How to Obtain Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is expensive, so unless you've got a lot of cash, obtaining assistive technology generally means finding someone who will pay for it. If you have a job, approach your employer, who is legally obligated to provide you with accommodations. If you need assistive technology for personal use, you have several options. It is a good idea to maintain records of your disability and obtain a professional evaluation to help prove you need this device. Technology that can improve work and life includes screen readers, synthetic speech systems, dictation software, computer key guards and mobility devices.

Instructions

At Work

1. Find out whether you are eligible for programs that pay for your assistive technology and what kinds of assistive technology might work for you. Try the nationwide Alliance for Technology Access (ataccess.org) or the Job Accommodation Network (askjan.org). Explore these sites to find examples of assistive technology that will help you manage your disability at work.

2. Write a letter to your employer asking for the assistive technology you need. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are entitled to reasonable accommodation that helps you do your job right. While you don't need to write a letter, having written documentation comes in handy if your employer tries to shirk his duty.

3. Discuss your request with the human resources department. Hopefully they will make arrangements to get you the assistive technology you need. If they ask you to provide more information so they can review your case, do so. If you haven't disclosed your disability before this, they may want medical records or other paperwork that helps prove your case. Be patient when negotiating to get what you want.

4. Understand your options if your employer denies your request. If you belong to a union, file a grievance. If you don't belong to a union, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to file a claim.

Personal

1. Read over your insurance policy to determine if the assistive technology you require is covered. Your policy probably won't address assistive technology specifically, but look at the language regarding medical necessities, prosthetic devices and physical and occupational therapies. Consider whether your need could fit any of these categories based on the definition. Also see what is excluded from your policy.

2. Have your physician write a letter stating that the equipment is medically necessary for you. A good letter will discuss your disability and its impact on your mental or cognitive abilities, and why the particular technology you seek will help you. You need to prove that you need the technology before your health insurance will pay for it.

3. Submit the claim to your insurance company and complete a medical form. Fill out the necessary paperwork and wait to see if they will cover it. If they don't cover it, you have other funding options.

4. Find programs and agencies that cover assistive technology by calling the Job Accommodation Network (askjan.org) or the Alliance for Technology Access (ataccess.org). These two groups can help you find local agencies to approach. Once you know where to go, contact local agencies directly to find out whether you are a good match for their programs.

5. Apply to the local programs that offer help paying for assistive technology. You may need to apply to several before you find one that will help you, but persistence pays off.

References

• Disability.gov: How to Get Assistive Technology
• Snap4Kids: What Is Assistive Technology?
• Ask Jan: Employees' Practical Guide to Negotiating and Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Illinois Assistive Technology Program: Getting a "YES" From Your Insurance Company

Resources

• Ask Jan: Accommodation Ideas
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Filing a Charge of Discrimination