Federal Policy to Practice
AT Guidance Myths & Facts
The Myths & Facts graphics summarize the Assistive Technology (AT) Guidance released in January 2024. They equip administrators, educators, and families with tools to dispel misconceptions about AT and offer examples of its usage for children with disabilities.
Did you know?
The AT Guidance was co-created under the Offices of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and Educational Technology (OET). This collaborative effort models, from the highest levels of the educational cascade, the approach the CITES Framework promotes.
Good policy and good practice go hand in hand. That's exactly what two documents from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) offer the field. Both the Guidance on Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology (AT) Devices and Services and the National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) outline expectations, grounded in best practice, for how to promote more inclusive learning experiences for all students, particularly children and youth with disabilities.
AT Guidance
Leaders from the Office of Special Education Programs and the Office of Education Technology teamed up with CITES for a conversation around newly released AT Guidance for practitioners. FAQ coming soon!
The Guidance on Myths and Facts Surrounding AT was released in partnership between OSERS and OET in ED and focuses on transforming learning experiences by reducing or removing barriers. Often times, these barriers arise in the field due misconceptions that lead to a lack of consideration and the underutilization of AT. This guidance offers the field an opportunity to overcome these misunderstandings and move forward on a more inclusive and equitable path.
Resources:
- Read The Guidance on Myths and Facts on AT Devices and Services
- Assistive Technology and IDEA: New Resources for Schools, Practitioners and Parents (video)
- AT Checklists for families/youth from CIPR
The National Educational Technology Plan (NETP)
The National Educational Technology Plan is the flagship educational technology policy document for the United States. The Plan articulates a vision of equity, active use, and collaborative leadership to make everywhere, all-the-time learning possible. While acknowledging the continuing need to provide greater equity of access to technology itself, the plan goes further to call upon all involved in American education to ensure equity of access to transformational learning experiences enabled by technology. The principles and examples provided in this document align to the Activities to Support the Effective Use of Technology (Title IV A) of Every Student Succeeds Act as authorized by Congress in December 2015.