[Athen] some things adaptive technology experts need to know

[Roll,Marla]

Here is another take... Our university houses all of the assistive
technology in the department of occupational therapy.  My background is
in occupational therapy which gave me a wonderful base for understanding
disability and accommodation. I then sought continuing ed opportunities
to learn the technical aspects of the job and aligned myself very
closely with the IT side of things on our campus including hiring a
technical support person specific to AT.  I guess I feel a need to make
the plug for career fields that have a deep understanding of disability
and how it manifests itself... A degree in Occupational Therapy has
served me quite well in the field of assistive technology.

Marla Roll

________________________________________

Marla C. Roll, MS, OTR 
Director, Assistive Technology Resource Center 
304 Occupational Therapy Building 
Colorado State University 
Fort Collins, CO  80523 - 1586 
970-491-2016 
970-491-6290 (fax) 
mcroll at cahs.colostate.edu 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Shannon McCue
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:31 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] some things adaptive technology experts need to
know

Thanks for all the great information everyone! I definitely have desire
to learn everything I can about this field and I appreciate all of the
suggestions that you have given me. I look forward to maybe working with
some of you in the future.

Shannon McCue

On Jun 27, 2006, at 4:22 PM, Weier, James wrote:


> Just to add one more thing to this topic. Good topic. When I was hired



> to perform the duties of this position, I didn't have any experience 

> working with people with disabilities and didn't know how to use any 

> Adaptive Technology, but I did know it existed (i.e. screen readers, 

> dictation software, etc.). I know I'm probably not typical, however, 

> but I also know other Adaptive Technology Specialists who were hired 

> and never had experience with Adaptive Technology nor knowledge of 

> disabilities.

> They too,

> just like me have been very successful in this field. My success, I 

> believe, stems from my desire to learn as much as I can about this 

> field, my research on various Adaptive Technology, and my quick 

> learning capabilities. I do have a degree in Network Technology though



> and that has been beneficial as well considering I manage the 

> departments accessible computers.

> Therefore,

> in my experience, I guess having some experience with Adaptive 

> Technology and knowledge of disabilities and the Adaptive Technology 

> to assist would be a desired skill, but not required for hire. This is



> just my opinion, but schools look at things 

> differently...predominantly based on the "bottom line", since schools 

> are a business.

>

> In my mind, if the person has knowledge of software and computers and 

> minimum of an A.S. Degree in some computer field, and good references 

> of their technical skills, then I would hire the person because 

> learning about disabilities can be acquired on the job. I've done it 

> and proved it.

> The

> technology, on the other hand, if the person has good, quick learning 

> skills, and experience with software and other computer-related 

> technology, that would be the easy part for the potential hire.

>

> Of course, this is only my opinion and does not reflect many schools 

> around the nation.

>

> James A. Weier

> Adaptive Tech. Specialist/Access Office St. Louis Community College 

> 3400 Pershall Road Ferguson, MO. 63135

> 314-513-4162 (phone)

> 314-513-4876 (fax)

> jweier at stlcc.edu

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] 

> On Behalf Of Nick Ogrizovich III

> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:44 PM

> To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] some things adaptive technology experts need to 

> know

>

> To add to Tim's remarks, I would also suggest familiarity with many of



> the various disabilities, and how different adaptive technology 

> enables people with these various disabilities. Although some of this 

> work seems to be one size fits all (document conversion efforts) the 

> majority of it requires some customization and guidance based on 

> disability.

>

> http://www.rit.edu/~easi/  offers fast online courses that will get 

> you up to speed on a lot of what we do, too.

>

> Document everything you do, since the majority of us seem to always 

> need more resources and assistance- data is the only thing the bean 

> counters understand. And speaking of bean counters, you are also going



> to have to beef up your debate and rationalization skills, especially 

> when it comes time to justify budgets and purchases. ;)

>

> Nick Ogrizovich

> Adaptive Technology Manager

> University of Vermont

>

> --- Tim Sears <Tim.Sears at mcckc.edu> wrote:

>

>> I think that it is also important that you have experience working 

>> with people with disabilities especially computers and individuals 

>> with disabilities.  In this field, it is not just important to know 

>> about the technology but also the ability to have patience and 

>> clearly understand the difficulties individuals are going through as 

>> it relates to using the computer.

>>

>> Tim

>>

>> Tim Sears

>> Adaptive Technology Specialist

>> 3200 Broadway Blvd.

