Critical issues in special education technology research: What do we know? What do we need to know?

The potential of technology for individuals with disabilities has long been recognized by the special education community. However, the rate of marketplace developments has far outstripped the research base documenting the effectiveness of specific applications of assistive and instructional technology. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize critical issues associated with six areas of special education technology: accessibility, assistive technology, professional development, instructional technology, service delivery, and legal/policy issues. Within each topical area, key works defining the current knowledge base will be summarized along with an analysis of important questions that deserve additional research. The implications of these analyses for defining future leadership and research agendas are noted.