Related Services, Assistive Technology, and Student Transition Services

2019 ◽  
pp. 133-149
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Brady ◽  
Charles J. Russo ◽  
Cynthia A. Dieterich ◽  
Allan G. Osborne ◽  
Nicole D. Snyder
Author(s):  
Satu Pekkarinen ◽  
Helinä Melkas

This paper examines an assistive technology targeted to ageing people: a safety alarm and the related service system. A safety alarm is not only a technical device; with the related system, it can be seen as a holistic opportunity for innovation. The operation of safety alarm systems and services depends on many critical points. Potholes lying in safety alarm systems are identified in this study, taking into account the technology, services and organizational network. The potholes are studied as sources and opportunities for potential innovation. Service, social, organizational, process and marketing innovations—combined with technology—are significant parts of innovation activity related to the ageing population. A technical device is not used in a vacuum: there is also organization and service acts, as well as the user with her or his values, appreciations, state of health, and so forth. These factors impact the variety of innovation potential in assistive technology. This paper examines the existing technology and related services as well as various innovation opportunities related to uncovering their shortcomings.


Author(s):  
Satu Pekkarinen ◽  
Helinä Melkas

This paper examines an assistive technology targeted to ageing people: a safety alarm and the related service system. A safety alarm is not only a technical device; with the related system, it can be seen as a holistic opportunity for innovation. The operation of safety alarm systems and services depends on many critical points. Potholes lying in safety alarm systems are identified in this study, taking into account the technology, services and organizational network. The potholes are studied as sources and opportunities for potential innovation. Service, social, organizational, process and marketing innovations—combined with technology—are significant parts of innovation activity related to the ageing population. A technical device is not used in a vacuum: there is also organization and service acts, as well as the user with her or his values, appreciations, state of health, and so forth. These factors impact the variety of innovation potential in assistive technology. This paper examines the existing technology and related services as well as various innovation opportunities related to uncovering their shortcomings.


Technologies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Domingues ◽  
Pinheiro ◽  
Silveira ◽  
Francisco ◽  
Jutai ◽  
...  

Several studies showed positive effects of assistive technologies on psychosocial impact and participation of adults with mobility impairments. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychosocial and participation impact of powered wheelchairs. Participants were thirty persons with disabilities who use powered wheelchairs with diverse medical conditions. The Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale and the Activities and Participation Profile Related to Mobility were used, in addition to demographic, clinical and wheelchair related questions. The participants were satisfied with both the assistive technology and related services, with the lowest satisfaction scores belonging to those who had been using their wheelchairs for a longer period of time. We noticed significant restrictions in participation mostly among persons with longer wheelchair utilization. The most satisfied were the ones with better performance in terms of social participation. Psychosocial scores showed a positive impact with higher adaptability among persons who transitioned from a manual compared to those who already had a powered wheelchair. There was a positive psychosocial impact and therefore an increase in quality of life of its users.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Borg ◽  
Anna Lindström ◽  
Stig Larsson

Background: The ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (CRPD) requires governments to meet the assistive technology needs of citizens. However, the access to assistive technology in developing countries is severely limited, which is aggravated by a lack of related services.Objectives: To summarize current knowledge on assistive technology for low- and lower-middle-income countries published in 1995 or later, and to provide recommendations that facilitate implementation of the CRPD.Study design: Literature review.Methods: Literature was searched in web-based databases and reference lists. Studies carried out in low- and lower-middle-income countries, or addressing assistive technology for such countries, were included.Results: The 52 included articles are dominated by product oriented research on leg prostheses and manual wheelchairs. Less has been published on hearing aids and virtually nothing on the broad range of other types of assistive technology.Conclusions: To support effective implementation of the CRPD in these countries, there is a need for actions and research related particularly to policies, service delivery, outcomes and international cooperation, but also to product development and production.Clinical relevanceThe article has a potential to contribute to CRPD compliant developments in the provision of assistive technology in developing countries by providing practitioners with an overview of published knowledge and researchers with identified research needs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra A. Neubert ◽  
Richard G. Luecking ◽  
Ellen S. Fabian

