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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Thank goodness for ATHEN! For more than 5 years, I’ve been guided by resources like ATHEN’s 2008\2009 watershed surveys and reports (links listed below):
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://www.athenpro.org/node/88">http://www.athenpro.org/node/88</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><a href="http://www.athenpro.org/node/89">http://www.athenpro.org/node/89</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">At my campus, the Assistive Technologist position has evolved significantly. By way of example, my predecessor actually served as a quasi-academic advisor and a large chunk of my own responsibilities once
included a number of clerical and office management functions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">With the staunch support of my Disability Services Counselors and heads of department, over time I’ve been able clarify the Assistive Technologist’s professional role and sharply focus my duties on accessibility
for our students. That said, I still have a few hills to climb ensuring my official job description is consonant with my actual duties. In trying to bolster my case for a change in job description, I’ve tried unsuccessfully to find an appropriate Bureau of
Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification group for Post-Secondary Assistive Technologists (link:
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/soc/major_groups.htm">http://www.bls.gov/soc/major_groups.htm</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Is it more accurate to identify with the IT professions? By definition assistive technology itself is largely compensatory in nature, so I seriously doubt we’d be affiliated with OTs or PTs – but I’m really
not sure… Am I “chasing my own tail” here?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your input!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:20.0pt"><a href="mailto:joseph.m.nast@lonestar.edu"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">Joseph M. Nast</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:20.0pt">Assistive Technology Lab Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">office phone: 281.290.3207<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">office room number: CASA 109j<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><a href="http://cyfair.lonestar.edu/">Lone Star College Cy Fair</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt"><a href="http://www.lonestar.edu/counseling-services.htm">Counseling, Career, and Disability Services</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#BF0000">The information in this e-mail is legally privileged and confidential information intended to be reviewed by only the individual or organization named above.</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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