assistive technology models

5 Assistive Technology Models

Five Assessment Models for the Blog

Assistive Technology Models were designed as a resource to support individuals who need technology to ensure the most appropriate tools were being selected and utilized to improve their areas of need while supporting their strengths.  The AT models all have a comprehensive, systematic process that ensures the best outcome for the individual in need.

The SETT model

·     SETT is an organizational tool to help AT teams gather information to create Student-centered, Environmentally-useful, and Tasks-focused Tool systems that foster the educational success of students with disabilities.

·     SETT is targeted for students with disabilities. 

·     Within the four components (Student, Environment, Tasks, Tools) a series of questions are used to collect information. The first component is the Student; abilities and needs are identified. The second component, Environments, refers both to the physical environments as well as the instructional environments within a classroom. The third component of SETT is Tasks – the activities the student is asked to perform and the barriers to performance. The fourth component is Tools, which include both AT devices and services.

·     An intended outcome is an appropriate match between the student, the environment, the tasks, and the technology used to accomplish tasks within the environment.

·     Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDtxMlL1GUY

Each of these components is equally important when making decisions about which technology will be best suited for the person in need in the various environments in which the person will be using it.  Like all the other models, the SETT framework uses questions to help all the team members involved collect pertinent information about the person in need.  This information helps to guide the decisions the team makes about the person and the technology chosen to ensure success within the educational setting. 

More information about the SETT model can be found at the link below.

http://www.joyzabala.com/Home.php

Education Tech Points Model (ETP)

·     Education Tech Points (ETP) is a tool to help school districts to determine and meet the assistive technology needs of individual students and to evaluate and improve their assistive technology services system wide.

·     It consists of a comprehensive manual that includes information on team-building, components of effective AT service delivery, and systems change.

·     The specifics of this model center around six “Tech Points”. Each Tech Point identifies the specific times within the planning and provision of special education services that the need for AT should be considered.

·     The ETP process has outcomes built in at each Tech Point. The ultimate outcome is that the student receives the AT devices and services needed to access the curriculum and meet IEP/IFSP goals and objectives.

Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI)

·     The purpose of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) is to provide a comprehensive and thorough assistive technology assessment process.

·     The WATI targets school-age children with disabilities and school districts. It provides both the process as well as specific guides relevant to the 10 sections of the model. These include an overview of the AT assessment and planning process, all the forms developed for the WATI model. AT for writing and computer access.  AT for communication addresses three major groups of individuals: the alternative language group, the expressive language group, and the supportive language group. AT for reading, studying, and mathematics are grouped together for adaptations in academic areas.

·     It also provides information on AT for recreation, leisure, and activities of daily living, including environmental control, addresses AT for vision and hearing, AT for positioning and seating comprises, writing AT in the IEP, and  has information on AT laws and funding, including funding sources, legal provisions and policies.

·     The outcomes of the WATI assessment process focus on consideration of AT in the IEP and that the student receives AT devices and services needed to access the curriculum and meet IEP/IFSP goals and objectives.

·     http://www.wati.org/

Matching Person & Technology Model (MPT)

Selecting appropriate technology to meet the individual needs of the person it is intended to support is a big decision.  Many factors need to be taken into consideration including:

·     individual preferences·     users’ hopes of the technology

·     finances

·     family

·     environment in which the technology will be used (school, home or vocational environments) 

To assist individuals with this decision, the Matching Person & Technology (MPT) model has implemented an intense consultation process for all involved.  It utilizes a variety of surveys and questionnaires for home, school, work place and outside agencies to help ensure the most appropriate match between person and technology choice is made.  Small samples of these surveys and questionnaires can be found in the link below.

http://www.matchingpersonandtechnology.com/mptdesc.html

This is extremely important since this match helps to ensure the technology selected will be successfully implemented and effectively used by the individual for which it is intended.  Hence, careful collaboration between all the parties involved is crucial. 

In addition to the adult version of Matching Person & Technology model, a Matching Assistive Technology to Child (MATCH ) model was designed with the same hope and goal in mind….that appropriate technology would be selected, successfully implemented and effectively used by the child in their various environments.  Similarly, the MATCH assessment process involves a series of surveys and questionnaires to be completed by all team members involved from home, school and outside agencies.   



Lifespace Access Profile Model for Individuals with Severe or Multiple Disabilities (LAP)

Lifespace Access Profile Model was designed to support individuals with severe or multiple disabilities tocarefully select, successfully implement and effectively utilizetechnology to improve their areas of weakness and support their areas of strength.

Like other assistive technology models, the LAP Model has an assessment component that evaluates an individual’s abilities in 5 key areas:

·     physical resources

·     cognitive resources

·     emotional resources

·     support resources

·     environmental analysis

Additional information about the LAP model can be found at the link below.

http://www.slideshare.net/mjmax/assessment-models-assistive-technology

 Food for Thought

Nick Brown, a man with cerebral palsy has a wonderful story of how technology has helped him fulfill his life in ways he and his family did not think was possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7oYSY_ttU4

Amy Morrell, a physio therapist discusses the many things she considers before recommendations for a wheel chair are made for a client she is serving.  “I look at what best fits their needs.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_fTQh-KQ8k

Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT)

Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (www.qiat.org) is a wonderful site with extremely informative information about AT guidelines and services in various areas that need to be considered before selecting and implementing assistive technology.  It has a list of resources that has been researched and implemented successfully with individuals in need including “websites, documents on websites, and commercially available materials that relate to each of the eight QIAT areas which include:

1.     Guiding Document for Including Assistive Technology In the IEP

2.     Guiding Document for Implementation

3.     Guiding Document for Evaluation of Effectiveness

4.     Guiding Document for Transition

5.     Guiding Document for Professional Development

6.     Guiding Document for Consideration

7.     Guiding Document for Administrative Support

8.     Guiding Document for Assessment

Additional information about QIAT can be viewed at the following is a link:

http://indicators.knowbility.org/

When you look through the resources, keep an eye open for Barb’s UDL Placemat for the iPad.  J

All five models share an ultimate goal – to match a person to the most effective AT that will meet his/her needs within the environments in which it will be used. These models are important because they explore and assess the person, the environments, and the tasks for which the technology is needed to ensure the most effective AT is provided. They all follow an ecological, functional assessment approach. The SETT, ETP, LAP, QIAT and WATI are primarily designed for AT assessment within school settings. The SETT and LAP programs could easily be adapted for adults and non-school settings, the ETP and WATI less so.