Purpose:The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 mandates vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors play a greater role in providing transition-related services for students and youth with disabilities, such as pre-employment activities and increased collaborative efforts with state and local education agencies and American Jobs Centers to improve employment outcomes.Method:We surveyed 538 VR counselors in 13 high performing State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies to rate the importance of transition-related skills and their preparation to undertake these activities.Results:Overall, VR counselors rated the importance of all transition-related items highly, but rated their preparation to perform these practices significantly lower. Job exploration counseling was cited as the most important skill. In terms of preparation, working with employers was rated the lowest. In terms of barriers to serving youth, time and case management were cited most frequently. Implications for caseload specialization and preparation of VR counselors are discussed.Conclusion:The results of the study have implications for preparing VR counselors to comply with the WIOA mandates regarding transition services for students and youth with disabilities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma M Smith ◽  
Ikenna D. Ebuenyi ◽  
Juba A Kafumba ◽  
Monica Jamali-Phiri ◽  
Alister Munthali ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Assistive technologies promote participation and quality of life for people with disabilities and other functional limitations. There is a global call to develop and implement policies to improve access to assistive technologies. In response, a stakeholder led initiative in Malawi is working towards the development of such a policy. The objective of this study was to assess the existing network of stakeholders, and the strength of relationship between organizations who deliver assistive products and related services. We conducted a survey-based network analysis of assistive technology stakeholder organizations in Malawi.Results Stakeholders (n = 19) reported a range of connections, from no awareness to collaboration with organizations within the assistive technology network. No single organization or government ministry was most central to the network. International NGOs were less central to the network than local organizations for disabled people, service providers, and ministries.Conclusions The assistive technology stakeholder network in Malawi is distributed, with a range of responsibility across a variety of stakeholders, including three government ministries. An effective assistive technology policy must engage all stakeholders and may benefit from a collective leadership approach that spans the inter-sectoral need for a cohesive assistive technology system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10054-10054
Author(s):  
Kathy Ruble ◽  
Lisa Carey ◽  
Juliana Pare-Blagoev ◽  
Kimberly Milla ◽  
Sydney Henegan ◽  
...  

10054 Background: More than half of childhood cancer survivors (survivors) will have neurocognitive deficits that impact schooling, most commonly reflecting attention and executive dysfunction. Schools are legally bound (IDEA, 2004) to support eligible students with Individualized Education Program (IEP) informed instruction and related services (e.g. assistive technology, speech-language, physical, or occupational therapy) to foster academic success. However, these service provision were not designed under the constraints of remote learning. The COVID19 shift to remote learning is likely to extend beyond the pandemic especially for medically fragile students. This quality improvement project describes challenges for survivors during remote learning and recently developed related patient education materials. Methods: Interviews with families were used to identify themes around challenges during remote learning, which informed development of a 29-question survey disseminated via flyer in local oncology clinics and social media posts by local childhood cancer organizations in Fall 2020. Results: The survey was completed by 67 parents describing their affected child (mean age= 8.6 years; 60% male; 78% White, 12% Black, 95% non-Hispanic). Most children (74%) had completed therapy (43% for leukemia, 18% for brain tumor; 39% other). The majority (86%) attended public school and 37% received special education or related services: speech-language (26%), occupational (23%), and physical (14%) therapies, and vision services (3%). Fully remote learning was reported for 73%, in-person 4%, and hybrid learning for 14%. The majority (57%) reported observing greater difficulty with attention and focus during RL, indicating difficulty occurred about half of the time during related services therapies, class and/or small group video instruction. Technology-related challenges included difficulty navigating online instruction/equipment (28%), reading difficulty (16%), and difficulty seeing materials/lack of vision supports (18%). Findings did not differ based on treatment or IEP status (p>0.50). Few (14%) reported their school team discussed assistive technology options for online learning. Parents indicated the most helpful supports for addressing challenges included speech-to-text tools, screen readers, and audio books. Parents reported their oncology team was helpful in making referrals to neuropsychology and therapies and completing documentation necessary to secure supports. Conclusions: Childhood cancer survivors, irrespective of diagnosis or IEP status, report challenges with remote learning. Families find a lack of information or special accommodations as roadblocks to success. Oncology providers were identified as valued resources, so educational materials ( https://tinyurl.com/nxbhj5or ) were developed for oncology teams to share with families.


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