As screen restrictions sweep through schools nationwide, students who rely on assistive technology could be caught in the crossfire. Here’s what is happening and what families can do.
For a ninth grader in Concord, California, named Soraya Martin, dyslexia made reading and writing difficult. During this past school year, she started using assistive technology (AT) in the form of speech-to-text software, audiobooks in place of printed pages, and a phone camera to capture notes from the board. The results were dramatic. She earned straight A’s and discovered a passion for creative writing.
Soraya’s story, recently reported by NPR, also highlights a growing tension. Her school introduced a phone ban this past year. Although her Individualized Education Program (IEP) permits her to use her phone to take notes, some teachers were still adjusting to the ban and which students were exempted from it. With multiple classes and teachers throughout the day, it is easy for a student with special needs to run afoul of classroom rules.
Several states have passed laws limiting screens in schools, with some taking effect this year. Some of these laws include exceptions for students with disabilities. However, disability advocates warn that blanket device bans risk violating students’ federal civil rights if they are not carefully implemented.
What Assistive Technology Looks Like in Schools
AT is any tool that helps a person with a disability increase, maintain, or improve their functional abilities. It can range from low-tech items like pencil grips and graphic organizers to features that live on smartphones, tablets, or laptops, the very devices screen bans target. Common examples include:
- Speech-to-text software for students with dyslexia, physical disabilities, or motor challenges
- Text-to-speech and screen reading software for students with visual impairments or reading disabilities
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for students who are nonverbal or have limited speech
- Screen magnification software for students with low vision
- Health monitoring apps and devices for students with diabetes or other medical conditions
The Law Is on Your Side
Federal law provides strong protections. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every student’s IEP team must consider whether the child needs assistive technology as part of their free appropriate public education (FAPE). If AT is necessary, the school must provide it at no cost to families.
A schoolwide phone ban does not override an IEP. Students who have AT listed in their IEP or in a Section 504 Plan, which covers students who need accommodations but may not qualify for special education, are legally entitled to use that technology. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides additional protection, prohibiting disability discrimination in all public-school programs.
The words “assistive technology” may not appear in your child’s IEP. Schools may use terms like “accommodations,” “supplementary aids and services,” or “program modifications.” The legal protections apply regardless of the language used.
The New York Perspective
New York state’s new smartphone ban in schools has left parents and guardians wondering how the ban might impact their student’s individualized education plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s smartphone ban, included in her “distraction-free school” policy approved as part of the New York State Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, is now in effect the 2025-2026 school year. This law is in the spirit of earlier actions by New York state in targeting social media usage by minors, such as the SAFE For Kids Act, which limits addictive social media feeds, and the Child Data Protection Act, which prevents companies from collecting a minor’s data. The new law’s stated purpose is to help protect and care for students’ mental health and promote student success in the digital age.
The “bell-to-bell” smartphone ban requires that districts ban all personal internet-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches on school grounds for the entire school day. This requires all devices be switched off and stored throughout the day, and districts were required to submit plans on managing devices. Passed by both the New York state Senate and Assembly, the ban was signed into law by Hochul as part of the 2026 state budget, and applies to public school districts, charter schools, and BOCES schools. Private schools and higher education institutions are not covered by the law. Fortunately, for students with IEPs or 504 Plans, there are exceptions for the use of devices to manage a medical condition, language translation, specific educational purposes, and the use of devices as part of a child’s IEP or 504 Plan.
The policy may not prohibit the use of an internet-enabled device where the use is included in a student’s IEP or 504 Plan.
Further, while the general use of internet-enabled devices is restricted, the written policy may authorize student use of such a device on an instructional day under specific circumstances including:
- If authorized by a teacher, principal, or local education agency for a specific educational purpose;
- When necessary for the management of a student’s health care;
- In the event of an emergency;
- For translation services; and
- For a student who is routinely responsible for the care and well-being of a family member.
What Families Can Do
If your child’s school adopts a screen ban, here are steps you can take:
- Review the IEP or 504 Plan. Locate every technology tool or device listed and confirm it is documented as a required accommodation. If it is in the plan, your child has a legal right to use it.
- Request an IEP or 504 meeting. You can call a meeting at any time, not just at the annual review. Ask the team to add explicit language stating that the device is exempt from the school’s restriction policy, and to confirm how staff will be notified.
- Gather supporting documentation. A letter from a physician, psychologist, or therapist explaining the disability and the functional role the technology plays can strengthen your case. Progress notes and academic records showing improvement with the device are also useful.
- Put everything in writing. Follow up all conversations with an email summarizing what was discussed. Keep copies of all documents, including IEPs, evaluations, and letters from providers.
- If the school doesn’t comply, escalate. Options include filing a state compliance complaint with your state’s Department of Education, requesting mediation, filing for a due process hearing under IDEA, or filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
The debate over screens in schools will continue to evolve. Screen policies can’t remove legally required accommodations. It is important for parents and guardians to address the use of technology regarding a student’s IEP or 504 Plan, or other needs in light of the recent school smartphone ban in New York. There is already significant litigation over the funding of devices and technology regarding IEPs, and it is expected that this litigation will increase with the smartphone ban moving forward.