The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48333

Toby M. Long, PhD and Maria Woolverton, BS. Child Development Center, Georgetown University, 3307 M St NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20816, 202-687-8742, longt@georgetown.edu

A medical home provides on-going, comprehensive, community-based care. Medical home providers insure that information and services are available and accessible to children and families. Providers must be knowledgeable about programs and services that may be beneficial. However, lack of knowledge on the benefits of the early use of technology, available technology, and needs of providers to assist families with technology, limits the early identification and referral to assistive technology specialists. This presentation will report preliminary findings of research to determine the training needs of service providers who assess the assistive technology needs of children with disabilities. Information will assist communities/states to design appropriate policies ensuring access to trained providers. Surveys were sent to a random sample of physical, occupational, speech therapists, rehabilitation engineers, special educators and vocational counselors from lists provided by the professional associations. Preliminary results indicate that the respondents were primarily female, Caucasian, inexperienced yet highly educated practitioners. Four critical training needs were identified: determining who can benefit from AT, how to use collaborative problem solving to determine client specific needs, funding, documentation. Challenges in providing services include keeping up with changing technologies, funding, lack of training and on-site assistance. Medical home providers must be aware of these limitations and collaborate with service providers to ensure children's technology needs are being addressed as soon as possible.

Learning Objectives:

Following this presentation the participant will
• identify the training issues of service providers who diagnose and assess the assistive technology needs of children with disabilities and special health care needs
• identify strategies to improve the training of providers
• be able to locate trained, knowledgeable providers of assistive technology
• identify needed changes in policy at the state and community level to insure access to appropriately trained providers of assistive technology

Keywords: Technology, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Georgetown University Brandeis University University of Florida
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment