Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394)
President Clinton signed the Assistive Technology Act of
1998 (P.L. 105-394) into law on Friday, November 13, 1998. The Technology Act
of 1998 (ATA) affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to
improve the lives of Americans with disabilities.
An assistive technology device is defined by the ATA as “any
item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially,
modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the
functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”
The ATA extends the funding of the 50 states and six
territories (America Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that had received funding
under the Assistive Technology Act of 1988. The Tech Act as amended was
designed to develop permanent, comprehensive, statewide programs of
technology-related assistance. Under the ATA all states and territories are
eligible to receive funding for 10 years. States that have completed 10 years
in the program will have three additional years of federal funding to continue
their assistive technology programs.
Title I
Under Title I in the new ATA,
states and funded territories are required to conduct the following activities:
- support a public awareness program designed to provide
information related to the availability and benefits of assistive technology
devices and assistive technology services.
- promote interagency coordination that improves access to
assistive technology devices and services for individuals of all ages with
disabilities.
- provide technical assistance and training including the
development and implementation of laws, regulations, policies, practices,
procedures, or organizational structures that promote access to assistive
technology devices and services.
- provide outreach support to statewide community-based
organizations that provide assistive devices or services to individuals with
disabilities or assist individuals in using assistive technology devices and services
including focusing on individuals from underrepresented and rural populations.
Under the ATA, states and
funded territories have the option of performing several discretionary
activities, which include:
- providing alternative state-financed systems to increase
access to and funding for assistive technology;
- providing demonstrations of assistive technology devices;
- offering options for securing assistive technology devices
and services; and
- using various methods to provide technology-related
information.
Title II
Title II - National
Activities
National activities include coordination of federal research
efforts; a report by the National Council on Disability describing the barriers
in federal assistive technology policy to increasing the availability of
assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities;
and coordination with the Access Board on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended. Other national activities include
1. Small business incentives,
2. Technology and universal design,
3. Universal design in the built environment,
4. Outreach,
5. Training pertaining to rehabilitation engineers and
technicians, and
6. Programs by the President’s Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities.
Title III
Title III – Alternative
Funding Mechanisms
Alternative funding mechanisms authorizes mechanisms for the
funding of assistive technology that may include a low-interest loan fund, an
interest buy-down program, a revolving loan fund, or a loan guarantee or
insurance program.
The state technology assistance programs are administered by
the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) through the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Contact
For more information on Assistive Technology, please
contact:
Randy Collins, Project Director
Arizona Technology Access Program Institute for Human
Development
Northern Arizona University
2400 N. Central Avenue, Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85004
E-mail: randy.collins@nau.edu
Voice: (602) 728-9534, Ext. 3
TTY: (602) 728-9536
Fax: (602) 728-9535
Toll-Free: (800) 477-9921
Our mission
The mission of the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) is to increase access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services for individual with disabilities and their families through systems change and advocacy. Program staff works with consumers, service providers, state agencies, private industry, legislators, and other interested individuals to facilitate the development of a statewide system of AT services.