An Overview of History of Assistive Technology

By kathycanderson

  • Invention of Typewriter

    First typewriter was invented and used as one of the first pieces of assistive technology (AT) for person with disabilities who could not write. Pellegrino Turri invented the typewriter for a friend who was blindto assist in writing legibly.
  • Period: to

    Overview of the History of Assistive Technology

  • First Grant Issued

    The first government granted issued to the American Printing House for the Blind to produce materials in Braille. This significantly opened up opportunities for communication and understanding for the current events, information and instruction for specific programs and tasks for persons with visiual impairments and those who are blind.

  • Research Began to Create AT Materials for Speical Education Teachers

    The U.S. Government became aware of, and began to, fund research and wyas to make alterative materials for students with special needs. Two specific centers were opened up to explore different ways to make instructional materials more accessible to special educaiton teachers to better meet the needs of students with disabilities.

  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973

    Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibited discrimination based on a person's disability(s) for education or employment. It also mandated accommodations and least restrictive environment were being implemented for all individuals not matter their disabliity. Some of these accommidations included curb breaks, ramps, accessible bathrooms, and elevators. In Section 504 of this act, it extended these requirements and modifications to all students with disabilities.

  • Education for all Handicap Children Act of 1975

    This act extended reasonable educational accommidations and provision for school aged children and also introduced the concept of an individualized eduation program. This law granted access to public education for many students who before where not allowed in typical schools. The law was the base for beginning the meet the individualized educational needs of each child and later would lead to reauthorizations that would provide the AT supports needed for all students.

  • First Personal Computer was Released to Public

    The first personal computer was released to public for personal sales. The first computer was an IBM PC. These computers could be modified to effectively be used as some of the first augmentative devices.

  • Rehabilitation Act Amendement of 1986

    This law guaranteed equal access for the all federal employees to computer equipment and Individual Written Rehabilitation Programs (IWRP) were included for persons requiring provisions for AT for clients requiring vocational rehabilitation.

  • Technology-Related Assistance Act for Individuals with Disabilities of 1988

    First legislation to directly address AT services. This act invluded the first definition of AT and allotted federal funds to all states to provide AT services to all students with disabilities.

  • Americans with Disability Act of 1990

    Civil rights legislation to prent discrimination against individuals based on their abilities. This extended civil rights to protection for all person in public places, including schools, places of work, etc. AT was not directly mentioned in this law, however, the law is interpreted to allow AT to fall under the phrase, "auxiliary aides and services." Therefore, within the law, individuals with disabilities must be provided with the access to the AT tools that will increase their participation.

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1991

    Definitions of AT were estiblished and guarantees of supports and services were extended to the educational setting.

  • Telecommunication Act of 1996

    Extended the telcommunication accessibility requirements to libraries and schools. This opened many doors for the AT needs to begin to be met and addressed in schools to more equally access the curriculum.

  • 1997 Reaurthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    Required all IEP teams to consider and provide access to AT needs for all students with IEPs and added the terms AT devices and AT services to the special education vocabulary. This legislation opened up all the AT needs being met of students with IEPs, not just those with severe and profound disablities.

  • Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998

    This act added specific termonology to assist students find the AT needed to better meet their educational needs.

  • Assistive Technology Act of 1998

    Funding was extended to promote AT awareness and increase interagency coordination.

  • 2004 Reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    This law changed the definition of AT devices and services to exclude surgical implanted medical devices or the replacement of such devices. Additionally, this law reiterates the importance of AT services to students with disabilities and gave priority funding to such projects.