Hi everyone my name is Rosemarie, founder of TechAble Assistive Technology.
I think the terms like assistive technology or AT services are still unfamiliar to many people.
So let me briefly explain to you what assistive technology is, and also
let me tell you my educational and professional background.
In the assistive technology act often called Tech Act, assistive technology device is defined as
any item piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf
modified or customized that is used to increase maintain or improve functional capabilities of
individuals with disabilities so assistive technology device can be anything that assists
individuals to increase maintain or improve their functional capabilities.
People often don't notice, but I'm also using a piece of assistive
and without using this I cannot perform most of my daily activities. Do you know what it is? I have
very bad vision so I'm wearing contact lenses and without wearing my contact lenses I cannot use a
computer I cannot read labels on bottles and boxes. I just cannot perform many of the activities that
I do every day. So like eyeglasses or contact lenses, a device, which assists individuals to
increase maintain or improve their functional capabilities, can be called assistive technology.
And assistive technology service is defined as any service that directly
assists an individual with a disability in the selection acquisition or use of an at device.
Assistive technology includes many different areas as you can see here, and there are more
areas than what's shown here. These are the areas where the products have been
actively developed and services are provided in the field of assistive technology in these days.
Devices or software to help using computer, apps and features to help using mobile devices,
technology for cognitive augmentation,
and to help controlling the environment such as turning lights TVs appliances on and off,
wheelchair seating and selection, technology for visual impairments or auditory impairments,
and the devices for augmentative and alternative communication, often called AAC.
And the areas that I present on my YouTube videos are mostly the first three areas,
adaptive computer access, AT for mobile devices, and AT for cognitive augmentation.
when you seek for the assistive technology services, you should look for the professionals
who have assistive technology accreditation or certification. The organization called RESNA,
the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, offers
certifications to recognize assistive technology service providers who have met a national standard
of job-based knowledge and experience. So RESNA offers assistive technology
professional called ATP certification, seating and mobility specialist, called SMS certification,
and rehabilitation engineering technologist, called RET certification.
And there are several universities which provide assistive technology
certification programs, such as CSUN, California state university Northridge, and UIC
University of Illinois Chicago, have assistive technology certificate programs.
so when you see for the assistive technology assessment or training services, try to find
a professional with ATP or AT certification and for wheelchair related services, a professional
with SMS certification should be involved. And to obtain an AAC device, a speech language pathologist
should be involved. People often ask me what kind of educational and professional background I have.
I have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and received a Master's and PhD degree
in rehabilitation science and technology. and I have an ATP and RET certifications from RESNA.
As an at professional I have over 15 years of experiences. I've given lectures and workshops
to various groups to educate them about the values of assistive technology, and I also provide AT
assessment and training services for the individuals with physical motor disabilities and/
or cognitive disabilities. Before I started my company TechAble Assistive Technology,
I worked for Maryland department of education, division of rehabilitation services,
as a rehabilitation technologist for about 10 years. And you can find more information about
my professional background and AT services which I provide at my website, techable-at.com.
That's all I have for today thank you for watching!