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Assistive Technology Resources (APTA) Assistive Technology Resources Assistive technology (AT) and AT services for children with disabilities FACT are now a greater part of pediatric physical therapy practice due to the increased availability of technology and federal legislation that promotes the use of AT. Many pediatric physical therapists are seeking reliable SHEET information and resources for this part of their practice. Resources and online training and discussion communities are now available to enhance the ability to meet the AT needs of children. The following is a select list of the many resources available to assist service providers in evaluation and assessment of the need, effectiveness, and fit of AT. The resource list includes funding, online discussion groups and learning communities, professional associations and organizations, research, technology and devices, training modules, and federal- and state- funded assistive technology projects. Books Alliance information sheet. Assistive Technology for Infants and Young Children. Minneapolis, MN: PACER Center; 2002. Angelo J. Assistive Technology for Rehabilitation Therapists. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis; 1997. Bryant DP, Bryant, BR. Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon; 2003. www.ablongman.com Flippo KF, Inge KJ, Barcus JM. Assistive Technology: A Resource for School, Work and Community. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co; 1997. Judge SL, Parette HP. Assistive Technology for Young Children with Dis- abilities: A Guide to Providing Family-Centered Services. Brookline, MA: Brookline Books; 1998. National School Boards Association’s ITTE: Education Technology Programs. Technology for Students with Disabilities: A School Leader’s Resource Guide. Alexandria, VA: National School Boards Association; Section on Pediatrics, APTA 2004. www.nsba.org 1111 North Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 Olsen DA, DeRuyter F. Clinician’s Guide to Assistive Technology. Phila- Phone 800/999-2782, ext 3254 Fax 703/706-8575 delphia, PA: Mosby; 2001. E-mail: [email protected] Scherer MJ. Assistive Technology: Matching Device and Consumer for www.pediatricapta.org Successful Rehabilitation. Washington, DC: American Psychological As- sociation; 2001. Scherer MJ. Living in the State of Stuck: How Assistive Technology Im- pacts the Lives of People with Disabilities. Brookline, MA: Brookline Books; 2000. Evaluation, Assessment, and Determining Matching Person and Technology (MPT) and Need Matching Assistive Technology & Child (MATCH) Process and instrument for matching the individual Consortium Model for AT Decision Making with the proper assistive technology. The framework Issue brief on a 10-step assistive technology decision- assists in determining need for, selection, and imple- making model for children and youth with disabilities mentation of AT. MPT is for youth and adults and and special health care needs. (Consortium for Chil- MATCH is for children. Institute for Matching Person dren and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health and Technology Inc: http://www.iam333.com/mpt/ Care Needs. Consortium Brief #13: Promoting Assis- tive Technology in an Outcome Driven Model of Ser- Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) vice Delivery. Washington, DC: Georgetown Univer- Services and the QIAT Consortium sity Center for Child and Human Development; 2003.) An interdisciplinary Web site about the development http://gucchdgeorgetown.net/ucedd/publications. and delivery of quality assistive technology. The site html#assistive contains resources and sample documents for consid- ering AT and AT services on an Individualized Edu- Education Tech Points Web Site cation Program. The site has a link to join an active Framework for assistive technology planning in early online community about AT called the QIAT list. intervention and school settings, including making AT http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/index.html determination, assessment, and implementation. Re- sources for providers, parents, and a “help desk” sec- Student, Environment, Task, and Tools (SETT) tion that assists the user with pinpointing breakdowns (Zabala, 2001) in the AT implementation process. Framework for making decisions about AT in the http://www.educationtechpoints.org/ school setting, including determining if AT is needed, assessment planning, and implementation of the AT. Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) www.askaspecialist.ca.gov/articles/inclusion_transi- Model tion.htm The HAAT model was developed to analyze the com- http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Founda- plexities of function and participation with the use of tion/Assessment/sett.php assistive technology is part of that context. (Cook AM, Hussey SM. Assistive Technologies Princi- Learning Tools Web SiteAssistive technology Web ples and Practice. