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Transferring Assistive Technology from School to Work
This article, written by the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), discusses the issues related to transitioning assistive technology (AT) devices from a school system to a work-site or higher education setting. When needed AT devices do not continue with the individual for whom it was meant, all parties lose.
The article notes five main barriers to the successful transition of AT from school to work. These barriers include, lack of involvement from the vocational rehabilitation counselor, lack of information about AT, strict rules about the disposition of equipment within the school system, no established buy-out method, and lack of communication, collaboration, and planning between involved parties.
Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) addresses some of these issues, barriers are still being faced related to the transition of AT from school to work. The remainder of the article gives suggestions for how to make equipment-transfer a reality. These suggestions call for action on the part of all involved parties from VR counselors to funding agencies to the students to policy makers and so on. The idea presented in this article is to get the right people involved from the beginning and lay out a detailed plan for the individuals/students use of the AT equipment, therefore when a transition point is reached, there will not be questions surrounding ownership and need of equipment.
Reference:
Transferring Assistive Technology from School to Work. (2004). Retrieved on February 12, 2004 from http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/17/107/107-107/736.
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