>> Kansas City MO 64111

>> email: tim.sears at mcckc.edu

>> telephone: 816-759-1092

>> "Encourage the Discouraged"

>>>>> <athen-request at athenpro.org> 06/27/06 2:00 PM >>>

>> Send Athen mailing list submissions to

>> 	athen at athenpro.org

>

>> Message: 1

>> Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 10:18:45 -0400

>> From: Shannon McCue <shannon.mccue at umb.edu>

>> Subject: [Athen] Education?

>> To: athen at athenpro.org

>> Message-ID: <d04694a48010ac5c5f1c865f2d02cb75 at umb.edu>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

>>

>> Hello,

>> I'm new to this list but I'm very interested in access technology

>> and I

>> was wondering how I would get into this industry? What kind of

>> educational background do I need to have? I currently have an

>> associates degree in "Media Technology' and I'm working towards my

>> bachelor's degree in "Community Media and Technology". Also, I'm

>> currently an Americorps VISTA for the Community Technology Center

>> VISTA

>> Project, which works with underprivileged communities to help

>> bridge

>> the digital divide. So, I have a background in technology but not

>> so

>> much in access technology, what can I do? Thank you!

>>

>> _________________________________

>> Shannon McCue	

>> VISTA Technical Coordinator

>>

>> CTC VISTA Project

>> College of Public and Community Service

>> University of Massachusetts/Boston

>> 100 Morrissey BLVD.

>> Boston, MA. 02125

>>

>> Phone: 617-287-7385

>> Fax: 617-287-7274

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> ------------------------------

>>

>> Message: 2

>> Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 10:35:03 -0500

>> From: "Weier, James" <JWeier at stlcc.edu>

>> Subject: Re: [Athen] Education?

>> To: 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network'

>> 	<athen at athenpro.org>

>> Message-ID:

>> 	<E6DC2F9C5BEB49429EA0033DEEE135C719E1E1A2 at phoenix.stlcc.edu>

>> Content-Type: text/plain

>>

>> Hello Shannon,

>>

>> I have an A.S. Degree in Network Technology and a B.S. in Biology.

>> The

>> Biology degree does no good in this field except for just having a

>> B.S.

>> Degree. I would recommend though that you have a clear

>> understanding of

>> software in general. That you are a quick learner of software and

>> hardware.

>> In this field, I don't think there is a degree specific for this

>> field,

>> but

>> it helps a lot to have some sort of computer/networking degree.

>> When

>> installing software on computers, you may need to know how to

>> troubleshoot

>> issues with software, depending on your job description. I've

>> encountered

>> several and resolved them mostly due to my computer networking

>> experience. I

>> manage the department's computers, which is part of my job

>> description

>> but

>> this duty is not standard for all places. Sometimes, some schools

>> (companies) only allow their IT dept. to manage the computers.

>>

>> I guess that's about it in a nutshell. Since the field deals with

>> software

>> and hardware, it doesn't hurt to have a computer/networking degree.

>>

>> James A. Weier

>> Adaptive Tech. Specialist/Access Office

>> St. Louis Community College

>> 3400 Pershall Road

>> Ferguson, MO. 63135

>> 314-513-4162 (phone)

>> 314-513-4876 (fax)

>> jweier at stlcc.edu

>>

>>

>> -----Original Message-----

>> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org

>> [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

>> Behalf Of Shannon McCue

>> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 9:19 AM

>> To: athen at athenpro.org

>> Subject: [Athen] Education?

>>

>> Hello,

>> I'm new to this list but I'm very interested in access technology

>> and I

>> was wondering how I would get into this industry? What kind of

>> educational background do I need to have? I currently have an

>> associates degree in "Media Technology' and I'm working towards my

>> bachelor's degree in "Community Media and Technology". Also, I'm

>> currently an Americorps VISTA for the Community Technology Center

>> VISTA

>> Project, which works with underprivileged communities to help

>> bridge

>> the digital divide. So, I have a background in technology but not

>> so

>> much in access technology, what can I do? Thank you!

>>

>> _________________________________

>> Shannon McCue	

>> VISTA Technical Coordinator

>>

>> CTC VISTA Project

>> College of Public and Community Service

>> University of Massachusetts/Boston

>> 100 Morrissey BLVD.

>> Boston, MA. 02125

>>

>> Phone: 617-287-7385

>> Fax: 617-287-7274

>

>

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_________________________________
Shannon McCue	
VISTA Technical Coordinator

CTC VISTA Project
College of Public and Community Service
University of Massachusetts/Boston
100 Morrissey BLVD.
Boston, MA. 02125

Phone: 617-287-7385
Fax: 617-287-7274


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