Assistive Technology (AT) assessments may be obtained from rehabilitation providers who are employed in settings such as medical facilities, universities, schools, non-profit agencies or in a private practice. Evaluation providers are most often licensed and or certified in fields related to AT. They may or may not have specific training or experience with AT. While an additional AT certification is not required, it can be beneficial.
Certification of a service provider, in any field, is the process by which a non-governmental agency or association validates an individual’s qualifications and knowledge in a defined functional or clinical area. Candidates for certification typically must meet specific requirements to be eligible for certification, and those declared eligible must pass an examination. The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) offers national certification for two specialties:
It is important to have qualified person(s) who specialize in evaluation for and training of assistive technology involved in the assessment process. Not all professionals will have knowledge of assistive technology. Some (not all) types of professionals who provide assessments include:
Vendors sell assistive technology devices and services. They can be important in the process of finding the correct device for you and be quite knowledgeable about the devices they sell. They do have a conflict of interest in an assessment process as they are in business to sell devices and services. It can be difficult to know if a vendor is providing you with the most effective solution to meet your needs. It can also be easy to become excited about features you may not really need. Some vendors are very good about basing their recommendations solely on meeting the customer’s needs, in the most cost-effective manner. However, this is not always the case.
In Wisconsin, an interagency team has produced a list of “Best Practices” for vendors of AT (A PDF, see page 2) which is worth your review.
An assistive technology assessment should inform the funding source about how the person can benefit from assistive technology, including:
The "AT Directory" section of this website includes resources for assessments/evaluations. You can also contact your local Disability Network/Center for Independent Living for assistance in finding professionals for evaluation.
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
3498 East Lake Lansing Road, Suite 100
East Lansing, MI 48823
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