What is the responsibility of a school district when parents elect to purchase a needed device on their own and the family-owned device is written into the IEP?
Federal law is silent on this issue. However, it is reasonable to expect a school district to assume liability for an assistive technology device that is family-owned, but used to implement a student's IEP, either in school or at home. In the absence of the family assuming financial responsibility, a school district would be required to provide and maintain a needed assistive device that was written into the IEP. In circumstances where the family has provided the original device, it is recommended that the school district clarify in its agreements with the family whether the family retains ownership of the device in the case of replacement.