Assistive Technology Certification

O. K.  I did a search in this Website on this subject and found no results so I'm gonna post my question here.  I am a sysadmin and have recently learned about and have an interest in Assistive Technology Certification in California.

I want to know if anyone out there holds such a certificate and how may class hours were needed for the cert and how often they have to get re-certified.  I checked the Dept of Rehab Website and am dizzy with trying to find answers to my questions.

Those of you that work in this field, what is the work like?  Are you employed in a profit/non-profit/contractor capacity?

Any guidance in this area is appreciated.  Thank you!

--Mary

Hi Mary

I do not know of any certification programme for Assistive Technology software, if you find one then let me know. There seem to be two main groups who get into AT. Interested techies tend to do their own 'self directed learning' by trying stuff out and contributing to development and user groups. The other main route into AT is through education, teachers working in specialist shools, teachers supporting  pupils with special needs in mainstream education and freelance trainers.

There are short courses on specific AT programs or particular conditions such as dyslexia that tend to be aimed at serving teachers. The small and fragmented market makes certified training difficult to support, this also makes AT very open, so if you want to get started the best advice is to learn by doing. Starting out as a volunteer is a good way in, that what I did, as for now VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) pay most of what I get with a contribution from KSB. Do not expect to get rich working in AT.

Peter Cheer
Assistive Technology Trainer
Kenya Society for the Blind
Nairobi

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Hi Mary surfing the net I came across this which might be what you were looking for http://www.fastuk.org/services/american.php.It is a UK based site and lists far more UK courses. I am not sure how practical and work related some of these courses are and would still prefer learning by doing but perhaps that is just because it is what I did..

Pete

Thanks Pete!

I also found in my research that I have some resources close to home.  If anyone is curious, two local universities here in California, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Dominguez Hills offer certificate programs in AT.  Dominguez's program is online.  Northridge has the best program though, from what I am told, they seem to be a hub for AT studies in my area.

Hands down though, folks seem to learn by doing, like you did.  And you are in Nairobi?  When I saw that I thought, "WOW!  That's a world away!"   I love the power of the Internet...

Thanks for the help,

--Mary