the learning curve runs uphill: staff development for at provider
TRANSCRIPT
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