ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT

NOTE: The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, which currently funds all of the Tech Act projects such as START, was preceded by the original Tech Act, the Technology - Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988, P.L. 100-407. This law was changed significantly in 1994 with the Technology - Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994, P.L. 103-218, which changed the focus to systems change and advocacy activities. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 is the current law that governs and funds the Tech act program. A full summary of this act is listed below.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1998

P.L. 105-394 (Summary)
This Summary is excerpted from the RESNA Technical Assistance Project's TAP Bulletin (January 1999) under Grant #H224A50006.

President Clinton signed into law the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-394) on November 13, 1998. This new law builds on its predecessor, the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (Tech Act), and affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. It also affirms the federal role of promoting access to assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities.

The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (ATA) is the result of a bipartisan effort in Congress. It extends funding to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and outlying areas (Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) that received support under the Tech Act. The law provides flexibility to states in responding to the assistive technology needs of their citizens with disabilities and builds on the accomplishments achieved by states over the past decade through assistive technology programs funded under the Tech Act. Under the new ATA, all states and outlying areas are eligible to receive 10 years of federal funding for their state assistive technology program. States that have completed 10 years may receive 3 additional years of federal funding.

Background

The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-407) was passed by Congress to increase access to, availability of, and funding for assistive technology through state efforts and national initiatives. The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-218) reauthorized the Act through September 30, 1998. With the end of the Tech Act in sight, efforts were launched to continue and expand federal support for assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, with the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources taking the lead.

Overview of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998

The purposes of the ATA are the following:

Title I - State Grant Programs

Section 101 provides continuity grants to states for a limited period. The purpose is to support capacity building and advocacy activities designed to assist the states in maintaining permanent, comprehensive, consumer responsive, statewide programs of technology-related assistance.

The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 requires states and outlying areas to do the following:

States and outlying areas funded under the ATA may also perform optional activities such as establishing an alternative state-financed system for assistive technology devices and services, providing technology demonstrations, distributing information about how to finance assistive technology devices and services, operating a technology-related information system, participating in interstate activities, and creating public-private partnerships pertaining to assistive technology.

Section 102 of Title I authorizes funding for state protection and advocacy systems to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing assistive technology devices and services. A grant will be made from the U. S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) directly to the entity in each state to support protection and advocacy services through the systems established under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. Federal assistance will be provided for 6 years.
Section 103 authorizes a technical assistance program. The scope of technical assistance will include a national public Internet site and other technical assistance efforts that are targeted primarily at entities funded under the Act.
The legislation authorized $36 million for all grants and activities under Title I for fiscal year 1999.

Title II - National Activities

Title II provides for increased coordination of federal efforts related to assistive technology and universal design. It authorizes funding for multiple grant programs from fiscal years 1999 through 2004.
Title II also authorizes funding to support the following:

The legislation authorized $10 million to carry out activities under Title II for fiscal year 1999.

Title III - Alternative Financing Mechanisms

Title III requires the Secretary of Education to award grants to states and outlying areas to pay for the federal share of the cost of the establishment and administration of, or the expansion and administration of, specified types of alternative financing systems for assistive technology for people with disabilities. The alternative funding mechanisms may include the following:

The legislation authorized $10 million to carry out activities under Title III for fiscal year 1999.
For fiscal year 1999, $30 million was appropriated to carry out activities under Title I of the ATA. No money was appropriated for Titles II or III.

The RESNA Technical Assistance Project, Grant #H224A50006, is an activity funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education (ED), under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988, as amended. The information contained herein does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of NIDRR/ED or RESNA and no official endorsement of the materials should be inferred.