The Learning Curve Runs Uphill: Staff Development for AT Provider

The Learning Curve Runs Uphill:The Learning Curve Runs Uphill:Staff Development for AT ProviderStaff Development for AT Provider

Greensboro 1 Staff

Greenville1 Staff

Elizabeth City

1 Staff

Rocky Mount1 Staff

East West

Wilmington1 Staff

Dept. of Health and Human Services

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

NC Assistive Technology Program

Community Services

Grant Advisory

Winston2 staff

2 locations

Raleigh2 staff

Central

Admin5staff

Morganton1 Staff

Charlotte2 Staff

Sylva2 Staff

Program OverviewNCATP

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

Program Overview

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

Research- Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Technologies- Wheelchair transportation safety- Recreation Technology-

Education- Personnel Preparation Grant- Open Lab Demonstrations- SWAAAC coordination & training- Early Childhood Provider training- Business Services evaluation & training- Annual AT Conference

Information/Outreach ServicesColorado Assistive Technology Program- Public Awareness - Training and Technical Assistance- Alternative Financing- Online Exchange Program- Online Funding Resources- AT Loan Bank-WesTAC-Adapted Home

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

Description of StaffQualifications-Colorado

● Business/ Administration (4)

● Research (2)● Horticultural Therapy

(1)● Vocational

Rehabilitation (1)● Rehab/Mechanical

Engineer (1)

● Electrical Engineer/Computer Science (1)

● Speech Pathologist (5)● Special Educator (4)● Occupational

Therapist (1)● Physical Therapist (3)● Students (5)

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

Recruiting New Staff

• Colorado– University Posting– “Word of Mouth”– Personnel Preparation

Program– Graduate Students– School Districts– National Networking– Individual Contacts

● North Carolina -State Office of Personnel -Referrals -Newspapers -RESNA -Networking

On-going TrainingStaff Meetings

● Colorado Monthly staff meeting

-focus on a topic New Device Trainings Monthly Open Labs

● North Carolina -Sharing -Staff training (database) -training from other agencies

On-going TrainingIn-Service

● Open Labs● SWAAAC

Coordinator Meetings● Distance Education● Technical Assistance

with DVR, WFC, Early Childhood

● Certifications -ECU -Louisiana Tech

● On-line training -Ergoweb -Dynavox

● Local training -surveys -staff coordinated

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

● Vendor training -PRC -Kurzweil

● Speakers -Gail VonTattenhove -Barry Romich -Don Johnston/CITED

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

● Additional Certifications - Web Accessibility

● Element of Portfolio Assessment

On-going TrainingMentoring, Shadowing

● Graduate Students have Individual Plans

● Informal Agreements among Staff

● Assistance to new personnel

● Support from other personnel (program “experts”)

Professional DevelopmentBudget

● Conferences and Associated Travel Expenses covered for all Employees

● 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 DevelopmentConferences/Courses

● Personnel Preparation Program – Advanced Training

● 1 National Conference per year

● 1 National conference but pre-conference training is no longer supported

● Can apply for tuition support through Vocational Rehabilitation

Professional DevelopmentAcademic Credit

● Personnel Preparation Program -Advanced Training

● Employment Benefit – 6 credits/year

● VR tuition supports course with academic credit -Vocational Evaluator Graduate Certificate

Professional DevelopmentCertification

● ATP - Assistive Technology Practitioner

2 certified

2 preparing for test

● 5 ATP ● 1 RET

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