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The Assistive Technology Act of 2004
President Bush signed the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (P.L.108-364 – ATA 2004 ) into law on October 23, 2004 . The ATA 2004 re-affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. It has been designed to support State efforts to improve the provision of assistive technology to individuals with disabilities through comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance, for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
An assistive technology device is defined by ATA 2004 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 2004 establishes permanent 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. In Arizona, the Phoenix-based program is called the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) and is a part of Northern Arizona University’s Institute for Human Development.
ATA 2004 requires both state level activities and state leadership activities. State level activities are state alternative financing activities, device reutilization, device loan and device demonstration programs. State leadership activities include training and technical assistance, public awareness activities, transition assistance, coordination and collaboration with agencies, vendors and other principle players in the AT field.
ATA 2004 establishes an advisory council to provide consumer-responsive, consumer-driven advice to the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) for, planning of, implementation of, and evaluation of the activities of the ATA 2004 grant.
ATA 2004 specifically prohibits any assistive technology program from directly purchasing assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities. Nor does ATA 2004 authorize a Federal or State agency to reduce medical or other assistance available, or to alter eligibility for any benefit or service, under any other Federal law.
To learn more about Assistive Technology and AzTAP, please contact:
- Jill Sherman-Pleasant , Project Director
Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)
Institute for Human Development / Northern Arizona University - 2400 N. Central Avenue, Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Email: jill.pleasant@nau.edu
Website: www.nau.edu/ihd/aztap/
Voice: (602) 728-9534
TTY: (602) 728-9536
Fax: (602) 728-9535
Toll-Free: (800) 477-9921
