Presidential candidates

[Liz Lahm]

Can anyone determine which of the presidential candiates is most "assistive technology friendly"? Disabilities, and less so assistive technology, are not big campaign topics, but what do their track records tell us?

[Brian Wojcik]

Liz,

I know I am a little late to the party on responding...

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague at ATIA and he made the statement that the wave of AT seems to be slowing down with regard to the political arena and that much more emphasis is being put into movements like RTI where AT may or may not have a place...

I wonder if you, or anyone else, is also feeling this way?

Brian

[Terri Grundy]

Sure, RTI is the current topic and like a new child is getting all the attention. However, AT will always have a place... think of all the technology you use today that you didn't use 4 years ago. Would you give any of it up? (Please don't take away my spell check!) Also, I believe AT does have a place as part of RTI. Think what text to speech can do for the dyslexic student! And the best part is, you don't have to be identified as special ed to use it.

[Samuel Charles Sennott]

What a great debate question to try to push in the open election. I would love to hear them speak about autism, special education, inclusion, and assistive technology.

Maybe CEC, the ASA, and the Family Center on Technology and Disability can help get this as a question on one of the televised debates.