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Assistive Technology

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law, provides the following legal definition of an assistive technology device: "any item, piece of equipment, or product system... that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." Under IDEA, assistive technology devices can be used in the educational setting to provide a variety of accommodations or adaptations for people with disabilities.

The term assistive technology encompasses a broad range of devices from "low tech" (e.g., paper stabilizers, talking calculators) to "high tech" (e.g., computer software, braille readers). These devices include the entire range of supportive tools and equipment from pencil grips to wheelchairs and computer systems for environmental control.