[Athen] some things adaptive technology experts need to know

Mama Leah mamaleah at comcast.net
Tue Jun 27 18:00:48 PDT 2006


Greetings!

A great deal of wisdom is being shared...exactly what this list is
about...and I will at my two cents worth as well.

My educational background is Psychological Science...Counseling...and
Computer Science. Add to that...I am a person with multiple
disabilities...onset later in life. We all seem to come into the AT field
for or from various reasons or situations. Mine started with my own need to
know...then my desire to share what I had learned...knowledge and experience
are the only things in life you can give all of it away and still retain it.

As a person with disabilities...who utilizes AT every day...the best advice
I can give anyone coming into the field is to listen to their
consumers/customers/students/etc...with your head...heart...and gut
instinct! Yes...there are laws...protocols...least restrictive...best
practice...we all know the rules. Please...do not get into AT...trying to
get into Heaven...or make yourself feel good...it is just wrong!

Do it for the right reasons...and it will bring you many blessings.

Mama Leah

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org]On
Behalf Of Roll,Marla
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 6:47 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: Re: [Athen] some things adaptive technology experts need to
know


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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