Instructions

The AT Decision-Making Tool can help IEP teams with the AT consideration process that requires the contribution of all IEP team members for each area of consideration. AT consideration is required and documented through completion of Special Instructional Factors as part of the annual IEP process. The ATDMT can also support identifying the need for AT and/or AEM whenever a new need arises or whenever the current AT and/or AEM is not effective. The team may fnd using the tool benefcial at various points of the IEP process:

Planning for an IEP meeting - teams should be thinking about AT and/or AEM prior to the IEP meeting, using current data, as part of the IEP planning process and reviewing the steps of the ATDMT.
During an IEP meeting - teams are required to consider AT during Special Instructional Factors by answering the question, “Does the child need assistive technology devices and/or services?” The ATDMT can support teams with this question. If the team has not reviewed the ATDMT prior to this point, it may require a longer amount of time to complete the process.
Outside of the IEP meeting - if the team determined that additional assessment was needed in completing the ATDMT, the team will follow the assessment process and then reconvene after the assessment(s) are completed to review results.

This tool is divided into six steps; however, teams may not need to go through all steps depending upon the specifc needs of the student:

Identify the Task
Current Use of AT
Universal Tools
AT Assessment*
Accessible Educational Materials*
Additional Areas of Focus

The team then documents the decision of this process in the Summary section.

*These areas may require further investigation, in which case, the team would document the need for further AT and/or AEM assessment in the IEP.