Illinois Assistive Technology Guidance Manual - 2020 Edition - Setting the Vision for Assistive Technology in Schools

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

Illinois Assistive Technology Guidance Manual (2020 Edition) provides practical guidance for schools on planning, providing, implementing, and monitoring assistive technology (AT) for students. It explains the legal definition and goals of AT, categories and the AT continuum, and how AT differs from other school technologies. The manual connects AT to IDEA requirements, including FAPE and LRE, and outlines responsibilities for schools, LEAs, parents, and the IEP team. It further addresses AT’s relationship to state standards, AIM, universal design, differentiated instruction, MTSS, and Section 504, then details the AT process phases such as consideration, provision, implementation, and performance monitoring.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages96

Reading Time4 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Setting the Vision for Assistive Technology in Schools

CHAPTER 1 Understanding Assistive Technology

What is the legal definition of AT?

What is the goal of AT?

What are the categories of AT?

What is the AT continuum?

How is AT different from other technologies used in schools?

What are schools’ responsibilities to provide medically necessary AT?

What are AT services?

CHAPTER 2 Understanding AT requirements within IDEA

Examples of AT special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services

Relationship between AT and FAPE

Relationship between AT and LRE

LEA responsibility to develop performance measures when AT is needed

When parents should be notified about considering AT

CHAPTER 3 Understanding how AT relates to other educational mandates and initiatives

Relationship between AT and the Illinois Learning Standards

Relationship between AT and accessible instructional materials (AIM)

Relationship between AT and universal design

Relationship between AT and differentiated instruction

Relationship between AT and multi-tiered systems of support

How AT is addressed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

CHAPTER 4 Understanding the AT process

Consideration of AT

Provision of AT

Implementation of AT

Performance monitoring of AT use

CHAPTER 5 AT process: Understanding AT consideration

A model for AT consideration

Illinois Assistive Technology Guidance Manual 2020 Edition This manual was created in collaboration with Infinitecand made possible through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois Assistive Technology Guidance Manual Table of Contents SETTING THE VISION FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS..........................................................................................0 CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY....................................................................................................... 1 WHAT IS THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF AT? ............................................................................................................................ 1 WHAT IS THE GOAL OF AT? ............................................................................................................................................. 2 WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT AT IS A COMPENSATORY INTERVENTION? ...................................................................................... 2 WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES OF AT? ................................................................................................................................. 2 WHAT IS THE AT CONTINUUM?........................................................................................................................................ 3 HOW IS AT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TECHNOLOGIES USED IN SCHOOLS? .................................................................................. 3 WHAT ARE SCHOOLS’ RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE MEDICALLY NECESSARY AT? ....................................................................... 4 WHAT ARE AT SERVICES? ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 UNDERSTANDING AT REQUIREMENTS WITHIN IDEA .........................................................................................6 WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF AT SPECIAL EDUCATION, RELATED SERVICES, AND SUPPLEMENTARY AIDS AND SERVICES? ........................... 7 WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AT AND FAPE? ......................................................................................................... 8 WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AT AND LRE? ........................................................................................................... 9 WHAT IS THE LEA’S RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP PERFORMANCE MEASURES WHEN THE IEP TEAM DETERMINES AT IS NEEDED? ......... 9 WHEN SHOULD PARENTS BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE IEP TEAM’S REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER AT FOR THEIR CHILD? ........................... 9 CHAPTER 3 UNDERSTANDING HOW AT RELATES TO OTHER EDUCATIONAL MANDATES AND INITIATIVES ........................11 HOW DOES AT RELATE TO THE ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS? .......................................................................................... 11 HOW DOES AT RELATE TO ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS (AIM)? ........................................................................... 11 HOW DOES AT RELATE TO UNIVERSAL DESIGN? ................................................................................................................ 11 HOW DOES AT RELATE TO DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION? .................................................................................................. 12 HOW DOES AT RELATE TO MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT? ........................................................................................ 13 HOW IS AT ADDRESSED UNDER SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973? ............................................................. 13 How can an IEP team judge its Section 504 processes for including AT? ........................................................... 14

FAQs

What is the legal definition and goal of assistive technology (AT) in schools?

The manual explains AT’s legal definition and its goals, emphasizing AT as compensatory support to help students access and benefit from educational programs. It also describes key categories and how AT fits into an AT continuum.

How does AT relate to IDEA requirements such as FAPE and LRE?

The manual details the relationship between AT and FAPE and LRE. It also describes how the LEA and the IEP team must consider AT needs, including responsibilities for developing performance measures when AT is needed.

What steps make up the assistive technology (AT) process and how is it monitored?

The manual outlines the AT process phases: consideration of AT, provision of AT, implementation of AT, and performance monitoring of AT use. It also provides a model for conducting AT consideration using current student information and developing IEP goals and objectives.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Angel