Assistive Technology and PEIMS

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Mitchell Atkins
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1 1 of 5 Assistive Technology and PEIMS SELN September 2009 Kathy Clapsaddle, M.S., CCC SLP (kathy.clapsaddle@esc13.txed.net) Assistive Technology Underreported in PEIMS : 487,000 identified special education students in Texas (10.6% of total students) Only 46,078 students were coded in PEIMS as receiving Assistive Technology 9% of special education students 1% of total students Why is AT Underreported? Districts may not recognize everything that falls under the definition of AT Accurate information may not be given to the PEIMS clerks for coding Software programs used by districts to collect data incorrectly imply that the AT indicator should only be coded positively if it is delivered as a related service PEIMS E0997 Assistive Tech Indicator Code ASSISTIVE TECH INDICATOR CODE indicates whether the student receiving special education and related services received, or is scheduled to receive, an assistive technology device or service during the current school semester. "Assistive technology device" means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device.

6% of total students) Only 46,078 students were coded in PEIMS as receiving Assistive Technology 9% of special education students 1% of total students Why is AT Underreported?

2 2 of 5 "Assistive technology service" means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. The term includes: a) the evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child's customary environment; b) purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities; c) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices; d) coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs; e) training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child's family; and f) training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of children with disabilities. Assistive technology devices and/or services must be made available if required as part of a child s special education, as a related service, or as supplementary aids and services. (See 34 CFR and 19 TAC ) So, what is AT? Some items originally designed as AT Tools Many common tools that can be considered AT AT is required by a student and written into his IEP Is that item is required in order for the student to receive FAPE? REMEMBER: Assistive Technology must be CONSIDERED at every ARD 1. Review PLAFFP and Evaluation Data 2. Develop goals and objectives 3. Determine task that are difficult or impossible for student 4. Determine if AT devices or services are required

otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities; c) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or

3 3 of 5 Coding AT in PEIMS Should be coded 1 if the student is receiving or is scheduled to receive an AT device or service when the snapshot data is collected Can include adaptive equipment provided by related service professionals Can be low or high tech Services can include AT evaluations and should be included if scheduled during the fall semester when snapshot data is collected Improving AT PEIMS Reporting 1. Increase awareness of the definition of AT devices and services and when to be coded 2. Determine if the coding sheets given to PEIMS clerks accurately contains the AT indicator 3. Determine if the software program used by the district accurately collects the AT data.

fall semester when snapshot data is collected Improving AT PEIMS Reporting 1. Increase awareness of the definition of AT devices and services and when to be coded 2.

4 4 of 5 To: From: Special Education Director Addressed Kirk Behnke, Senior Education Specialist and Lead Facilitator, Texas Assistive Technology Network Date: April 29, 2008 Re: PEIMS Data Standard for Assistive Technology In Texas, student information is collected by the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). The PEIMS indicator for Assistive Technology (AT) is being significantly under-reported. In data reported by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas had approximately 4,600,000 students in public schools. Approximately 487,000 were identified as special education students, which is approximately 10.6% of the total. In , only 46,078 students were coded in PEIMS as receiving AT devices and/or services. This number is nine percent of the special education population but only one percent of the total number of students. Why is the AT indicator being under-reported? There are several factors which may contribute to the problem. First, districts may not recognize all of the items and services that fall under the definition of AT devices and services and may not be taking credit for them. Second, accurate information may not be given to the PEIMS clerks for coding into the software system that is used. And, third, some of the software programs used by districts to collect data for PEIMS imply that the AT indicator should only be coded positively if it is delivered as a related service, which is not correct. For PEIMS data collection, a 163 Student Data Special Education record must be reported for each student receiving special education or related services. The record may be accessed at The data element EO997 Assistive Technology is reported on the 163 record and is defined in the PEIMS Data Standards. The PEIMS definition of AT devices and services is the same as in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004). The data element may be accessed at

The PEIMS indicator for Assistive Technology (AT) is being significantly under-reported.

5 5 of 5 Code table CO88 is the participation code used for the AT indicator. The AT indicator should be coded 0 if the student is not receiving AT devices and /or services. The AT indicator should be coded 1 if the student is receiving devices and/or services. The data element may be accessed at The AT indicator should be coded 1 if the student is receiving or is scheduled to receive an AT device or service when the snapshot data is collected. Based on the definition of AT, items range from low to high tech; and, if low tech items are used by a student and are included in the IEP, the AT indicator should be coded 1. AT devices can also include adaptive equipment provided by related service professionals. Services can include AT evaluations, which if scheduled during the fall semester when snapshot data is collected should also be included. The rule of thumb to remember is that if the ARD Committee determines that a student requires an AT device or service and it is included in the IEP, the AT participation code should be coded 1. In order to increase the accuracy of the data being collected, district special education administrators and personnel are asked to evaluate how the data are collected and reported in their districts. Action items for the districts might include: 1. Increase awareness of district staff of the definition of AT devices and services and when it is to be coded. 2. Determine if the coding sheets used to give data to the PEIMS clerks accurately contains the AT indicator. 3. Determine if the software program used by the district accurately collects the AT data. Some software programs imply that the data would only be coded 1 if AT is provided as a related service which is not correct. If this is the case either work with the software developers to correct the item or devise a work-around such as training staff to code the AT indicator 1 if AT devices and/or services are provided. For additional information on PEIMS, go to the TEA PEIMS Web page at For more and specific information regarding AT data collection in PEIMS, and the forms referenced in this document, go to the Texas Assistive Technology Network Web site at Thank you for your support and assistance in improving AT data collection in Texas to benefit students who use AT devices and services. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at kbehnke@esc4.net. The answer is 4. Region 4 Education Service Center 7145 West Tidwell Road Houston, TX Phone: Fax Bill McKinney, Ph.D. Executive Director

The AT indicator should be coded 1 if the student is receiving or is scheduled to receive an AT device or service when the snapshot data is collected.

A resource for understanding the PEIMS coding system related to assistive technology. 1 Developed by Region 4 Education Service Center

A resource for understanding the PEIMS coding system related to assistive technology 1 Developed by Region 4 Education Service Center 2 Can analyze data by state, region, district, and campus Can analyze