Disabilities Group Seeks E-Rate Funding Beyond Hotspots

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2024 - An organization in support of disabled individuals, including school children, is seeking additional federal aid to address the homework gap through the E-Rate program funding.

In a filing Friday, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Vice President of Policy Michael Lewis encouraged the Federal Communications Commission to expand the agency's E-Rate program to include several assistive devices that could allow students with disabilities the opportunity to take full advantage of their schooling. 

Lewis specifically cited the loaning of Wi-Fi hotspots as a form of effective assistive technology for families of students with disabilities. But he also generally referred to other assistive technologies such as speech dictation devices, task-management software, assisted hearing programs and communication software, according to data collected by the Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living.