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 fol-
lowing 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 dis-
abilities 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 Pre-
vention reported that 1 in 4 individuals in the United 
States, or almost 61,000,000 individuals, has a disability; 
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•HRES 885 IH 
Whereas, in 2017, the Department of Education reported 
that there were more than 7,000,000 children with dis-
abilities; 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention re-
ported that, among adults 65 years of age and older, 2 
in 5 have a disability; 
Whereas assistive technology allows individuals with disabil-
ities and older adults to be included in their communities 
and in inclusive classrooms and workplaces; 
Whereas assistive technology devices and services are neces-
sities, 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, inte-
grated employment; 
Whereas the availability of assistive technology in the work-
place promotes economic self-sufficiency, enhances work 
participation, and is critical to the employment of individ-
uals with disabilities and older adults; and 
Whereas State assistive technology programs support a con-
tinuum of services that include— 
(1) the exchange, repair, recycling, and other reutili-
zation of assistive technology devices; 
(2) device loan programs that provide short-term 
loans of assistive technology devices to individuals, em-
ployers, public agencies, and others; 
(3) the demonstration of devices to inform decision-
making; and 
(4) State financing to help individuals purchase or 
obtain assistive technology through a variety of initia-
tives, such as financial loan programs, leasing programs, 
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and other financing alternatives, that give individuals af-
fordable, flexible options to purchase or obtain assistive 
technology: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
‘‘National Assistive Technology Awareness Day’’; 
and 
(2) commends— 
(A) assistive technology specialists and 
program coordinators for their hard work and 
dedication to serving individuals with disabil-
ities who are in need of finding the proper as-
sistive technology to meet their individual 
needs; and 
(B) professional organizations and re-
searchers dedicated to facilitating the access 
and acquisition of assistive technology for indi-
viduals with disabilities and older adults in need 
of assistive technology devices. 
Æ 
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