Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)

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The Assistive Technology Act of 1998

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.

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 - 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 – 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).

For more information on Assistive Technology, please contact:

  • Jill Sherman-Pleasant, Project Director
    Arizona Technology Access Program
    Institute for Human Development
    Northern Arizona University

AzTAP provides support to five Regional Resource Centers (RRCs) in Arizona. These RRCs provide direct assistive technology services to persons with disabilities, and are available to help consumers select the most appropriate devices, and advocate for themselves in order to acquire funding for devices and services.

  • ASSIST! To Independence
    • Contact Person: Ann O'Connor
      PO Box 4133
      Tuba City, AZ 86045
      Email: assist01@frontiernet.net
      Voice/TTY: (928) 283-6261
      Toll-Free:    (928) 523-4909
  • IHD Assistive Technology Center
    Institute for Human Development
    Northern Arizona University
    • Building 27, Room 171
      PO Box 5630
      Flagstaff, AZ 86011
      Email: Janis.Doneski-Nicol@nau.edu
      Voice:  (928) 523-5878
      TTY:    (928) 523-1695
      Fax:     (928) 523-9127
      Toll-Free: (928) 523-4909
  • Southwest Human Development
    • 2850 N. 24th Street
      Phoenix, AZ 85008
      Website :     http://www.swhd.org
      Voice/TTY: (602) 266-5976 ext. 4125
  • Technology Access Center of Tucson (TACT)
    • 4710 E. 29th Street, PO Box 13178
      Tucson, AZ 85732-3178
      Email :  tactaz@aol.com
      Voice:  (520) 519-1776

This document was developed by the Arizona Technology Access Program. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Grant #H224A40002. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of NIDRR or the U.S. Department of Education, and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Please contact the AzTAP office for a copy of this material in an alternate format. Rev. 07/05