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VE-ATPAP-05: Assistive Technology Assessment to Boost User Participation and Contribution

Overview

Assistive Technology (AT) can be very effective in supporting children and adults with disabilities to achieve their goals through participation in activities that can facilitate personal contribution to their community. However, there remains a high abandonment rate of assistive technology that leads to loss of opportunities for participation in life. Presenters will discuss three key principles: Consumer Involvement in the assessment process, effective matching of person and AT, and follow-up outcome measures that are critical for an on-going successful match of person and technology. Participants will learn strategies that can lead to an effective match of person to AT.

Content Disclosure: This session is focused on a research project into parent-implemented literacy intervention using the ALL application conducted by Penn State University and PIVOTAL CHANGE. There will be limited or no information provided about similar research projects or case studies.

Learning Objectives

  1. Define two constructs that can be facilitators to assistive technology outcome use.
  2. List two examples of how AT can support a person's contribution and participation in their community.
  3. Explain one method of including outcome measures within the assessment process.

Primary & Secondary Strands

Assistive Technology for Physical Access and Participation; Research

Target Audience

  • Accessibility Professional
  • ADA Coordinator
  • Administrators
  • AT Specialists
  • Caregivers
  • Communication Specialist
  • Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
  • Consultants/Trainers
  • Disability Services
  • Educators
  • Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
  • Family Members
  • Government/Non-Profit Agencies
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Rehab Therapists
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Special Education Educators
  • Teachers of the Visually Impaired
  • Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Transition Coordinator
  • Visual Impairment Specialists
  • Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

All

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with live-stream

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2022 Conference on Friday, Jan 28: 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs

ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: May 16, 2022
ASHA CE Approved Provider. ATIA. Intermediate Level. 0.10 ASHA CEUs

This course is also offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.

This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA CRC AT for Physical Access and Participation Series (2023-2024). This series offering was available from March 20, 2023, through March 19, 2024.

Speaker/s:

Susan Zapf, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCP, ATP

The Children's Therapy Center, Inc., President, Director of Clinical Therapies

Biography

Susan A. Zapf, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCP, ATP: Susan Zapf is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Professional with over 25 years of experience working with the pediatric population in both private practice and the school-based settings. She received her undergraduate degree in Recreation, Park, & Leisure Studies from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Master of Occupational Therapy/Rehabilitation Technology degrees (MA) from Texas Woman’s University. In April 2012 she graduated from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pediatric Science. Dr. Zapf’s research emphasis is on Assistive Technology assessment and outcome effectiveness. She is Board Certified in Pediatrics through AOTA, certified in the Sensory Integration Praxis Test, and certified through RESNA as an Assistive Technology (AT) Professional. She is the primary author of the MATCH-ACES Assistive Technology Assessment and The Service Animal Adaptive Intervention Assessment. Dr. Zapf has presented throughout the United States and internationally on assistive technology assessment and implementation. She has also presented on sensory strategies in occupational therapy, and animal assisted therapy. Dr. Zapf is the owner of The Children’s Therapy Center, Inc., a prominent pediatric sensory integration clinic in Houston, Texas. She is adjunct faculty for the Ph.D. Pediatric Science track at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. As an occupational therapist, she is passionate about helping children and their families develop skills to reach their full potential and she believes that occupational therapy and assistive technology can be powerful interventions to assist in this process.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment with The Children's Therapy Center, Inc.. She is adjunct faculty for the Ph.D. Pediatric Science track at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. Intellectual Property royalties from books.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Marcia Scherer, Ph.D., MPH, FACRM

The Institute for Matching Person & Technology, President

Biography

Dr. Scherer is a rehabilitation psychologist and founding President of the Institute for Matching Person & Technology. She is also a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Scherer is a past member of the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health, and is Editor of the journal Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. Dr. Scherer is Fellow of the American Psychological Association, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Dr. Scherer authored Assistive Technologies and Other Supports for People With Brain Impairment and Living in the State of Stuck: How Assistive Technology Impacts the Lives of People with Disabilities as well as authoring, editing, co-editing seven other books. She has published over sixty articles on disability and rehabilitation in peer-reviewed scientific journals and over twenty-five book chapters; and has been cited over 7000 times by others. She has been a keynote or invited speaker at scientific meetings both nationally and internationally. Dr. Scherer holds a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester where she also earned a MPH degree from the School of Medicine and Dentistry. She received a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University at Buffalo and her Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Publishing royalties as an author. Salary from employment with University of Rochester Medical Center

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Editor of the journal Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. Fellow of the American Psychological Association, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).