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Web Posted on: August 24, 1998


Training under Project APHRODITE

Gerard Craddock
Central Remedial Clinic, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf
Dublin 3, Ireland
tel: +353 1 833 2206 fax: +353 1 833 5496
email: gcradd@crc.ie

Harry J Murphy, Ed. D.
Founder & Director Centre on Disabilities
California State Univeristy, Nortridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330 - 8340
tel: +1 818 677 2578 fax: +1 818 677 4929
email: harry.murphy@csun.edu

 

APHRODITE

Program Goal

Modules

Who Should Attend

 

The APHRODITE project ( A Partnership to Harness Resources, Opportunities and Distribute Information Technology Expertise) is headed by the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin. This project is funded by the European Employment Initiative under the Horizon Section for 1998/99. The aim of the project is to provide a ;mechanism, in conjunction with our partners, The Center of Independent Living & University College Dublin in Ireland, The Vlicht Institute in Belgium and Fondo Formacion CFNTI in Spain, for assistive technology training and service delivery.

The training component of this project brings together a combination of professionals and consumers throughout Ireland, as well as one representative from each of the partner organisations for an intensive two week experience in assistive technology. Consumer empowerment is a main theme throughout all parts of this training program. Prior to this training experience, five professionals from Ireland will under a five day training of trainers course.

Representatives of the Centre on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in the Los Angeles area, will serve as a resource to the training component of APHRODITE. A two week curriculum that has been accredited by that university’s College of Extended Learning will be adapted for this project. The National University of Ireland, through University College Dublin (UCD) will provide certification to those who complete this course. The college of Extended Learning at CSUN will also grant a Certificate in Assistive Technology and ten Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) to those who successfully complete the project.

The training experience includes lecture, demonstration, discussion, observations and presentations on applications of assistive technology. Nationally recognised speakers will share information across a wide range of assistive technology (AT) topics.

 

Program Goal

The CATA (Certificate in Assistive Technology Applications) is designed to provide a practical approach to the applications of assistive technology in meeting the needs of individuals with various disabilities in many settings.

 

Who Should Attend

  • Individuals with Disabilities
  • Family members
  • Special Educators
  • Assistive Technology and Computer Specialists
  • Public and Private Rehabilitation Personnel
  • Employers
  • Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists
  • Human Resource Specialists

 

The Modules

1. Introduction to Assistive Technology
2. Leadership Challenges
3. Assistive Technology Applications
4. Guiding the Process
5. Funding and Policy issues
6. Focus on Specialised Areas
7. Certificate Project



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1. Introduction to Assistive Technologies

This introductory workshop will cover the potential of assistive technology to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Topics include:

  • Consumer empowerment
  • Informational resources
  • Customer service
  • Potential of AT to improve education, vocation, and independent living
  • Current trends in Assistive Technology service delivery



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2. Leadership Challenges

Identification of leadership issues for the 21st century.

Topics include:

  • Building leadership qualities
  • Understanding diversity and cultures
  • New and emerging technologies
  • Incorporating assistive technology training techniques
  • Implementing a completed project for the certificate



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3. Assistive Technology Applications

Technology is a means to an end, not the end itself. Participants will discover how assistive technology can be applied to support a person with a disability to reach their individual goal(s). A wide range of practical applications and scope of assistive technology will be addressed:

  • Ethical and professional considerations
  • Scope of Assistive Technology: from simple to complex
  • Matching people with technology and device features
  • Home/school/work modifications
  • Integration of AT systems
  • Computer access: input, processing and output
  • Successful technology intervention and services



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4. Guiding the Process

Developing assistive technology solutions through collaboration within an interdisciplinary team consisting of the consumer, family members and professionals. Collaborative team models will be addressed, including:

  • Identification of team members and their roles and responsibilities
  • Incorporating a collaborative team approach in building individual programs
  • Integrating assistive technology into an educational, transitional or work plan
  • Team building and follow through



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5. Funding and Policy issues

Topics will include:

  • Pending and current legislation on assistive technology issues
  • Comprehensive look at major funding agencies: Education, Medical Assistance, and Rehabilitation
  • Understanding the funding and policy implications for better access to AT



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6. Focus on Specialised Areas

This in-depth training on specialised areas of assistive technology is presented over three separate days.

Seating, Positioning and Mobility
Learning Disabilities
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Devices for People with Sensory Disabilities



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Seating, Positioning and Mobility

This part of the CATA workshop will deal with different types of seating, positioning and mobility products and services on the market today. Topics covered: basic principles of seating from planar to customised systems, fundamental concepts in proper positioning, positioning for function, and the range and scope of the many types of personal mobility products that are commercially available.

 

Learning Disabilities

This section of the CATA workshop will address high, low and non-technology interventions for persons with learning disabilities. A short overview of technology applications will then lead into a hands-on demonstration with assistive technologies.

 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

This part of the CATA workshop will be a comprehensive overview of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and how to integrate them into the lives of people who are speech impaired. Well respected speech/language therapists in AAC will give presentations on selecting vocabulary, features of each type of device, advantages and disadvantages of specific features, consumer applications such as computer access, portability, and environmental control systems. Devices will be demonstrated.

 

Devices for People with Sensory Disabilities

This section of the CATA workshop will cover the range of equipment used effectively by people with visual (blindness, visual impairment, low vision) and auditory (deafness, hearing impairment, hard-of-hearing) impairments. An overview of techniques and applications will be presented and hands-on demonstrations of equipment will be explored.



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7. Certificate Project

A practical independent or group project is required in order to earn a certificate. Participants are encouraged to develop a certificate project to meet the needs of an individual with a disability and/or their organisation. Projects will be developed and approved in consultation with the CATA Training Co-ordinator and other CATA faculty. A written report is due within 90 days after training is completed.

 

Certificate Objectives

The participant will learn

  • To identify a wide range of applications for assistive technology in the home, school, workplace, and community environments; learn about existing and new assistive technologies for people with disabilities to include, but not limited to augmentative and alternative communication, environmental controls, seating and positioning, mobility devices, computer access technology, and technology for people who may have learning, physical, cognitive and/or sensory disabilities
  • To address individual needs through a collaborative team approach
  • About resources that are available to support assistive technology devices and services
  • How to address leadership challenges regarding assistive technology implementation
  • How to implement this training into practice upon completion of the program



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