This Issue Brief harnesses the thinking of NCTI stakeholders and the literature in the educational and AT field to provide insight for current and future investment, development, and research.

The Issue Brief discusses five themes that define state-of-the-art assistive technology:

1. Convergence
2. Customizability and universal design for learning (UDL)
3. Research or evidence-based
4. Portability to promote independence
5. Interoperability

Underlying these themes is a design imperative: devices should be simple — simple to learn, to use, to integrate, and to support.

Six themes emerged from our stakeholders and the literature on training and professional development:

1. Hands-on
2. Expert-led and client centered
3. Focused on implementation
4. Ongoing support
5. Distance/online
6. Adult learning research

The Implications

To realize its full potential, the AT field must:

• Include innovative uses and interfaces built on the efficiencies and customizability options of mainstream consumer products.
• Develop devices and systems that can interoperate with existing and future technologies in the school, home, and pockets of consumers to reduce redundancy and improve data-tracking effectiveness.
• Insist that more students with disabilities have access to and are learning with AT that will promote their achievement and independence.
• Be guided by related research that informs and is informed by disability research so that products and training reflect the latest knowledge from science, education, and consumer patterns. The evidence base needs to expand to reflect real-world implementation challenges and solutions, with AT training and services delivered collaboratively to general education teachers.
• Seize the opportunity to create new applications with wide cross-over appeal and reach, breaking down the barriers between educational and assistive technologies and between students with and without disabilities.

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