SENATE BI-PARTISAN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT (ATA) REAUTHORIZATION PRINCIPLES - 3/8/04

1. Individuals with disabilities must have access to information technology, and assistive technology devices, services, and advocacy in order to participate fully in education, employment, and community living.
2.  In order to give individuals with disabilities better access to AT, the purpose of the ATA should be focused by adding objectives to the Act that will increase access to AT. 
3. State Projects must undertake a comprehensive, tangible, consistent, array of effective mandatory AT activities, yet be flexible to address State needs, in order to assist individuals in meeting their AT needs.  

4. State Projects activities, especially emerging State needs, must be consumer-directed assisting individuals with the full range of disabilities, at all ages, in all areas of their lives, and in all State localities, where they identify a need for AT.

5. Increasing access to AT necessitates breaking down barriers that exist at the Federal and State levels precluding people from accessing AT, and barriers employers face (especially small business) in hiring/maintaining qualified people that utilize/need AT.

6. Increasing access to AT requires forging stronger links between State and Federal agencies that fund AT programs or provide AT directly, and Federal and State funded programs, grantees and contractors that provide AT.

7. Increasing access to AT calls for collaboration and coordination with other state agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities.

8. Increasing access to AT will require greater participation from and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors (especially increasing information & referral and technical assistance services about AT to employers and schools).

9. Increasing access to AT entails training: school personnel; early intervention program personnel; vocational rehabilitation program personnel; businesses wanting to hire/retain workers; hospital discharge planners and others serving individuals with disabilities improving knowledge and skills needed to evaluate the need for AT, selecting and acquiring AT, and helping individuals with disabilities use AT.

10. Increasing access to AT involves support for developing new AT devices, maintaining, adapting, and improving existing AT devices, and addressing AT interoperability with information technology (IT). 

11. Increasing access to AT requires stabilizing Federal funding for the State Projects, including requirements that will result in an ongoing State investment in State Projects and strengthening the State projects for their citizens.

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