1. The Learning Curve Runs Uphill: Staff Development for AT Provider

2. Greensboro 1 Staff Greenville 1 Staff Elizabeth City 1 Staff Rocky Mount 1 Staff East West Wilmington 1 Staff Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation NC Assistive Technology Program Community Services Grant Advisory Winston 2 staff 2 locations Raleigh 2 staff Central Admin 5staff Morganton 1 Staff Charlotte 2 Staff Sylva 2 Staff Program Overview NCATP

3. Program Overview NCATP ● Serving adults and children ● Demonstration and Loan Services to all 100 counties ● Resource information and awareness activities ● Advocacy through GAPCD ● Funding and Resource information

4. Program Overview Fee-Based Services (NCATP) ● Assessment ● Technical Assistance ● Consultation ● Feature Matching and Device Trial ● Training ● Specialized workshops

5. 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 Services Colorado 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

6. Program Overview ● Colorado Device Demonstrations  Clinic  SWAAAC  Open Labs  Personnel Prep Program  Adapted Home Exhibit  Technical Assistance  Individual Appointments

7. Description of Staff Qualifications-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)

8. 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

9. 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.

10. Description of Staff Qualifications-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

11. 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

12. On-going Training Staff 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

13. On-going Training In-Service ● Open Labs ● SWAAAC Coordinator Meetings ● Distance Education ● Technical Assistance with DVR, WFC, Early Childhood ● Certifications - ECU - Louisiana Tech ECU Louisiana Tech ● On-line training - Ergoweb - Dynavox Ergoweb Dynavox ● Local training -surveys -staff coordinated

14. On-going Training Vendors ● 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 Don Johnston/CITED

15. On-going Training Self-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 Web Accessibility ● Element of Portfolio Assessment

16. On-going Training Mentoring, Shadowing ● Graduate Students have Individual Plans ● Informal Agreements among Staff ● Assistance to new personnel ● Support from other personnel (program “experts”)

17. Professional Development Budget ● 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

18. Professional Development Conferences/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

19. Professional Development Academic Credit ● Personnel Preparation Program -Advanced Training ● Employment Benefit – 6 credits/year ● VR tuition supports course with academic credit -Vocational Evaluator Graduate Certificate

20. Professional Development Certification ● ATP - Assistive Technology Practitioner  2 certified  2 preparing for test ● 5 ATP ● 1 RET

21. North Carolina Resources ● Annual EXPO ● Web-Based training ● Preconference Trainings Preconference Trainings ● NCATP Staff Presentations NCATP Staff Presentations

22. 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