Information & Referral
What is Assistive Technology (AT)?
These definitions also appear in the Tech Act Legislation (P.L.100-407) which has been adopted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA defines an assistive technology device as:
...any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. [20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Section 1401 (25)].
This definition is broad and includes a range of devices from low technology to high technology items as well as software.
Under IDEA the legal definition of assistive technology services is:
...any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. [20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, Section 1401 (26)]
Specifically, assistive technology services include:
- the evaluation of the needs of an individual with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the individual in the individual's customary environment;
- purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by individuals with disabilities;
- selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology services;
- coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
- training or technical assistance for an individual with disabilities, or, where appropriate, the family of an individual with disabilities; and
- training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of individuals with disabilities.
Information and Referral Links
- Disability Linkage Line - Your link to Minnesota disability services and supports. Toll Free 1-866-333-2466.
- MinnesotaHelp.info - An informational, searchable Web site for help in your community.
- Directory of Funding Resources for Assistive Technology in Minnesota - A searchable database for funding of assistive technology in Minnesota, includes information about the search for funding process.
- Equipalife - Two low-interest loan programs for people with disabilities. For more information contact 763-479-8239 or Toll Free 1-866-535-8239.
- Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) is the comprehensive disabilities resource for lawmakers, agencies, non-profits, businesses and individuals. The Minnesota State Council on Disability helps advance the rights of Minnesotans with disabilities. We do this by linking people with disabilities to those who legislate, plan and deliver services to them. If you make the laws or need to abide by them, or if you provide services or need information about laws and services, you can call on us at 651-361-7800 or email council.disability@state.mn.us.
- AT Links - Links to Assistive Technology Web sites.
- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) Center - A central source for people with disabilities, their families, and professionals to obtain current information about assistive technology products and services. Toll Free 1-800-537-2237.
- PACER's Simon Technology Center has a featured called PACER Super Service, that links people with useful products and equipment, to those looking for such items.
- Telephone Equipment Distribution Program (TED) Program provides specialized telephone equipment at NO CHARGE for Minnesota residents of all ages who have difficulty using a regular telephone due to a hearing loss, speech or physical disability. Eligibility requirements do apply. For more information call 651-297-1507, Toll Free 1-800-657-3663, or 1-888-206-6555 (TTY).
Assistive Technology Specialist Website Information
Minnesota has skilled Assistive Technology (AT) Specialists, but they can be difficult to find because there is no one credential that assures competence, no specific professional degree to look for, and no registry of AT Specialists to help consumers, service providers, and payers. A task force facilitated by the STAR Program developed the following guide to assist in the selection of an AT Specialist.
STAR does not endorse or recommend any particular individual or agency. The posting of this information to STAR's website does not imply endorsement by STAR's funders, the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research nor the State of Minnesota. This information is educational in nature. Let the buyer beware.
There are no generalists in AT service delivery. Service providers specialize in one or two areas that are generally related. Selection of an AT Specialist should be guided by the identified need of the person with a disability.
Skills expected of an AT Specialist within their specialization(s):
- Have a knowledge base.
- Know other resources including related services and be willing to bring them in.
- Know about people with disabilities.
- Understand capabilities of people with disabilities.
- Know how AT and people with disabilities interrelate.
- Know funding sources and how to use them.
- Complete an evaluation/assessment.
- Document findings.
- Research available commercial products.
- Determine appropriate equipment.
- Perform system set-up/integration into environment.
- Provide training.
- Provide consultation.
- Operate under a code of ethics.
Specialty Areas
- Seating and positioning.
- Orthotics and Prosthetics [ footnote 1 ].
- Environmental Access (home modification).
- Computer Access – software and hardware.
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
- Electronic Aids for Daily Living (environmental control).
- Transportation (adapted vehicles).
- Mobility aids (wheelchair, scooters, etc).
- Instructional Aids/Aids for living (low tech).
- Recreational.
- Vocational (employment related).
(Note: switch access was determined to be a component of several of the above categories).
