Tom Harkin: “In 1988, Congress passed the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, Public Law 100-407, a…”

“In 1988, Congress passed the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, Public Law 100-407, a law authorizing a competitive grant program to the States to enable States to designate lead agencies to coordinate activities designed to facilitate access to, provision of, and funding for, assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities. For all people, technology can provide important tools for making the performance of tasks quicker and easier. However, for some individuals with disabilities, technology is necessary to enable them to have greater control over their lives and participate fully in activities in their home, school, and work environments, and in their communities. An assistive technology device is defined in the law to be ``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 functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.'' H.R. 2339, The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994, as modified by S. 1283 and as further modified through negotiations between the House and the Senate, hereinafter referred to as ``the bill'', reauthorizes this competitive program for 5 years and requires States to emphasize activities that are likely to produce permanent systems change so that the progress made with grant funds will continue after those funds sunset.”