Can Assistive Technology Substitute for Special Teachers?

Boston College compared costs associated with the education of two children who have used assistive technologies developed at that university with the educational costs for the children that would have been incurred if they had not started using the assistive technologies.

Boston College developed several assistive technology devices for people with a disability. EagleEyes and Camera Mouse were two solutions that sprung from the minds of Boston College. By comparing the costs of the technologies and special teachers hired for two children with savings from the tuition and transportation of sending them to special schools the university hoped to get more objective information on the cons and pros of the use of assistive technology in the educational system.

Researchers Amy Gips, Phillip A. DiMattia and James Gips conclude in the report: “The use of assistive technologies allowed Michael and Amanda to move from special placements into their neighborhood public schools. This not only fulfills federal law (IDEA) but makes sense educationally. Michael completed his studies at Marshfield High School in 2003. Amanda is now keeping up with her peers academically. Their local towns needed to hire special teachers for them and spent money for the assistive technology and training and curriculum adaptation. Roughly speaking, these costs were offset by tuition and transportation savings, though allocating and estimating costs especially in hypothetical situations necessarily is inexact. Still, we conclude that the assistive technologies allowed the school districts to provide a much better education for Michael and Amanda in the least restrictive environment at roughly no additional financial cost.”

Source: “The Effect of Assistive Technology on Educational Costs: Two Case Studies” (PDF)