Review Series: Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) CEU Courses for OTs

Occupational and physical therapists are often key members of the wheelchair seating evaluation team. Seating interventions, including pressure management, seated angles, and strategies to address common positioning challenges will be addressed in this course.

Therapists are often key members of the wheelchair seating evaluation team. Seating assessment includes evaluation of current posture and equipment, a mat examination, and equipment recommendations. This course will review the assessment process.

The RESNA Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) examination addresses numerous areas, including general Assessment and Service Delivery. This course will address assistive technology (AT) assessment importance, components, and team members, as well as AT service delivery models, outcomes, ethics, and standards of practice.

A variety of assistive technology access methods with definitions, clinical indicators, facilitators, and programming will prepare the participant for the RESNA ATP examination.

Power wheelchairs are designed to provide independent and functional mobility for people unable to efficiently self-propel any type of manual wheelchair. This course will introduce power-operated vehicles (scooters) and power wheelchairs, including features such as drive wheel configuration, power seating, and alternative driving methods.

Most manual wheelchairs are designed for self-propulsion and fall into categories. This course will systematically explore each category with clinical indicators, as well as optimal frame configuration to increase propulsion efficiency and reduce the risk of repetitive stress injury.

This course will present a hierarchy of computer and tablet access options for clients unable to use standard access, such as a keyboard, mouse, and touch screen. Access assessment requires analysis of motor skills, vision, cognition, and functional applications. Alternative keyboards and mice will be presented, as well as other alternative access options.

Dependent mobility devices are not designed for self-propulsion. These include adaptive strollers, transport chairs, tilt in space manual wheelchairs, reclining manual wheelchairs, and standard manual wheelchairs. For very small children, adaptive strollers are often required to meet positional and dependent mobility needs. Other dependent mobility bases, such as transport chairs and standard wheelchairs, are used for quick trips or for temporary use. Clients may also use a dependent mobility base as a back-up to a power wheelchair.

This course is part of the Wheelchair Seating Back To The Basics Topic.

Once the wheelchair seating assessment has been completed and seating interventions considered, it is time to match specific client needs to product interventions. This course presents various categories of seating systems. Seating systems, whether linear, contoured, or molded, are comprised of primary support surfaces, secondary support components, and materials.

This course is part of the Wheelchair Seating Back To The Basics Topic.

Electronic Aids to Daily Living provide an alternative means of controlling devices, primarily within the home environment, including audiovisual equipment, lighting, and thermostats. Advances in consumer home automation technologies have opened new control opportunities for people with disabilities.