When reading up on the different funding issues for Assistive Technology Devices, it quickly became clear that this is a system that needs to be simplified. As the National Council on Disability said, "For Americans without disabilities, technology makes things easy. For
Americans with disabilities, technology makes things possible."Making educators and families jump through so many hurdles to acquire assistive technology that is necessary for the student is unfair. It should be a process that is inviting and as helpful as these tools were set out to be.
The previous issues we faced revolved around the lack of technology. Now, we have multiple forms of assistive technology, but no money to give them to those in need of these devices. Funding to allow putting these devices into the school is just one part of the problem. Once the student or school receives the ATD (Assistive Technology Device), they are pressed with the issue of training not only the child but also the staff on how to use the device. Most of the funding for assistive technology comes from Medicaid (about 60%), where the rest comes from a private insurance. Coming up with the money in and of itself is a huge process. Not only do you have to consider where you are going to come up with this money from, but also how you are going be to granted this money. Time is another issue that needs to be addressed. Time, the only thing that teachers don't have to waste in such a short period of time with their students. Yet, it takes 15-20 hours of work to solely request a grant to receive a assistive technology for the student, most of which are denied the first time they are requested? For every minute wasted on writing these tedious requests, a student is losing their chance at a fair education, and falling more and more behind.
The Federal government uses entitlements to ensure that students are provided with ATD's under the IDEA. If a device is requested in an IEP, the student is granted the device, putting even more pressure on those responsible for making the IEP's. Under IDEA, the student is made sure to be "provided" with technology, meaning it can be borrowed, rented, or even funded from a third party, not just simply given to the student. Bringing us back to where we started, Universal Design and Assistive Technology were created to make life and education possible for students with disabilities, yet as a country we are still using these devices to make our lives easier. We have it backwards. Technology should be provided to those who need it first, then to those who want it for an "easier" life. Coming up with a system to open up funding and allowing it to be possible for more schools and students to receive these technologies more quickly is essential to the foundation of these students learning.
I agree with what you said about how funding should not be so difficult to acquire. Students need this technology to learn and be successful in school and in life. Since funding is so difficult to obtain, it can slow down student learning and create an unnecessary roadblock in their learning. I like how you talked about providing technology for those who need it first and ensuring that they are getting the devices they need. If an assistive technology device is what is needed to make life “possible” for a student with a learning disability or a severe disability, then they should be receiving it with ease and no complication. The way to acquire funding needs to be changed. As educators, we must advocate for our students and ensure that they are receiving the most appropriate assistive technology.
ReplyDeleteJanelle,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, funding is very difficult to get. Another issue involved in the process is time. With each step more time is wasted without the student getting the services they need. It is a very disheartening process. However, all those feelings get washed away once that student gets that device and begins to make progress.
Funding sucks! It's so difficult to obtain funding quickly. Currently, I've been waiting months for Medcaid to approve funding for a new AAC device for one of my students. She desperately needs this new AAC but the red tape is slowing down the process.
ReplyDelete