IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 885 

Expressing support for the designation of March 4, 2020, as ‘‘National 

Assistive Technology Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 4, 2020 

Ms. DEAN (for herself and Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 

Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of March 4, 2020, 

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 individuals with disabilities and older adults; 

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

service that directly assists an individual 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 individuals in the United 

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


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2 

•HRES 885 IH 

Whereas, in 2017, the Department of Education reported 

that there were more than 7,000,000 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 individuals with disabilities and older adults to be included in their communities 

and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces; 

Whereas assistive technology devices and services are necessities, not luxury items, for millions of individuals with 

disabilities and older adults, without which they would be 

unable to live in their communities, access education, or 

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 individuals 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 decisionmaking; and 

(4) State financing to help individuals purchase or 

obtain assistive technology through a variety of initiatives, such as financial loan programs, leasing programs, 


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•HRES 885 IH 

and other financing alternatives, that give individuals affordable, flexible options to purchase or obtain assistive 

technology: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘National Assistive Technology Awareness Day’’; 

4 and 

5 (2) commends— 

6 (A) assistive technology specialists and 

7 program coordinators for their hard work and 

8 dedication to serving individuals with disabil9 ities who are in need of finding the proper as10 sistive technology to meet their individual 

11 needs; and 

12 (B) professional organizations and re13 searchers dedicated to facilitating the access 

14 and acquisition of assistive technology for indi15 viduals with disabilities and older adults in need 

16 of assistive technology devices. 

Æ 


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