Nation Watch—Advocacy
Gregg/Harkin Assistive Technology Act is Signed by the President
Last Updated:
President Bush signed the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, legislation by Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), which improves and extends federal programs that help individuals with disabilities access services and devices. The United States Senate passed the bill on September 30, followed by the House of Representatives on October 8.
The Assistive Technology Act Reauthorization provides funds, improves access and fosters better systems for administering the program. Assistive technology is generally defined as any kind of device or service that assists persons with disabilities in performing day-to-day tasks and activities.
“I am delighted that we have enacted this bipartisan bill to support state assistive technology programs,” Harkin said. “Assistive technology opens doors of opportunity for persons with disabilities and older Americans. The bill will ensure that people with disabilities and older Americans know about assistive technology and can use it on the job, in schools and in their homes and communities. The legislation is an important investment in technology that has the potential to transform lives.”
“This program is relatively small, but to those who benefit, it can be life-changing,” Gregg said. “Individuals with a range of disabilities – from hearing loss to motor skill impairment – can with a small amount of individualized assistance, have the opportunity to lead fuller, more productive lives. This bill improves access to assistance by fostering public-private partnerships, improving access to technology and stabilizing state funding streams so devices and services are within reach of individuals with disabilities.”
The bill has received the endorsement of numerous organizations, including the Society of Human Resource Management, the National Council on Independent Living, United Cerebral Palsy, and the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs.
Suzanne Martin, President of the Council for Exceptional Children, said, “The bill reauthorizing assistive technology legislation provides many positive and needed benefits for children with disabilities. The additional assistive technology funding and focus on technology that allows individuals with a wide range of capabilities to learn will do much to further the educational success of thousands of our students. CEC commends the House and Senate on its bipartisan support of this essential legislation.”
The Assistive Technology Act of 2004:
- Strengthens the existing successful state Assistive Technology programs.
- Authorizes additional resources so each state will receive $410,000 minimum for the state program and $50,000 minimum for protection and advocacy services.
- Ensures that technology will be available where people need it – in schools, on the job and in the community – by refocusing training and technical assistance and emphasizing the provision of assistive technology devices and services.
- Requires programs to provide device demonstration, equipment loan, device reutilization/recycling and financing systems such as low interest loan programs.
- Focuses training and technical assistance to improve service planning for individuals with disabilities and ensure that service providers have information on assistive technology.
- Requires states to focus some of their training and technical assistance on two populations: students with disabilities receiving transition services and adults with disabilities maintaining or transitioning to community living. This aligns the AT Act with recent federal priorities, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities integration mandate in the Olmstead decision.
- Authorizes projects of national significance to increase public awareness and encourage research and development.
- Improves technical assistance, data collection, and the public internet site.