Resources
Key Terms
Assistive Technology - Devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) – Certification - A service provider who is involved in analysis of a consumer’s needs and training in the use of a particular device. (Expires 12/31/2008). The certification is administered by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Since April 1, 2008 the ATP certification or ATS (see below) certification has been required by Medicare in order to provide complex rehabilitative wheelchairs. This certification will be replaced by the Assistive Technology Professional Certification on 1/1/2009.
Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) – Certification – Consolidation of the Assistive Technology Practitioner and Assistive Technology Supplier into a single certification. The certification recognizes professionals who have reached an internationally accepted standard of knowledge in assistive technology and who adhere to RESNA's code of ethics and standards of practice. As of January 1, 2009 the ATP certification will be required by Medicare in order to provide complex rehabilitation wheelchairs.
Assistive Technology Supplier (ATS) – Certification - A service provider who is involved with the sale and service of rehab equipment, assistive technology and commercially available products or devices (Expires 12/31/2008). The certification is administered by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Since April 1, 2008 the ATS certification or ATP (see above) certification has been required by Medicare in order to provide complex rehabilitative wheelchairs. This certification will be replaced by the Assistive Technology Professional Certification on 1/1/2009.
Certification - The recognition by the private sector of voluntarily achieved standards and is usually bestowed by a private sector nonprofit professional association. It is generally nongovernmental and voluntary, and it is a statement of qualification. Certification is intended to recognize core competence in an identified knowledge base. The primary purpose of certification activities is to promote the common business interests of those so certified, although public protection is a stated mission of many certification programs. Many certification organizations emphasize that the goal of their certification programs is to measure competence, and that this identification of competent professionals will promote the public welfare.
Certified Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (CRTS) – A Registered Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (RRTS) in good standing for at least two years who has acquired the Assistive Technology Supplier (ATS) certification administered by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) and continues to maintain the ATS certification with RESNA.
Engineering - Profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
Engineering - An innovative and methodical application of scientific knowledge and technology to produce a device, system or process, which is intended to satisfy human need(s). A service profession.
Evidence-Based Medicine - Evidence based medicine is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. Individual clinical expertise is described as the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice. Best available external clinical evidence is described as clinically relevant research, often from the basic sciences of medicine, but especially from patient centered clinical research into the accuracy and precision of diagnostic tests (including the clinical examination), the power of prognostic markers, and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive regimens.
Evidence-Based Practice – The extension of evidence-based medicine to other areas of practice such as rehabilitation and education. The key to EBP is objectively linking the individual evidence to the practitioner experience and external evidence through the utilization of appropriate quantitative tools and instrumentation.
National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) - NRRTS is a professional association supporting individuals who provide Complex Rehab wheelchairs and seated positioning systems for people of all ages and diagnoses who have postural or mobility deficits.
Registered Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (RRTS) – A professional who is registered with the National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS).
Rehabilitation Engineer - A professional who utilizes rehabilitation engineering concepts, principles and practices to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Typically the rehabilitation engineer will have graduated with a BS degree from an ABET accredited institution. The rehabilitation engineer will have acquired or will be eligible for the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) and Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) certifications.
Rehabilitation Engineering - The application of science and technology to improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities.
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) – The purpose of RESNA is to improve the potential of people with disabilities to achieve their goals through the use of technology. RESNA serves that purpose by promoting research, development, education, advocacy and provision of technology; and by supporting the people engaged in these activities. RESNA's membership ranges from rehabilitation professionals to consumers to students. All members are dedicated to promoting the exchange of ideas and information for the advancement of assistive technology.
Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) – Certification – A person who applies engineering principles to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. An assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. The areas of practice for the Rehabilitation Engineering Technology examination typically encompasses job accommodations, computer access, mass/ public transportation, vehicle modifications, architectural modifications and home modifications, augmentative/ alternative communications, environmental controls, positioning devices, seating and mobility, sensory aids, and learning accommodations. The certification is administered by the Professional Standards Board (PSB) of the Rehabilitation
Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). An individual must obtain the ATP certification prior to or concurrently with the RET certification.
Rehabilitation Technologist - A professional who performs routine technical work to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, under the supervision of a Rehabilitation Engineer.
Rehabilitation Technology - Tools, instrumentations and devices for rehabilitation rather than being a part of the person’s daily life and functional activities.
Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (RTS) – A professional who is involved in the sales and service of assistive technology, primarily wheelchairs and seating systems.
Websites
EATING AND WHEELED MOBILITY
WheelchairNet http://www.wheelchairnet.org
WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORTATION
Ride Safe http://www.travelsafer.org
WC19 Your Ticket to Ride http://www.rercwts.pitt.edu/wc19.html
Easter Seals Project Action http://projectaction.easterseals.com/
PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)
http://www.resna.org
Biomedical Engineering Society http://www.bmes.org
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology. http://www.embs.org
Assistive Technology Industry Association http://www.atia.org
National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers http://www.nrrts.org
UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Human Engineering Research Laboratories http://www.herlpitt.org
University of Pittsburgh – School of Health and Rehabilitating Science http://www.shrs.pitt.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago – College of Applied Health Science – http://www.ahs.uic.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago – College of Engineering http://www.uic.edu/depts/enga/
University of Illinois at Chicago – Department of Bioengineering http://www.uic.edu/depts/bioe/
SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMS
Assistive Technology Unit University of Illinois at Chicago http://www.uic.edu/orgs/idhd/atu.htm
Center for Assistive Technology - University of Pittsburgh http://www.cat.pitt.edu
Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region http://www.dfvr.easterseals.com
Illinois Assistive Technology Program http://www.iltech.org
Infinitec http://www.infinitec.org
Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital – http://www.marianjoy.org
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago – http://www.ric.org
ORGANIZATIONS
Paralyzed Veterans of America http://www.pva.org
National Council on Independent Living http://www.ncil.org
National Spinal Cord Injury Association http://www.spinalcord.org
United Cerebral Palsy http://www.ucp.org
United Spinal Association http://www.unitedspinal.org |
