III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 103 

Designating March 27, 2019, as ‘‘National Assistive Technology Awareness 

Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 11, 2019 

Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. CRAMER) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating March 27, 2019, as ‘‘National Assistive 

Technology Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, 

or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or 

improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities and older adults; 

Whereas the term ‘‘assistive technology service’’ means any 

service that directly assists a person with a disability or 

an older adult in the selection, acquisition, or use of an 

assistive technology device; 

Whereas, in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 in 4 people in the United States, 

or almost 61,000,000 individuals, has a disability; 


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•SRES 103 ATS 

Whereas, in 2017, the Department of Education reported 

that there were more than 6,700,000 children with disabilities; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, among adults 65 years of age and older, 2 

in 5 have a disability; 

Whereas assistive technology allows people with disabilities 

and older adults to be included in their communities and 

in inclusive classrooms and workplaces; 

Whereas assistive technology devices and services are not luxury items but necessities for millions of people with disabilities and older adults, without which they would be 

unable to live in their communities, access education, and 

obtain, retain, and advance gainful, competitive integrated employment; 

Whereas the availability of assistive technology in the workplace promotes economic self-sufficiency, enhances work 

participation, and is critical to the employment of people 

with disabilities and older adults; and 

Whereas State assistive technology programs support a continuum of services that include— 

(1) the exchange, repair, recycling, and other reutilization of assistive technology devices; 

(2) device loan programs that provide short term 

loans of assistive technology devices to individuals, employers, public agencies, and others; 

(3) the demonstration of devices to inform decision 

making; and 

(4) providing State financing activities to help individuals purchase or obtain assistive technology through a 

variety of initiatives, such as financial loan programs, 


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•SRES 103 ATS 

leasing programs, and other financing alternatives, that 

give individuals affordable, flexible options to purchase or 

obtain assistive technology: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 27, 2019, as ‘‘National 

3 Assistive Technology Awareness Day’’; and 

4 (2) commends— 

5 (A) assistive technology specialists and 

6 program coordinators for their hard work and 

7 dedication to serving people with disabilities 

8 who are in need of finding the proper assistive 

9 technology to meet their individual needs; and 

10 (B) professional organizations and re11 searchers who are dedicated to facilitating the 

12 access and acquisition of assistive technology 

13 for people with disabilities and older adults in 

14 need of assistive technology devices. 

Æ 


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