Throughout the beginning weeks of our Assistive Technology course we have discussed, read about, researched, and created projects on various aspects of AT. However, within each discussion, reading, activity, and project, one detail has remained prominent: it is important to match the right Assistive Technology to the right individual. Generalizing the needs of different persons to fit one device or service will not do those individuals or the technology justification.
Individuals of all abilities have different needs depending on age, dependency, socio-economic status, education, health, etc. A young child needs and wants more attention from parents than a teenager. A student in fifth grade will read different books than a college student or working adult. An elderly person will have different concerns than a person in his/her 20’s
With this in mind, it would be impossible to imagine that individuals with disabilities would have the same AT needs and would require the same devices if people, overall, are so uniquely different. The fact is they don’t. Assistive Technology needs vary with age, disability, tasks to be performed, setting in which AT will be used, and more.
In schools, Individualized Education Programs (IEP) are generated for each student determined to have a disability. An IEP, along with additional analysis and input from teachers, parents, and student, will determine a students strengths, weakness, and abilities. With this analysis possible AT devices and services can be considered.
However, once AT is chosen, the process of matching the individual to AT shouldn’t stop. After all, students should be monitored to see how they effectively use and benefit from the device or service. If an AT device isn’t benefitting a student, it should be reconsidered or replaced. Furthermore, just because one device works for one student, it should not necessarily be used with all students. Each student has his/her own IEP, own needs, and own abilities. Regardless of cost, those acquiring AT for individuals with disability should recognize the needs of the individual first.
