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
- 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.
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 and Human Services) |
Course descriptions / transcripts / degree |
| Associate Degree: COTA, PTA, Electronics Tech, Orthotics Tech |
Degree from AT related area (Health Care and 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 and credentials of team members, Name and 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 and 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 demonstrable / objective criteria above for guidance.)
- What categories of assistive technology do you know well? (see listings of skills and categories of AT above.)
- 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.
