Students with Exceptional Needs

Assistive Technology

The mission of the Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative (LATI) is to provide leadership and support to local education agencies and families in the development and implementation of assistive technology services that will have meaningful application for the educational, social, recreational, vocational, and developmental experiences of students with disabilities.

State Policies and Procedures

Each local education agency must ensure that a full and individual evaluation is conducted for each student being considered for special education and related services. In determining if the student is a "student with an exceptionality and in need of special educational services, the local educational agency must ensure the evaluation is conducted in accordance with the procedures in the Pupil Appraisal Handbook. Additionally, if the results of the evaluation determine the student is a "student with an exceptionality, the results will be used by the student's IEP Team in designing the student's individualized education program. This includes any needed assistive technology services or devices.

In October 2005, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) published "A Framework for Conducting Assistive Technology Consideration, Screening & Assessment." This document is an extension of those procedures and guidelines provided in the Pupil Appraisal Handbook, Bulletin 1508, and the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Handbook for Students with Disabilities, Bulletin 1530. The document is an attempt to unify procedures across the state and provide a mechanism to ensure that all students who require assistive technology are receiving the tools and services they need. The intent is that this process will facilitate the ability of school districts to make informed decisions about the assistive technology considerations for their students, as well as streamline attempts for monitoring, training, and documentation of assistive technology services.

Assessment and Determining Eligibility

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Louisiana Revised Statue 17:1941 et seq. mandate the inclusion of physical education instruction in the special education program of all students with disabilities. Physical education is defined as the development of 1) physical and motor fitness; 2) fundamental motor skills and patterns; and 3) skills in aquatics, dance and individual and group games and sports. In Louisiana, students with disabilities who are unable to participate successfully in a regular physical education program are screened and evaluated through a process established by the Pupil Appraisal Handbook. The procedures, standards and eligibility criteria for adapted physical education can be found in this handbook.

The adapted physical education evaluation for students aged 3 to 5 years shall include an assessment of motor abilities conducted by a certified adapted physical education teacher using the LAMAP, Louisiana Motor Assessment for Preschoolers. The adapted physical education evaluation for students aged 6-21 includes an assessment of grade/age level physical education competencies using the CTAPE, Competency Test for Adapted Physical Education. The LAMAP and CTAPE instruments were developed and standardized by the Louisiana Task Force on Adapted Physical Education.

Because some students exhibit motor skills at a much lower level than the age level skills assessed by CTAPE or LAMAP, another tool or summary was developed by the state Task Force. CLAS (CTAPE/LAMAP Assessment Summary) provides additional information that accurately describes the gross motor abilities of students with significant motor deficits. It can also be used to assess student performance at critical times during the instructional year (i.e., grading period reports, IEP updates, and re-evaluations).

CTAPE 2008  PDF
LAMAP  PDF
CLAS - CTAPE/LAMAP Assessment Summary  DOC

For students with diagnosed Autism, Emotional Disturbance (ED), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Other Health Impairments (OHI), the evaluation must include written documentation verifying a significantly reduced performance which prevents safe and successful participation in a regular physical education class. In cases involving students with diagnosed ED, this documentation is provided by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, or a certified school psychologist and an adapted physical education evaluator. In cases involving students with TBI or OHI, the documentation is provided by a physician and an adapted physical education evaluator.

Regional Centers for Assistive Technology

The Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative (LATI) has established regional centers to improve outcomes and results for children and youth with disabilities through the use of assistive technology, to access school programs and curriculum, and to increase the capacity of school districts to provide assistive technology services by making training and technical assistance available to teachers, therapists, administrators, paraprofessionals and parents. Centers in Regions 2 and 5 will open in the fall of 2007.

Region 1 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 2 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 3 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 4/6 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 5 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 7 Assistive Technology Center Website
Region 8 Assistive Technology Center Website

Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)

There is a new field on the IEP to address accessible instructional materials (AIM).

Why AIM?
AIM supports students who are unable to learn from printed textbooks or other printed core instructional materials.

Who needs AIM?
Students who have difficulty reading and may need supports such as text-to-speech.
Students who need text transferred into alternate formats such as large print, Braille or another language.
Students with visual difficulties who may require larger text, colored text, contrasting background or larger spacing between text.

What are AIM formats?
Typical alternate formats are electronic (digital) text, large print, Braille and audio.

Additional AIM Resources
AIM Consortium at CAST
Companion Video for AIM District Process - Jefferson Parish Student
AIM District Process Webinar
AIM LA - Accessible Instructional Media Project for LA

Regional Center Lending Library

LATI operates a short-term loan program to assist school systems in conducting AT assessments and/or recommending assistive technology for students. This affords the student an opportunity to try the technology before it is purchased for his or her use. Lending Library periods are limited to four weeks. This program is not designed to provide long-term loans. The loan period will consist of thirty calendar days, exclusive of school holidays. Computers are not available through the loan program. Assistive technology hardware/software is provided only to students with disabilities, at the request of the local AT staff.

Regional AT staff will process requests for technology loans, ensure the proper working condition of devices, and provide adequate training in the use of the devices. It is the responsibility of the LEA AT staff to pick up the device and return it in proper working condition to their regional AT center. The LEA accepts responsibility for the device in instances of neglect, abuse, or theft.

Once the loan period has ended, the assistive technology hardware/software will be returned to the assistive technology regional center within 3 days past the 30-day loan period. If the device is not returned within that time, the LEA will be contacted for remittance of the device. If the device is lost, damaged, or malfunctioning, the LEA will be held responsible and accountable financially for the repair or replacement of the device. The assistive technology regional center will be responsible for maintaining records of loans.

LATI Loan Library Requests
Lending Library Technology Request Form DOC

Resources and Links

Louisiana Access Guide
Louisiana Universal Design for Learning Initiative: Bridging the Gap
Quality Indicators of Assistive Technology Consortium
AIM-LA (Accessible Instructional Materials Project)
Assistive Technology Industry Association
Closing the Gap
LA Association of Computer Using Educators
Apple Accessibility Features
Microsoft Accessibility Features Tutorials
United Cerebral Palsy
Global Assistive Technology Explorer
CAST
Able - National AT Information Exchange
Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network