The Power of Presumed Competence and AT Considerations

IDEA legally dictates that IEP teams consider Assistive Technology for students, but research shows it is often overlooked and rarely pursued. Many factors contribute to this lack of consideration—from a professional lack of knowledge on the proven value of such technologies, to ableist perspectives regarding a student’s potential to benefit from them. This session will present case studies of students not initially considered for AT and demonstrate the impact such interventions ultimately had upon their educational gains. It will also present research that upends ableist myths surrounding the use of AT for students with learning, neurological, and even intellectual disabilities.