Minnesota's Assistive Technology Act Program
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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:

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Information and Referral Links

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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):

Specialty Areas

(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

CriteriaExampleEvidence
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 titlePosition 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 CourseCourse 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 ATDocumentation 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:

Recommendations for a minimum standard/guide for being an entry-level AT Specialist in these High Risk areas are:

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:

Recommendations:

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:

  1. What is your experience and training? (See grid of demonstratable / objective criteria for guidance.)
  2. What categories of assistive technology do you know well? (see listings of skills and categories of AT.)
  3. Are your services reimbursable and by whom?
  4. What is involved in your AT assessment/evaluation process?
  5. May I see a sample of a letter of medical necessity that you have written?
  6. 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. Use the information on this website to screen or interview your AT practitioners to evaluate their ability to provide you with a quality AT-related 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.

This web site will allow for a listing of individuals who have identified themselves as AT Specialists based on their self-assessment. STAR does not recommend any individual or certify the accuracy of their expertise. STAR does not guarantee the accuracy of the information of the individuals posted as AT Specialists. STAR does not check the references or background of the AT Specialists posted. Buyer Beware.

(Note Service Providers: To be listed in this directory, please e-mail the following information to STAR.Program@state.mn.us).

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Directory of Minnesota AT Specialists

This is NOT an exclusive list. Only service providers who have chosen to identify themselves are listed.

Name/Title Address/Phone Areas of Expertise
Regional Assistive Technology Center (RATC) Regional Assistive Technology Center
Higher Education Center
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN 56563
Telephone: 218.477.2288
Email: swansonm@mnstate.edu
  • Computer Access-Software & Hardware
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communication
  • Instructional Aids
EquipAlife (formerly ATMn) Daniel M. Stores, B.A., ATP, Assistive Technology Program Manager
PO Box 310
5563 Pioneer Creek Drive
Maple Plain, MN 55359-0310
Telephone: 763.479.8239
Email: dstores@atmn.org
  • Computer Access-Software & Hardware
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communication
  • Transition Specialist
  • Assessment and training in the K-12 education setting
  • Instructional Aids
  • In-service training
Mayo Clinic Rochester: AT Program Tamara Vos-Draper, O.T.R./L, ATP
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Saint Mary's Hospital 3 Mary Brigh
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
Phone: 507.255.4605
Email: vosdraper.tamara@mayo.edu