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby; 2002.) site that has a section dedicated to evaluation, assess- ment, and decision making. www.learningtools.us/ Lifespace Access Profile for Individuals With Access/Assessment/eval_tools.htm Severe or Multiple Disabilities Team-based AT assessment and planning observational Funding protocol that evaluates an individual’s abilities across physical, cognitive, emotional, and support resources AbleData as well as an environmental analysis. (DeCoste D. Resource for assistive technology information includ- Assistive Technology Assessment: Developing a Writ- ing funding options. ten Productivity Profile. Volo, IL: Don Johnston Inc; www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm 2004.) Book and computerized version available for www.abledata.com/abledata_docs/funding.htm purchase here: http://www.donjohnston.com/products/ teacher_resources/assistive_tech_assess/index.html Assistive Technology Funding and Systems Change Project (ATFSCP) Provides training, technical assistance, and informa- tion on assistive technology funding and systems change issues nationwide. www.icdri.org/Assistive%20Technology/atfs.htm 2 Assistive Technology Resources Family Center on Technology and Disability QIAT Consortium at the Quality Indicators for (FCTD) Links to Funding Resources Assistive Technology (QIAT) Services Resource on technology and disability, including links Online community about AT called the QIAT list. The to funding information and conferences. QIAT list is a well-monitored interdisciplinary group www.fctd.info/webboard/displayResources. of experts in AT, especially in early intervention and php?id=496 educational settings. http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/index.html Funding for Assistive Technology and Assistive Technology Services Technology and Devices Publication about public, private, and community Ablenet funding resources for AT and AT services. (Consor- Products for children. tium for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Spe- http://ablenetinc.com/ cial Health Care Needs. Consortium Brief #3: Funding for Assistive Technology and Assistive Technology Ser- AbilityHub vices. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center The site directs you to adaptive equipment and alterna- for Child and Human Development; 2005.) tive methods available for accessing computers. http://gucchdgeorgetown.net/ucedd/publications. www.abilityhub.com html#assistive Access Ingenuity Assistive Technology Funding Search Tips From Universal access specialists for all disabilities and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) helpful resource material. www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/14/86/86- www.accessingenuity.com 86/2938 Enablingwww.pediatricapta.org Devices Online Discussion Groups and Learning Devices, including adapted toys. Communities http://enablingdevices.com/catalog Augmentative Communication On-Line Users Group (ACOLUG) Enablemart Listserv created to information and experiences on Education, learning, computer access, and communi- augmentative communication. cation devices. http://disabilities.temple.edu/acolug www.enablemart.com Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) Meal Partners Network of community-based resource centers that Assistive dinning devices and equipment. provides information and support services to children http://mealtimepartners.com/ and adults with disabilities, increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. Has Rehabtool an online community. Assistive technology and adaptive equipment for www.ataccess.org adults and children. www.rehabtool.com The Infinitec Assistive Technology Coalitions Managed by United Cerebral Palsy of Chicago. Online Simplified Technology community based on assistive technology. Links to AT resources, products, and handouts on how www.coalitionconnection.org to make simple switches and other simple technology. www.lburkhart.com Section on Pediatrics, American Physical Therapy Association 3 WheelchairNet Association for the Advancement of Assistive Dedicated to information on wheelchairs for consum- Technology in Europe (AAATE) ers, clinicians, researchers, and funders. Resources Membership from countries throughout Europe. for products, services, research developments, discus- Focus on creating awareness of assistive technol- sions, products, industry product standards, funding, ogy, promoting research and development of assistive services, etc. technologies. http://139.91.151.134/index.asp?auto- www.wheelchairnet.org/index.html redirect=true&accept-initial-profile=standard Training Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Training Online Project Association (ARATA) (ATTO) Conferences, special-interest groups, Web site, list- Information and resources on AT in elementary class- serv,
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