Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits
Professionals
Numerous issues and forces are impacting the field of assistive technology (AT), and a need exists to better understand and integrate a variety of perspectives and practices within the existing AT service delivery system nationally, and deliver AT services more effectively. Of particular importance are legislative forces, including the (a) No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P. L. 107-110) that emphasizes student achievement; (b) Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (PL 108-364) that emphasizes direct delivery of AT services to persons with disabilities; and (c) emphasis on AT consideration for all students with disabilities articulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (H. R. 750), and accompanying language of highly qualified personnel within the legislation. In recognition of these powerful forces impacting the AT field, the Special Education Assistive Technology Center at Illinois State University extended invitations to a cadre of AT leaders to participate in a national planning activity, Day of Visioning: Increasing Access to Assistive Technology, hosted in Bloomington, Illinois, on December 9-10, 2004. Representatives from the private sector, not-for-profits, government, and institutions of higher learning were presented with seven questions designed to provide a framework for direction in creating a national AT agenda. Discussions conducted around each of the seven questions revealed important issues reflecting multiple perspectives of the leaders present. Each of these questions is presented in the following sections with key findings summarized.
