The Northeast Service Cooperative has a Regional Service Provider Network, an Assistive Technology Specialist and an Assistive Technology Lending Library to assist districts to:

• Assess or evaluate the needs of a student with a disability, including a functional team evaluation of the student in the student’s environment.
• Access a regional assistive technology lending library prior to a district purchasing or leasing devices for a specific student or program.
• Train or provide technical assistance for staff, students and family in assessment, decision making and utilization of assistive devices within the educational setting.
• Inservice staff regarding assistive technology devices and service options for students in the educational setting.
• Plan to train four educators to be A.T. certified.

These definitions also appear in the Tech Act Legislation (P.L.100-407) which has been adopted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

IDEA defines an assistive technology device as:

• any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

This definition is broad and includes a range of devices from low technology to high technology items as well as software.

Under IDEA the legal definition of assistive technology services is:

• any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. [20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Section 1401 (26)]

Specifically, assistive technology services include:

• the evaluation of the needs of an individual with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the individual in the individuals customary environment;
• purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by individuals with disabilities;
• selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology services;
• 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 or technical assistance for an individual with disabilities, or, where appropriate, the family of an individual with disabilities;

and training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of individuals with disabilities.