Web: www.mayoclinic.org
  • Computer Access-Software & Hardware
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communcation including device programming
  • Electronic Aids to Daily Living
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for Living (low tech)
  • Equipment Adaptation
  • Environmental Controls
  • Seating & Mobility Assessments & Custom Seating applications
  • Recreational Therapy
People Achieving Change
Through Technology (PACTT) - a program of Ability Building Center
1911 14th Street NW
Rochester, Minnesota 55901
Phone: 507.535.7101 (Direct)
Phone: 507.281.6262 (Main)
Fax: 507.281.6270
Email: michaelb@abcinc.org
  • Computer Access-Software & Hardware
  • Augmentative & Alternative Communication
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for Living
  • Vocational (Employment Related)
PACER/Simon Technology Resource Ctr. 8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
Phone: 1.800.537.2237 or
952.838.9000
TTY: 952.838.0190
Fax: 952.838.0199
Email: stc@pacer.org
  • Academic Accomodations
  • Computer Access-Software & Hardware
  • Electronic Aids for Daily Living
  • Vocational
Jeni Mundl
Assistive Technology Specialist
Courage Center
3915 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Phone: 763.520.0567
TTY: 763.520.0557 Fax: 763.520.0861
Email: jenim@courage.org
  • Computer hardware, software, and adptations
  • Environmental Aids
  • Academic and vocational accommodations
  • Some communication aids
Linda Potts, MEd, OTR, ATP
Assistive Technolgy Specialist
ISD 199, Inver Grove Heights School District
9167 Cahill Avenue East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076-3214
Phone: 651.306.7159 or
651.749.7951
Fax: 651.306.7295
Email: pottsl@invergrove.k12.mn.us
  • Computer Access - software & hardware
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for living (low tech)
  • Electronic Aids for Daily Living (Environmental Control)
Kim Lewandowski
OT, Supervisor
Courage Saint Croix
1460 Curve Crest Boulevard
Stillwater, MN 55082
Phone: 651.351.2353
  • Environmental Access (home modification)
  • Computer Access - software and hardware
  • Electronic Aids for Daily Living (Environmental Control)
  • Transportation (adapted vehicles)
  • Istructional Aids/Aids for living (low tech)
Barbara Cochran
Registered Occupational Therapist, Geriatric Specialist
10302 Humboldt Circle
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone: 952.888.0055
Fax: 952.884.5226
Email: cochb@aol.com
  • Environmental access (home modification)
  • Instructional aids/aids for living (low tech)
Jeff Shoemaker, Speech/Language Pathologist,
Assistive Technology Services, Fergus Falls RTC
128 Junius Avenue West
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Phone: 218.739.7455
Cell: 218.831.5350
Fax: 218.739.7243
TTY: 218.739.7455
  • Equipment adaptation
  • Custom design fabrication and mounting
  • Augmentative communication device programming
  • Computer access and adaptive computer programming
  • Goal writing and program development
  • Environmental controls
  • Agumentative and/or alternative communication evaluation
Patricia Bahr
MSE/ATP/RET
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Mobile Outreach Clinic
200 University Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651.634.1911 or 800.578.4266 (toll free)
Fax: 651.628.4484
Email: pbahr@gillettechildrens.com
  • Computer Access - software and hardware
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Mobility Aids (wheelchair, scooters, etc.)
  • Electronic aids for daily living
Mary VanRavenhorst
OTR/L
Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc.
309 Holly Lane
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507.388.5437
Fax: 507.388.2108
Email: mrvotr@hickorytech.net
  • Seating and Positioning
  • Environmental access (home modification)
  • Computer access
  • Electronic aids for daily living (environmental)
  • Instructional aids/aid for living (low tech)
Robert Meyer
ATP
Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare
550 County Road D
New Brighton, MN 55112
TTY Phone: 800.578.4266
Fax: 651.628.4484
Email: rmeyer@gillettechildrens.com
  • Seating & Positioning
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Mobility Aids
  • Electronic Aids for Daily Living
Wayne A. Rudberg
Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare
550 County Road D
New Brighton, MN 55112
Phone: 651-634-1902
TTY Phone: 800.578.4266
Fax: 651.628.4484
Email: wrydberg@gillettechildrens.com
  • Seating & Positioning
  • Recreational
  • Mobility Aids
  • Vocational
April A. Pate
ATP
Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare
550 County Road D
New Brighton, MN 55112
Phone: 651-634-1913
TTY Phone: 800.578.4266
Fax: 651.628.4484
  • Seating & Positioning
  • Vocational
  • Mobility Aids
Bruce Tew
Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare
550 County Road D
New Brighton, MN 55112
Phone: 651-634-1903
TTY Phone: 800.578.4266
Fax: 651.628.4484
  • Seating & Positioning
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for Living (low tech)
  • Mobility Aids
  • Recreational
  • Vocational (employment related)
Jolene Hyppa Martin MA, CF-SLP
Assistant Clinical Specialist of Assistive Technology
University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
225 Bohannon Hall
1207 Ordean Court
Duluth, MN 55812
Phone: 218.726.8199
TTY: 218.726.8199
Fax: 218.726.8693
Email: jhyppama@d.umn.edu
  • Augumentative and Alternative Communication
Mark Mizuko, PhD, CCC-SLP
Professor & Dept. Head of Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
230 Bohannon Hall
1207 Ordean Court
Duluth, MN 55812
Phone: 218.726.7974
TTY: 218.726.8199
Fax: 218.726.8693
Email: cd@d.umn.edu
  • Augumentative and Alternative Communication
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for living (low tech)
Alexandra (Allie) Hafez
OTR/L, CDMS, CCM, QRC
PO Box 356
Prior Lake, MN 55372-0356
Phone: 612-338-6525
Fax: 952-440-6846
  • Instructional Aids/Aids for Living (low tech)
  • Environmental Access (home modification)
  • Vocational (employment related)
D. Mae Ceryes
Special Education Teacher, AT Practioner (RESNA)
48983 County Hwy. 31
Vergas, MN 56587
Phone: 218-863-2508 or 218-234-6670
  • Computer access
  • Instructional Aids
  • Vocational (employment related)

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