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The Learning Curve Runs Uphill: Staff Development for AT Provider. Program Overview NCATP. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Community Services. Admin 5staff. Grant Advisory. NC Assistive Technology Program. Central. West. East. Raleigh
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The Learning Curve Runs Uphill: Staff Development for AT Provider
Program Overview NCATP Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Community Services Admin 5staff Grant Advisory NC Assistive Technology Program Central West East Raleigh 2 staff Greensboro 1 Staff Rocky Mount 1 Staff Wilmington 1 Staff Sylva 2 Staff Morganton 1 Staff Winston 2 staff 2 locations Greenville 1 Staff Elizabeth City 1 Staff Charlotte 2 Staff
Program OverviewNCATP • Serving adults and children • Demonstration and Loan Services to all 100 counties • Resource information and awareness activities • Advocacy through GAPCD • Funding and Resource information
Program OverviewFee-Based Services (NCATP) • Assessment • Technical Assistance • Consultation • Feature Matching and Device Trial • Training • Specialized workshops
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Partners Clinic Evaluations - Wheelchair seating and mobility - Alternative computer access - Augmentative/ alternative communication - Electronic aids to daily living - Ergonomics & workplace Education - Personnel Preparation Grant - Open Lab Demonstrations - SWAAAC coordination & training - Early Childhood Provider training - Business Services evaluation & training - Annual AT Conference • Information/Outreach Services Colorado Assistive Technology Program - Public Awareness - Training and Technical Assistance - Alternative Financing - Online Exchange Program - Online Funding Resources - AT Loan Bank • WesTAC • Adapted Home Research - Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies - Wheelchair transportation safety - Recreation Technology - Program Overview University of Colorado Denver/Health Sciences Center AT Coalition (Advisory Committee) AT Advisory Board
Program Overview • Colorado Device Demonstrations • Clinic • SWAAAC • Open Labs • Personnel Prep Program • Adapted Home Exhibit • Technical Assistance • Individual Appointments
Electrical Engineer/Computer Science (1) Speech Pathologist (5) Special Educator (4) Occupational Therapist (1) Physical Therapist (3) Students (5) Description of StaffQualifications-Colorado • Business/ Administration (4) • Research (2) • Horticultural Therapy (1) • Vocational Rehabilitation (1) • Rehab/Mechanical Engineer (1)
Description of Staff Responsibilities - Colorado • Administration (Director, Assistant Director, Coordinator, Fiscal Operations, Etc) (6.2 fte) • Clinic/evaluations/ training (7.4 fte) • Research (2.0 fte) • IT (1.2 fte) • Marketing (.4 fte) • 5 Graduate students • 1 temp -hourly contract for administration • 1 temp- hourly contract for clinical evaluations
Description of Staff Responsibilities-North Carolina • Administrative: Director, Funding Specialist, Consumer Resource Specialist, 3(one full-time, two part-time) support staff • AT Consultants and Specialists (16) • Two part-time support staff in centers • Contract with GAPCD for Advocacy • Contract with PAT for various projects like the EXPO, Exchange Post, etc.
Description of StaffQualifications-North Carolina • Masters for most positions excluding support staff • Bachelors with AT Experience • ATP certification encouraged but not required • One consultant has the RET • Come from a variety of disciplines- Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Engineers, Educators
North Carolina -State Office of Personnel -Referrals -Newspapers -RESNA -Networking Recruiting New Staff • Colorado • University Posting • “Word of Mouth” • Personnel Preparation Program • Graduate Students • School Districts • National Networking • Individual Contacts
North Carolina -Sharing -Staff training (database) -training from other agencies On-going TrainingStaff Meetings • Colorado • Monthly staff meeting -focus on a topic • New Device Trainings • Monthly Open Labs
Certifications -ECU -Louisiana Tech On-line training -Ergoweb -Dynavox Local training -surveys -staff coordinated On-going TrainingIn-Service • Open Labs • SWAAAC Coordinator Meetings • Distance Education • Technical Assistance with DVR, WFC, Early Childhood
Vendor training -PRC -Kurzweil Speakers -Gail VonTattenhove -Barry Romich -Don Johnston/CITED On-going TrainingVendors • Vendors are invited in to demonstrate products • Staff is apprised of on-line or distance training offered by vendors • Vendors participate in Adapted Home
Additional Certifications - Web Accessibility Element of Portfolio Assessment On-going TrainingSelf-Directed Study • Continued Graduate Study is strongly encouraged • Flexible work schedules to support further study • Education Level is a factor in Salary Determination
Assistance to new personnel Support from other personnel (program “experts”) On-going TrainingMentoring, Shadowing • Graduate Students have Individual Plans • Informal Agreements among Staff
Out of state conferences are budgeted but not necessarily approved Travel and registration is covered for in-state training (employee may have to pay upfront) Per diem for overnight stays/food/lodging Professional DevelopmentBudget • Conferences and Associated Travel Expenses covered for all Employees
1 National conference but pre-conference training is no longer supported Can apply for tuition support through Vocational Rehabilitation Professional DevelopmentConferences/Courses • Personnel Preparation Program – Advanced Training • 1 National Conference per year
VR tuition supports course with academic credit -Vocational Evaluator Graduate Certificate Professional DevelopmentAcademic Credit • Personnel Preparation Program -Advanced Training • Employment Benefit – 6 credits/year
5 ATP 1 RET Professional DevelopmentCertification • ATP - Assistive Technology Practitioner • 2 certified • 2 preparing for test
North Carolina Resources • Annual EXPO • Web-Based training • Preconference Trainings • NCATP Staff Presentations
Colorado Resources • Remote Services – Electronic • Video teleconferencing • Web-based video training • Assistivetechnologypartners.org • Online Courses • Personnel Preparation Program – Advanced Training in AT • Webinar Capabilities • Annual June AT Conference of the Rockies