The Buck Starts Here... A Guide to Assistive Technology Funding in Kentucky
What is Assistive Technology?
Simply put, assistive technology can mean anything from simple, homemade devices to highly sophisticated environmental
control systems. It can be adapted toys, computers, powered mobility, augmentative communication devices, special switches,
and thousands of commercially available or adapted tools to assist an individual with learning, working, and interacting
socially.
As defined by the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004, (PL 108 –364), Assistive Technology is
divided into two categories, devices and services. An assistive technology device, is any item, piece of equipment or product
system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities. An assistive technology service is any service that directly assists an
individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
Assistive technology benefits everyone from individual users to employers, teachers, family members, and other community
members who interact with users of AT. By increasing access, assistive technology increases opportunities for
participation-which benefits us all.
Categories of Assistive Technology
For many funding sources in this guide, we have included a simple overview of what AT devices and services a source will
pay for and/or provide, and who is most likely to be eligible for that assistance. The types of assistive technology
are divided into the following categories of devices and services as listed below. Refer to the descriptions of these
categories when determining what type of AT devices and services applies to your situation.
Assistive Technology Devices:
- Vision
- Devices for persons who are blind or visually impaired such as magnifiers, Braille, speech
output devices, and large print computer screens.
- Hearing
- Devices for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing such as hearing aids, TTYs, and
visual alerting systems.
- Speech Communication
- Products designed to assist with speaking and face-to-face communication for
individuals with speech disabilities.
- Learning, Cognition and Developmental
- Provide people with disabilities with access to educational
materials and instruction for school or other environments; products that assist with learning and cognition.
- Mobility, Seating and Positioning
- Products whose focus is on augmenting or replacing the
functional limitations of an individual's mobility.
- Daily Living
- Devices that enhance the capacity of people with disabilities to live independently,
especially AT that assists with instrumental and other activities of daily living, such as dressing, personal hygiene,
bathing, home maintenance, cooking, eating, shopping and managing money.
- Environmental Adaptations
- Environmental and structural adaptations to the built environment that
remove or reduce barriers and promote access to and within the built home, employment and community facilities for
individuals with disabilities.
- Vehicle Modifications
- Adaptive driving aids, hand controls, wheelchairs and other lifts, modified
vans or other motor vehicles used for personal transportation.
- Computers and related
- Hardware and software products that enable people with disabilities to
access, interact with, and use computers at home, work, or school.
- Recreation, Sports and Leisure Equipment
- Products not already classified in other categories that
help persons with disabilities to participate in sport, health, physical education, recreation, leisure, and dance events.
Assistive Technology Services:
- Evaluation/Assessment
- Answers the question "Which technologies and strategies can I use to
improve my functioning during a specific activity?" A formal assistive technology assessment is provided by someone who
is recognized as a provider of assistive technology services by public and private funding agencies.
- Purchasing/Acquisition
- Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of
assistive technology devices.
- Selection/Design
- Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining,
repairing, or replacing of assistive technology devices.
- Coordination
- Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive
technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs.
- Training/Technical Assistance
- Training or technical assistance can be provided to individuals,
professionals, employers, or other persons who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the
major life functions of individuals with disabilities.
- Information/Assistance
- Those activities in which the AT program or other agency responds to
requests for information and/or puts individuals in contact with other agencies, organizations, or companies that can provide
them with needed information on AT products, devices, services, funding sources, or other related disability topics, or
provided intensive assistance to individuals on AT products, devices, services, funding sources, or other related disability
topics.
- Device Demonstration/Loan
- Demonstration of a variety of AT devices and/or services by personnel
who are familiar with such devices and services and their applications, allowing individuals to make an informed choice.
Providing short term loans of AT devices to individuals, employers, public agencies or others seeking to meet the needs of
targeted individuals and entities, including others seeking to comply with IDEA, ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act.