Assistive Technology Grants

There are many assistive technology devices that are designed to help students that have severe disabilities to succeed in their educational programs. Most schools widely accept the fact that assistive technology can help students by enhancing communication, including these students in many school and community functions and provide excellent vocational opportunities for students with disabilities.

 The problem begins when certain schools or school districts do not have the needed funds readily available to purchase the appropriate devices for all the students who need them.

In cases where school districts lack the funds required to keep disabled students in successful educational programs, assistive technology grants have been created by many local civic and business organizations that help these schools to deliver the needed devices to their students.

These grants can be used to fund augmentative communication devices, equipment such as wheelchairs, standers and computers with adapted access as well as other equipment or devices that disabled students may need to have a successful education potential.

Teachers as well as parents and administrators can join together to obtain the money that students need. There are several resources located within each county that will fund specific equipment. Some of these organizations include Lions Clubs, Junior League, Rotary International and Kiwanis Clubs.

While these organizations typically fund only a small portion of the needed equipment and devices, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA has an Individualized Education Program that provides for the acquisition of assistive technology.

There is also a Tech ACT program located within each state that provides information about assistive technology and grants to residents within that state. Many sources such as Medicaid, private health insurance, Social Security and others are also commonly used to help students and adults to receive the assistive technology equipment that they need to make their lives and the lives of their loved ones easier.

There are other agencies designed to help those with needs who can not receive help through government agencies. These other agencies provide a varied list of services such as buying and selling used medical equipment including wheelchair equipped vans, scooters, hospital beds and some hospital equipment.

There are also many who help individuals to locate computer based assistive technology products. Other organizations that cater to children with special needs include the Starlight Children’s Foundation which provides services to chronically and terminally ill children ages 4 through 18 and the Make-a-Wish Foundation who also help to support disabled and terminally ill children with the aid of assistive devices. There are several ATA resource centers that maintain assistive technology lending libraries as well.

In order to apply for assistive technology grant information must be sent to the grantor. This information typically includes any identifying facts about the student along with an explanation of the specific need for specialized equipment. Information about the overall benefits to the community and to the organization is also normally included.

Typically parents must approve the application for the assistive technology grant before submission. Once approval is received many team members usually work together to write up a grant proposal. Information is typically gathered beforehand and includes the contact information for the organization in question as well as the person who contact should be made through.

Many organizations require specific forms to be completed for an assistive technology grant while others simply require proposals written in letter format.