14 Quality Indicators of Effective Assistive Technology

Use these quality indicators to evaluate if the assistive technology your team is providing meets the quality indicators of effective technology.

1. Make assistive technology available to all students in SPED regardless of level of severity.
2. Use collaborative decision making process to determine the selection and use of assistive technology.
3. Use collective knowledge of team to make informed decisions.
4. Access technology to curricular and extra curricular activities and progress in general curriculum based on student’s IEP goals.
5. Involve the IEP Team to gather and analyze data about the student, environments, educational goals, and tasks when considering AT.
6. Explore a range of AT devices, services, and other supports that address identified needs.
7. Document AT consideration and process in the student’s IEP including a rationale.
8. Define procedures clearly and consistently apply them.
9. Conduct AT assessments using a knowledgeable team.
10. Include a functional assessment in the student’s customary environment in all AT assessments.
11. Complete AT assessments in a reasonable amount of time.
12. Make recommendations based on data.
13. Give the IEP Team clearly documented recommendations based on the AT assessment.
14. Conduct a reassessment any time it is warranted by changes in the student.

Adapted from:

 Joy Zabala’s Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (revised 2005). http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/documents/5%20QIAT%202005%20Eval%20of%20Effectiveness.pdf

Continually updated information on QIAT can be accessed here: http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/index.html.