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Digital Detox: Can You Request "No Technology" or Paper-Based Work in an IEP?

In the modern classroom, the "1:1 device" model (where every student has a laptop or tablet) is standard. While this technology is a boon for some, for students with executive functioning deficits, impulse control issues, or autism, an always-on internet device can be a disaster.

If a student is experiencing meltdowns over "blocked games," losing internet connection, or simply the sensory frustration of the screen, the device often becomes a barrier to education rather than a tool. Parents often wonder: Can I legally demand that the school take the laptop away?

The answer is Yes. Here is how to frame "Low-Tech" as a necessary accommodation for FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education).

1. The Argument: "Barrier, Not Tool"

Schools often classify laptops as "Assistive Technology." However, for a student with significant distractibility or emotional regulation struggles, the device can act as an impediment.

  • The Legal Standard: Accommodations are meant to "level the playing field." If the device triggers a student's disability (e.g., causing hyper-fixation on games or frustration intolerance), forcing them to use it is discriminatory.

  • The Goal: The request is not to reduce the academic rigor, but to change the delivery method so the student can access the curriculum without behavioral triggers.

2. IEP Accommodation Options (From "Restricted" to "Paper")

You do not have to ban technology entirely to solve the problem. There is a hierarchy of restrictions you can request:

  • Level 1: Adult-Managed Device (Check-In/Check-Out)

    • Wording: "Student's device will be stored and managed by staff. It will only be provided for specific tasks requiring unique software and collected immediately upon completion."

    • Why it works: This prevents the student from carrying the device during transitions (a high-anxiety time) or accessing it during unstructured time.

  • Level 2: Software Restrictions

    • Wording: "Student requires a locked browser environment (e.g., GoGuardian) that restricts access to all non-educational websites and gaming platforms at all times."

  • Level 3: Paper-Based Curriculum (Most Restrictive)

    • Wording: "Student requires paper-based alternatives for all classwork, homework, and assessments. The Chromebook will not be used for daily instruction."

    • Why it works: This eliminates "tech glitch" meltdowns and the temptation to game. The teacher prints the materials or provides a textbook.

3. Rebutting the "Real World" Argument

Schools often push back, saying, "They need to learn technology for the real world."

  • The Rebuttal: "Currently, the student is not learning technology; they are learning dysregulation. To master the content, we must remove the distractor. Technology can be reintroduced in future years once executive functioning skills have matured."