Response

The Goodman letter was written because a school district was denying a child "assistive technology" which can be defined as an aid or a service.   In my opinion, denying a child assistive technology is like denying him or her access to a fair and appropriate public education. Assistive technology is provided to help the student learn and to help him or her function within the classroom, allowing a child to be one step closer to the assumed “normal.”   According to the United States Department of Education, it is "impermissible to...deny assistive technology to a child with handicaps before a determination is made as to whether...such technology is an element of a free appropriate public education."
This letter is emphatically asserting that school districts have the obligation to provide free and appropriate public education to all.   Further, the letter states that school districts do not have the power to deny anyone assistive technology, especially if it is in the best interests of the student.   This seems to be incredibly obvious, as such aid to the student would in turn help the school district, as such technology would help the student perform adequately in the classroom. The letter also points out that while school districts cannot deny or delay assistive technology for a student in need, there is a specific process that must be followed to insure that such aids are required.   This process is the creation and/or reevaluation of a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and these IEP’s are very specific and must be examined and fulfilled on a case by case basis.   Lastly, the letter states that such aids must be provided in the "least restrictive environment" and removal from the regular education classroom to provide such services only occurs when "education with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."  
The Goodman letter was written in order to clarify some incredibly significant concepts regarding assistive... [continues]

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