Section 3: AT Assessment Process

As an outcome of the AT consideration process, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team may decide the student needs an AT assessment. The need for an AT assessment may have also been generated as an outcome of using the AT Decision-Making Tool or it could also have been generated by a parent or an educational professional due to identification of a barrier the student is experiencing in their educational program. AT Assessment includes careful selection of devices and tools that match student needs to features of AT devices. The selected AT must be useful in the student’s environment to perform needed tasks. To make this type of recommendation, the student’s educational team must collaboratively identify the needs and generate solutions that will facilitate the identified goals.

Once the IEP team determines an assessment is needed, the district will obtain informed parental consent (Prior Written Notice to Parents) to assess for assistive technology and follow the evaluation process to determine the need for assistive technology.

Identifying the Assessment Team

As required by IDEA, an AT assessment must be a functional evaluation that occurs in the student’s customary environment (IDEA, 2004; OAC, 2014). The assessment is typically conducted by the student’s IEP team but may include others who are significant in the student’s service provision (teachers, family members, paraprofessionals, related service providers such as the occupational therapist (OT), physical therapist (PT), speech and language pathologist (SLP), medical staff, community members and others who are knowledgeable about the student and assistive technology).

Generally, the IEP team should be able to conduct an AT assessment. However, an AT consultant may be needed if no one on the educational team feels knowledgeable about AT to facilitate the team in conducting the assessment process. Also, it may be helpful to include school technology staff to inform the team about technology already available in the school. Consult with your local education agency (LEA) for specific requirements. Contacting your local State Support Team or Educational Service Center is a good place to start when seeking support with the AT assessment process.

The following is designed to guide educational teams in a systematic assessment process and determination of AT for individual students. First, an assessment team is formed and then the primary task is identified. After which, the specific steps of the AT assessment process may begin.