Assessing the Need for Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is any tool or device that a student with a disability uses to do a task that he or she could not otherwise do without it or any tool the student uses to do a task more easily, faster, or in a better way. It can be a commercial product or something someone makes. It can be a simple "low tech" device such as a pencil grip or an expensive "high tech" device such as a computer.

There are thousands of items that can be classified as assistive technology and many ways to think about assistive technology. Assessing the need for assistive technology can only be made after carefully considering three areas:

• Students’ abilities-A students’ abilities/difficulties related to tasks
• Environments- Aspects of the environment in which the student functions
• Tasks to be completed- Specific tasks the student needs to be able to do

We can categorize assistive technology according to the specific task for which it is needed. Click on a task below to find specific assistive technology tools.

This Assistive Technology website was developed by Gus Farmakidis (gfarmakidis@hotmail.com),
former graduate assistant on the REFOCUSTT Project.