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Braille Introduced
Louise Braille adapted a French way of communication in order to create the Braille alphabet used today and published the first book in Braille. This enabled students with visual impairments to access knowledge not only using auditory senses but also through books as other students learn. -
FM listening system introduced
One of the first FM systems was introduced. The teacher wears a microphone and the students have amplifying devices (either headphones or something attached to them). In current day, the microphone sends messages to the child's hearing aids to amplify what they are saying. This gave students with hearing disabilities access to mainstreamed classes because they could now hear the teacher (Ross, 2003). -
Speech recognition devices improved
Dragon Naturally Speaking was greatly improved and available for sale. This speech recognition program allowed individuals to speak into it and the computer would type what was spoken. This program has been improved more since then and is used around the world with many students with writing disabilities. It created a means for them to express themselves through writing (Pinola, 2011). -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed
When the ADA law passed, it opened doors for all individuals with disabilities to attend schools and work alongside peers without disabilities by the usage of providing accommodations as needed. This was the beginning of allowing all students with disabilities access to assistive technology which will help them succeed in all walks of life including the educational system (Dell, Newton, & Petroff, 2012). -
IDEA 1997 Reauthorization
In 1997, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized to include assistive technology (AT) devices and assistive technology services. The law stated that all students with disabilities have access to both AT devices and services if needed to improve functional capabilites of the student with a disability (IDEA, 1997). -
2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Reauthorization
In 2004, IDEA became IDEIA and added in important requirements for assistive technology along with many other regulations for students with disabilities.
