Decision Making
Local school districts and building teams address assistive technology concerns and decision-making for their students and classrooms. Contact your Special Education Department to discuss a consultation. (You can find a link to all the Special Education departments in the Kent ISD district on the Parent Resources page.)
Kent ISD provides consultation to school teams as a follow-up to the local process, when additional information is required. For further support, email the Kent ISD Assistive Technology Consultant Suzy Ruskusky.
See below for the steps in the Decision Making process.
Document the Process
SETT Framework
The SETT Framework (Student, Environment, Task, Tools) is a collaborative approach to help teams with determining efficient and effective AT solutions (both devices and services). The SETT Framework is built on the premise that in order to select appropriate AT devices and services, teams must first gather information about the student, the customary environments in which the students spend their time (i.e., the classroom, lunchroom, playground, home, community setting, or workplace) and the tasks that are required for the students to be active participants in the teaching/learning processes that lead to educational success. Utilizing this framework, the team can identify and prioritize a student's needs and develop an implementation plan to set the individual who may require AT up for success.
Full SETT Framework Note-taking Form (PDF)
Tell the "Why"
Why Is Assistive Technology Being Considered?
Questions to answer:
- What do we want the student to be able to do, based on standards and goals?
- Can the student accomplish the tasks or achieve the goals independently using standard classroom tools?
- If not, can the student accomplish the tasks or achieve the goals when provided with accommodations or modifications?
- If not, can the student accomplish the tasks or achieve the goals when provided with AT currently available?
- If not, what additional supports need to be provided?
Feature Match
What Features Does The Student Require?
Feature matching is not:
- just picking a system or preferred product.
- about what the adult is most comfortable with.
- a one-time decision.
- just one tool to meet all needs in all situations.
Feature matching is:
- matching a student's strengths, abilities & needs with available tools and strategies.
- a way to distinguish between 'must have' versus 'would like' features.
- an ongoing process.
- a combination of tools and strategies to meet an individual's needs now and in the foreseeable future.
- a quality match between student & AT, which leads to optimal use by the individual with ongoing support from key stakeholders.
Set Purposeful Goals
Focus On The Task, Not The Tool
When developing goals that incorporate the use of assistive technology it is important to focus on the task and not the equipment. The use of AT should not be the goal, but a way to meet educational goals and foster independence.
- Will the student be able to use the skill in the immediate environment?
- Is it a functional, useful skill?
- Will the student be able to use it often?
- Is the skill a prerequisite for learning more complex skills?
- Will the student become more independent?
Kent ISD Alternate Standards Curriculum Guide (link coming)
Kent ISD High-Quality Programming Guides (link coming)
