The purpose of my Department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013, is to provide grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase the type of specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for students who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical disability and/or sensory or communicative disability to the extent that their ability to communicate through the medium of speech or writing is materially curtailed.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including assistive technology. SENOs make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making such recommendations, as set out in Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
Although equipment is sanctioned under the Assistive Technology scheme for use by particular students, it is the property of the school, and the school’s management authority is responsible for maintenance, repair, and insurance of the equipment.
I can confirm that an application for assistive technology from the school named by the deputy was received in my Department on 13th January 2021.
This application was not sanctioned to the school, on the basis that the SENO did not recommend that the application met the criteria for provision of equipment as no new evidence was furnished.
This decision was appealed by the school on 23rd February. On revising the application, the appeal was not granted as the qualifying criteria set out in Circular 0010/2013, and the documentation which has been submitted in support of the application, did not meet the criteria for the allocation of support under the Assistive Technology scheme for the following reasons:
- It is not clear from the professional report that the equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education. The professional reports received to date do not clearly illustrate how, when and in what way the equipment will be used to access education throughout the school day.
- While it is acknowledged that the pupil in question is using technology in the special class, there is little information on what type of technology, how or when it is being used, or what technology is available in the special class throughout the school day
- Equipment currently available in the school can meet the needs as outlined in the report – The School’s information has not provided a case to the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) why the current technology available in the school and the special class is insufficient to meet the pupil’s educational needs.
Should additional information become available, which provides further clarification regarding the requirement for assistive technology for the pupil in question, in accordance with the terms of the scheme, it will be open to the school to resubmit an application for consideration.
