250 likes | 351 Vues
Explore AT service delivery models in higher education and collaborations, pros/cons of service models, lessons from Colorado State University's AT Resource Center, eligibility criteria, services provided, benefits of collaboration with Occupational Therapy and other fields, research efforts, grants, publications, staffing structure, and benefits for graduate students.
E N D
Enhancing AT Services by Collaborating with an Academic Unit Assistive Technology Resource Center Sherri Keller & Marla Roll Accessing Higher Ground 2010
Introduction • Explore models for AT service delivery in higher education. • What are Assistive Technology (AT) services at Colorado State University? • Collaborations • How collaborations enhance AT services
Explore various service models:Pros/ Cons for assistive technology services based out of the DSS office: • Pros: • Cons:
Pros/ Cons for assistive technology services based out of central computing/ IT: • Pros: • Cons:
Pros/ Cons of other service models: • Pros: • Cons:
Colorado State UniversityInstitutional Profile • Fort Collins, CO pop: 141,000 • Land grant institution • Carnegie Research University • 8 Colleges • Enrollment = 26,5000 • Tuition • Residents ( 81%) = $6,985.00 • Non-residents = $23,095.00
Lessons learned : Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) • Small bit of history – • ATRC began with: • Fed DEO personnel prep grant for OT grad students • IBM donations • University politics – centralize services: • Moved to the Office of Equal Opportunity • Oops: • Strong justification to move the center back to the Department of Occupational Therapy
Services= Direct • Assistive Technology: • Evaluations • Accommodations • Training Eligibility: • Students with a disability as defined by ADA and Section 504 • Students with cumulative trauma disorders/ acute injuries • Employees with a disability as defined by the ADA
Services = Consultation • Ergonomic, accessibility, and universal design considerations for computing and technology environments. • Assistance with ensuring accessible web content, on-line education, and course materials.
Teaching • Oversight of Assistive Technology content in the Occupational Therapy graduate curriculum. • Development of an Assistive Technology elective. • Fieldwork students.
Collaborations • Occupational Therapy Graduate Program: • provides a MS or MOT degree to 45 students annually • PhD is in process • Other human services fields to consider: • Psychology • Social Work • Education • Allied Health
Benefits of collaboration with OT • Grants • Research • Development • More comprehensive level of services • Personnel prep • Publications
Grants • ATRC has been positioned to partner with other faculty in Occupational Therapy in pursuit of grants. 1. Access – U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education(Grants P333A050015 and P333A080026). http://accessproject.colostate.edu/ (1.7 million) – activities and research related to implementing universal design in higher education classrooms 2. TPSID – Transition Project: Opportunities for Postsecondary Success ( 2 million) - activities related to transition programs for students with ID in higher education
Research • Program of Research & Scholarly Excellence (PRSE) Award – mini-research grant to encourage interdisciplinary research projects • ATRC partnered with other OT faculty and Computer Science faculty to bring Brain Computer Interface technology to people with disabilities.
Research (Con’t) PRSE project position to submit a large scale submission to NIH (pending).
Development: • We receive assistance from both the University &College Development offices. • Daniel’s Fund – foundation award that allowed the ATRC to buy equipment and provide AT services to the community. Recently asked to submit another proposal. • Donor connections – connection with a college has provided us with a donor pool. ATRC has received a fellowship from a College/ OT alumni.
Publications • Professional Trade journals and practice papers • E.g. OT practice – assistive technology service • Refereed Journals e.g. AHEAD • Effectiveness of universal design for learning in higher education – in print • Two others – in development • PhD program -
Comprehensive AT services • GSA’s • Application of the HAAT model • Documentation – Outcomes – Evidence
Staffing • 1.0 FTE Director – 25% of job is faculty related • 1.0 FTE AT/ IT Coordinator • .50 FTE Service Coordinator • Two 12 hours GSA’s - 1st year OT graduate students • Two 12 hour GSA’s – 2nd year OT graduate students
Grad students - Who benefits? Win for ATRC • Self sustaining system, 2nd yr students train the 1st yr students • OT graduate students study human factors as it relates to a task. They are learning about the relationship between one’s abilities and technology • Motivated, hard working. Eager to do projects, and research that will better the center • Relate better to peers, college students more receptive to training • Grad students are involved with the campus, able to provide feedback based on personal experiences how to improve services • Bring fresh energy and innovative ideas to the ATRC Win for Grad Students • Opportunity to learn via real examples • Experience with direct and indirect service delivery • Access to cutting edge technology • Ability to practice new skills with clientele: evaluation, documentation. Opportunity for constructive feedback in safe learning environment. • Opportunity to participate in research, grants, publications • Preparing them to be skilled assistive technology practitioners • Enhances employability
Documentation • Intake • Progress Notes • Assessment Summary • Survey- Results of the survey
Summary ATRC perspective: • Providing the technology is the easy part • Working with client, finding useful applications of the ATand long term adoption is the challenging part. Consider: • Teaming with an academic unit - human services fields • May encouragemeaningful and purposeful use of the technology • May provide access to financial and academic opportunities, and opportunity for growth
Contacts: Assistive Technology Resource Center Department of Occupational Therapy Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 970-491-6258 www.atrc.colostate.edu Sherri Keller, MS, OTR Marla Roll, MS, OTR Email: sherri.keller@colostate.edu mcroll@cahs.colostate.edu