Assistive Technology Act of 1994

By Willa Reising

The Assistive Technology Act of 1994 was an important law that had a lasting impact on assistive technology for disabled people in the United States. This law also shows bipartisanship between Republicans and Democrats which proved that disability accommodations were something that everyone agreed should be accessible. In this article, I will be discussing the act and also discuss key congressional members and presidents who helped pass and sign this act into law.

Beginning with the act and the history behind it, The Assistive Technology Act of 1994 amended the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988. This act was intended to increase accessibility and funding of assistive technology for adults and children with disabilities. [1] The Act of 1994 amended:

to authorize States to use grants for the following system assistive technology change and advocacy activities: model systems and alternative State-financed systems; interagency coordination; outreach; State payment of expenses; State needs assessment; public awareness programs; training and technical assistance; program data compilation and evaluation; public access to technology-related information; interstate activities; public-private initiatives; and advocacy and other services. [2]

The Act of 1994 included adding outreach, training, public access, initiatives and advocacy. The U.S. government would also authorize the States to use grants for assistive technology and advocacy activities. Other important things which this act amended was a focus on outreach to underrepresented communities and rural groups. In the address to Congress about this bill it was noted that “Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the rights of individuals.” [3] This is important because it declared that by signing this bill into law that Congress believed that disabled people deserve equal rights and disabilities were a natural part of the human experience.

         Important people who were significant to the passing of the Assistive Technology Act of 1994 was Congressional Representative Major R. Owens, Edward M. Kennedy, President G W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton. Major R. Owens was a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library and then served as a U.S. Representative for New York beginning in 1983. He advocated for public schools, libraries, and disabilities, and he was essential in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. He also cosponsored the Assistive Technology Act of 1994. [4]

Then there is Edward M. Kennedy who was a senator from Massachusetts and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962. His most notable accomplishments in the Senate were the Civil Rights Commission Act Amendments of 1978 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which was presented to the Senate by him and Senator Harkin. For the Assistive Technology Act of 1994, he was the original cosponsor of the bill in 1988, which is why he cosponsored the reauthorization of this act in 1994, 1998, and 2004. [5]

Lastly, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton were both significant to the Assistive Technology Act of 1994. Former President George H.W. Bush passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and was also the Vice President during the passage of the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988. These two laws that he passed gave opportunity for more laws to be created for disability rights. Bush was out of office when the Technology act was amended in 1994, but former President Bill Clinton was the newly elected president in 1994 signed this bill into law after it passed in Congress and the Senate. He also continued to be an advocate for people with disabilities because he continued to pass the amended versions of the law during his presidency. [6]

The Assistive Technology Act of 1994 was a significant act because it helped the States support and advocate for assistive technology for all ages. This helped to continue to give accessibility and accommodations for people with disabilities. Also, this act was a continuation of bipartisanship because Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton advocated for these laws. This is significant because it showed that the majority of Americans believed that people with disabilities deserved the same rights and opportunities as an able-bodied person.

References:

[1] “Federal Laws and Regulations on Assistive Technology.” Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, https://ectacenter.org/topics/atech/laws.asp#:~:text=The%20Assistive%20Technology%20Act&text=100%2D407.

[2] "H.R.2339 - 103rd Congress (1993-1994): Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994." Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 9 March 1994, https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2339.

[3] “Technology Related Assistance for Individuals Amendments Act- Message from the House.” Congressional Record-Senate, https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/jmd/legacy/2014/03/30/cr-s1506-20-1994.pdf.

[4] “Major R. Owens.” Major Owens Center, https://majorowenscenter.com/history/.

[5] “Ensuring Disabled Americans Can Live Productive Lives.” Ted Kennedy, http://www.tedkennedy.org/service/item/disability.html.

[6] Williams, Brenna. “#Throwback Thursday: George H.W. Bush signs the American with Disabilities Act.” CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/26/politics/tbt-americans-with-disabilities-act/index.html.