Assistive Technology
Your Rights to Assistive Technology (AT)
Disability Rights South Carolina envisions a society where people with disabilities, regardless of type or severity, have equal access to services and can live, learn, work and play independently in a barrier-free community. We help educate you about your rights to AT, help when you face problems getting or using AT, and connect you to AT resources.
What is AT?
Assistive technology devices and services can help people with disabilities succeed in school or work, live more independently, improve their health, and more.
AT Devices
Any item or equipment that helps a person with a disability in their daily activities such as:
- Mobility: Wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.
- Communication: Computers, tablets and smartphones with speech-generating software.
- Hearing: Audio loops, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), dictation phone apps and cochlear implants.
- Vision: White cane, computers, tablets and smartphones with apps for voice dictation or text-to-speech for reading printed materials.
- Memory/Cognition: Computers, tablets and smartphones with special software.
WATCH
What is Assistive Technology
We Can Help
- We connect you with AT resources
- We inform you about your rights
- We advocate for people with disabilities who need AT
While we specialize in AT education and connecting individuals to the right resources, we do not provide direct funding, repairs or training on using AT devices.
Ways to get Assistive Technology
Employers
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires certain employers to provide reasonable accommodations for their employees with disabilities to do their jobs. Employers can provide needed AT as a reasonable accommodation. For more information, view the Job Accommodation Network.
SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD)
SCVRD receives federal and state funding to help people with disabilities work. One of the services SCVRD can provide is AT. In addition to providing AT devices, SCVRD employs rehabilitation engineers who can evaluate the needs of individuals with disabilities to help determine what AT might help them in their work. For more information, view the SCVRD webpage on technology.
SC Commission for the Blind (SCCB)
Like SCVRD, SCCB receives federal and state funding to help people who are blind to work. SCCB also provides AT. SCCB employs experts in AT for people who are blind and can perform evaluations to determine AT needs. For more information, view the SCCB webpage on technology.
Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance
AT can also be funded by Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance if it is medically necessary. Fortunately, AT that is needed for work is often also medically necessary.
Assistive Technology in the Workplace
AT can be very helpful to people with disabilities in their work. Videophones, screen-reading software, and augmentative communication devices are just a few examples of AT that can support people with disabilities in the workplace.
We can help if you have trouble getting the AT you need to work. While we do not provide funding to purchase AT, we provide information and support to you in your efforts to get the AT you need. We can also advocate on your behalf to try to get those who should be helping you to do more. For advocacy tips for AT in the workplace, view our digital one-pager on AT and Employment.
Assistive Technology in Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that AT devices and services be provided to students with disabilities, if needed, for their educational programs. As part of the Individualized Education Program (IEP), consideration must be given to whether a student needs an AT device to receive a free appropriate education.
Special education, including AT devices and services, must be funded by the school district, not the student or their family unless the family chooses to do so. Generally, a school district is not responsible for providing personally prescribed devices, such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. For more information regarding assistive technology in special education, visit our factsheet on AT in special education or our digital one-pager on AT and IEPs.