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Assistive
Technology
Services
How can Assistive Technology help a student or adult with a disability?
There are a wide spectrum of new devices and software that can help foster independence for individuals with disabilities, including learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, physical disabilities, visual impairments and deficits associated with many other diagnoses (e.g., ADHD). These new technological tools can help support learning and lead to greater success for individuals with a disability.
How is someone referred for an Assistive Technology evaluation or consultation?
Any individual who has a specific disability or area of concern may request a private Assistive Technology evaluation to explore options to support reading, writing and computer access tasks. A referral for a private Assistive Technology evaluation may also be recommended by a Neuropsychologist, Diagnostician, Pediatrician, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Pathologist, or other educational professional.
Who is qualified to conduct an Assistive Technology evaluation or consultation?
Assistive Technology evaluations and consultations should be performed by an individual who is an Assistive Technology Practitioner certified by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) or equivalent certification and who has extensive on-the-job experience with integration of technologies for individuals with disabilities.
Occupational Therapists, who make up a large portion of Assistive Technology Practitioners, are trained to help individuals make adaptations to access their environment and complete Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and can analyze effective technology tools that affect all areas of daily living skills. They must be licensed to practice after completing a certified Occupational Therapy program at a college or university, followed by practical internships supervised by licensed Occupational Therapists.
An Assistive Technology Practitioner with an Occupational Therapy degree is highly qualified to conduct and interpret individual tests and measures to assess an individual’s specific technological needs.