Footnote #1: Orthotists and Prosthetists have stringent requirements for practice and reimbursement. For additional information on their qualifications and quality assurance, go to Global Resource for Orthotics & Prosthetics Information.
Demonstrable/Objective Criteria
| Criteria | Example | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Degree: OT, PT, SLP, Teacher, Rehab Engineer, ORC, CRC, CVE | College degree from AT related area (Health Care & Human Services) | Course descriptions / transcripts / degree |
| Associate Degree: COTA, PTA, Electronics Tech, Orthotics Tech | Degree from AT related area (Health Care & Human Services) | Course descriptions / transcripts / degree |
| Practice: Work under supervision, Work with a team, Work with credentialed people in AT-related area | Working title | Position description, Letter of support, Performance Review, Names & credentials of team members, Name & AT-related credential of direct supervisor |
| Formal Training: Established AT curriculum, May be a structured on-the-job training program. | Certificates from training / technical courses; Credentialing based on formal course work: RIATT, ATP/ATS, RESNA AT course, CSUN AT Course | Course description / objectives & instructor qualifications and credential; certificate; documentation of qualifications of onsite trainer, mentor, direct supervisor |
| Continuing Education: AT related workshops, independent study, teleconferences, research, conferences, etc., Trained by manufacturer, Self-directed learning with practical application, Vendor inservice | AT Conferences such as CSUN, CTG, RESNA, USAAC, ISAAC, ASHA, RIATT, etc., AOTA's Self-study Course on AT | Documentation required, Must be verifiable with written proof of participation |
Based on the degree of risk for harm – physical, financial, limitation of potential function due to error, etc. the AT Specialist Task Force divided the service areas in to high risk and moderate risk areas and made recommendations for experience/training for each category.
High Risk
Rating of the categories of AT Service by the group found that high risk for harm categories were:
- Seating and positioning.
- Orthotics and prosthetics.
- Transportation (drivers training with adapted vehicles).
- Mobility aids (wheelchair, scooters, etc).
Recommendations for a minimum standard/guide for being an entry-level AT Specialist in these High Risk areas are:
- A professional degree with 2 years of practice and 100 hours of formal training or continuing education, or
- An associate degree with 4 years of practice and 100 hours of formal training or continuing education, or
- Eight years of directly supervised practice and 200 hours of formal training and 200 hours of continuing education.
Directly supervised practice is defined as full-time work with hands on experience in application of AT with the person and the equipment under the direct supervision of an experienced AT-related degreed professional or within the context of a team.
Moderate Risk
Categories identified as some or moderate risk are:
- Environmental Access (home modification).
- Computer Access – software and hardware.
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
- Electronic Aids for Daily Living (environmental control).
- Instructional Aids/Aids for Living (low tech).
- Recreational.
- Vocational.
Recommendations:
- A professional degree with 2 years of practice and 100 hours of formal training or continuing education, or
- An associates degree with 4 years of practice and 100 hours of formal training or continuing education, or
- Two years of directly supervised practice and 4 years of mentored practice and 200 hours of formal training and 200 hours of continuing education.
Mentored practice is full-time practice that involves hands on experience in application of Assistive Technology with the person and the equipment with mentoring by a person with expertise in the area.
Continuing Education for High and Moderate Risk
Recommended annual continuing education once meeting the basic criteria of AT Specialist is 20 hours in each specialty area of practice.
Sample questions one might ask an assistive technology practitioner:
- What is your experience and training? (See grid of demonstratable / objective criteria for guidance.)
- What categories of assistive technology do you know well? (see listings of skills and categories of AT.)
- Are your services reimbursable and by whom?
- What is involved in your AT assessment/evaluation process?
- May I see a sample of a letter of medical necessity that you have written?
- If the AT you recommend is denied, will you work with me through the appeal process?
Disclaimer
STAR and the AT Specialist Task Force encourage consumers to be wise purchasers of service.
STAR does not endorse or recommend any particular individual or agency. The posting of this information to STAR's website does not imply endorsement by STAR's funders, the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, nor the State of Minnesota. This information is educational in nature.