The Right to Assistive Technology and Accessible Instructional Materials for U.S. Students Does Not Consistently Translate into Predictable Access and Effective Use.

Abstract

Students in the United States have federally-established rights regarding access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services, yet those rights are not consistently upheld for a variety of reasons acknowledged in the literature. We conducted a interview-based study with 48 education professionals, family members and students to analyze the facilitators and barriers that influence AT access for students in the State of Delaware. Study results were consistent with the extant literature, and revealed numerous violations of student rights guaranteed under U.S. special education law. Some barriers were attitudinal, yet most arose from the inadequacy of infrastructures: professionals lacked training, funding was inadequate or difficult to access and, in most areas, there was no definitive guidance relative to the processes that should be followed and how decisions regarding AT-related decisions regarding devices and services should be documented. Elements revealed to facilitate AT access and use were the availability of resources - highly-qualified personnel, time, training, funds, and access to devices - and persistence among educators and family members in pursuing AT solutions for students.