Peer Review

National Assistive Technology in Education Network

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Apr 16, 2025 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

The National Assistive Technology in Education Network (NATEN) provides information from several disciplines and professional organizations that are involved in assistive technology services within educational settings.

NATEN connects assistive technology (AT) specialists within the educational sector. It offers a wealth of resources, including manuals like "Assistive Technology Teams: Many Ways to Do It Well" and "The Assistive Technology Trainer's Handbook," which provide guidance on forming effective AT teams and delivering training sessions. The website features a comprehensive collection of research articles, forms, tools, and links pertinent to AT, serving as a valuable repository for educators and professionals. These resources are designed to enhance the implementation of AT in educational settings, thereby supporting students with disabilities to achieve greater independence and success in their learning environments.

Type of Material:

Collection

Recommended Uses:

Individual
Self-paced
Reference material for teams

Professors could use the AT Trainers Handbook as a resource when designing AT modules, lectures.
Students could use the site as a resource for AT-related assignments and projects.
Professional development providers could use many aspects of the site when training teachers, support staff, families on AT.

Technical Requirements:

MS Word
PDF Reader
Accessed using Google Chrome

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The purpose of this Collection is to provide information related to assistive technology in a cohesive, integrated manner, so that users from all disciplines can access it.

Educators will develop skills to establish and participate in effective assistive technology (AT) teams, implementing best practices for collaboration, decision-making, and training to support students with disabilities.
Educators will utilize assistive technology assessment forms, implementation tools, and planning templates to systematically evaluate student needs, document AT supports, and track progress in educational settings.
Educators will analyze current research on assistive technology implementation and its impact on student learning, applying evidence-based strategies to enhance accessibility and instructional effectiveness.
Educators will explore and integrate a variety of assistive technology resources from reputable organizations and professional networks to stay informed about emerging tools, policies, and best practices in the field of AT.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, Professional; Special interest groups related to assistive technology discipline, Teacher education (general education, special education), parents, informal educators, related service providers (school and community), people with disabilities and their families.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic understanding of assistive technology and its uses.
English-language proficiency
Select multimedia clips
Create a new file using Save As
Launch a Web browser
Point and click on a hyperlink

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

This site is comprehensive and includes high-quality resources. It is well organized and easy to navigate.

Content clarity and appropriateness
Content meets the needs of diverse users.
Contains a variety of valid models and features; complete and educationally significant for professionals in this field

Concerns:

Some resources are dated. Some site content appears to be out-of-date (e.g., "Coming Events" are from 2021).

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The purpose of this resource is to support and extend learning about assistive technology (AT) rather than provide comprehensive instruction. It does not include explicit learning objectives or structured teaching goals, as it is designed for individuals who already have foundational knowledge of AT and are looking for additional resources. The material is most useful in applied settings, such as for teachers, family members, and related service providers who are implementing AT in practice.

While the resource does not directly improve faculty or student understanding of AT on its own, it can be effectively integrated into a broader curriculum as a supplementary tool. Faculty can use it to enhance lecture content, and students can use it as a reference when developing lesson plans or exploring instructional support ideas. Its flexibility allows for varied applications in teaching and learning, adding a practical dimension by guiding users in locating AT accommodations. However, it is not a standalone instructional tool but rather one that supports assignments requiring independent exploration of AT solutions.

There are parts of this site that represent learning material (manuals, forms & tools, links) but the true strength is that it is a well-curated collection of resources from reliable sources.

Contains a variety of instructional methods and activities which promote learner engagement and active learning.
The variety of assistive technology resources listed here are integratable and have clear objectives.
The variety of assistive technology resources listed here may help students learn and achieve.
The variety of assistive technology resources listed here can be used in a number of ways.

Concerns:

It is unclear if the resources have not been updated or if the recources are the most up-to-date that are available.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

This resource is easy for both faculty and students to use, as it is a straightforward website with clear navigation and well-labeled headings. Links are presented with named headings, and some external links also include raw URLs. The layout is visually consistent, with appropriate text size and color contrast used for visual appeal and link identification.

Since no graphics are used, there are no concerns regarding ALT tags or image descriptions. Most materials are downloadable PDFs, and there is no multimedia content within the site that require captions. Users do not get trapped or lost, as navigation is simple and intuitive, with clearly labeled sections such as Home, Manuals, Forms & Tools, AT Research, AT Links, and AT Teamwork.

The site is flexible in its use and does not require extensive documentation or technical support to navigate successfully. It presents information in a familiar way, as browsing a website is a common experience for most users. While the site does not provide feedback on user interactions, its clarity and organization make it an accessible and practical resource for exploring AT-related materials.

The site is well organized and easy to navigate.

Site has a consistent layout; Materials are in standard file formats.
Site is in working order; Materials are free of technical errors and glitches.
Website is easy to navigate; Collection does not contain distorted images or charts, and does not contain any other text features that may distract or confuse the user.

Concerns:

None.

Other Issues and Comments:

There is a cost to join this organization, which is needed to fully explore all of the resources available (e.g., NATE publications and notifications).

Creative Commons: