What Major Federal Legislation has Shaped Assistive Technology as We Know it Today? by Emma Kuo

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

Section 504 of this legislation ensures that children with disabilities (students with assistive technology needs are considered in this category) are not discriminated against or excluded. Additionally, Section 508 requires that electronic and information technology be accessible (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Therefore, a student cannot be excluded if they require AT. Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because as stated in the video, Sady was able to complete her program fully online and access information and materials that way (Tedx Talks, 2020). She was not excluded from getting a degree based on her disability.

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

This legislation ensures students with special needs are guaranteed a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Principles such as appropriate evaluation, individualized education program (IEP), least restrictive environment (LRE), and parent and student participation in decision making were first introduced in this act. A FAPE may sometimes involve and require access to assistive technology as specified and considered in a student's IEP (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because Sady was able to access public education for K-12 which gave her the means to access higher education as well. She was able to make decisions about her education and do it in an environment where she was not restricted (Tedx Talks, 2020).

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Technolgy Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

Also known as the Tech Act, this legislation provided federal funding to states to develop programs that increased access to assistive technology. It was the first federal law specifically focused on assistive technology (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). By funding knowledge, more schools have the awareness and access necessary to support students with disabilities. Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because as Sady stated in the video, Sady has access to all devices like an Apple Watch, iPhone, etc. but it is mostly the software and developments made available there in text-to-speech among others that allow her to make her art and communicate with others (Tedx Talks, 2020).

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Americans with Disabilities Act

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

This act also requires public schools to meet the AT needs of children with disabilities by including all public entities in the effort to make the environment accessible to students. This means providing accommodations and ensuring students can physically enter school buildings. Being considered accessible requires AT for students (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because though she did not require to physically enter the building to complete her bachelor's degree at Full Sail University, those accommodations can and are required to be made at all public entities (Tedx Talks, 2020).

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

Now that access to the school building for students with disabilities was granted by the other acts, with this act came access to the general education curriculum. Additional grants for technology were provided with this iteration of IDEA, and the definition of disability was expanded, allowing more people access to AT as required by their IEP (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because Sady was able to complete her program fully online where even her professors were unaware that she had a disability (Tedx Talks, 2020). It is important to see people based on their abilities over their disabilities because you would then know that Sady was perfectly capable of accessing the general education curriculum and excelling in it. She and other people with disabilities have creative minds that need to be stimulated too.

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

This act uses person-first language when stating again that schools are required to provide a FAPE. For some students, in order to receive this FAPE, they require AT, so federal funding is used to grant such devices and services (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because that person-first language was used by her and Mark especially when she referred to "people of all abilities" (Tedx Talks, 2020). There were most likely federal grants sent to Sady's institution that made AT devices and services readily available to her.

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004

elkuowork — 2025-06-08 19:31:16 UTC

Again, this act requires public schools to meet the AT needs of children with disabilities, this time by ensuring that they are assessed using the same measures as children without disabilities. The idea of universal design was implemented which means that even students who require AT should be able to engage and access the curriculum (Texas Assistive Technology Network, 2004). Sady and other individuals with disabilities benefit from this law because the idea of universal design evidently translates to receiving a higher education. Sady was given the opportunity to access her courses and her needs were met, but she was assessed the same considering her professors did not even know about her disability. Regardless, she graduated with top marks (Tedx Talks, 2020).

Tedx Talks. (2020, January 24). Accessing the Artist Within | Sady Paulson & Mark Coppin | TEDxFargo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTR88i9rygg

Texas Assistive Technology Network. (2004) Providing Assistive Technology: A Legal Perspective https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1606941576/bisdus/k1ad2jw0hhprdrtlsqtl/3LegalPerspective.pdf