term includes:

1. The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary environment;
2. Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities;
3. Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
4. Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
5. Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child's family; and
6. Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of that child.

[Note: The final regulations on IDEA 2004 also state that "related services" do not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, the optimization of that device's functioning (e.g., mapping), maintenance of that device, or the replacement of that device ( 34CFR§ 300.34(b)). A related issue brief on cochlear implants by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) further clarifies this issue. For regulatory language related to the routine checking of hearing aids and the external components of surgically implanted medical devices see 34CFR§ 300.113]