the learning curve runs uphill: staff development for at provider
DESCRIPTION
The Learning Curve Runs Uphill: Staff Development for AT Provider. Program Overview NCATP. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Community Services. Admin 5staff. Grant Advisory. NC Assistive Technology Program. Central. West. East. Raleigh - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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