OCC5121 - Advanced Adaptive and Assistive Technology

Leader(s): Dr Rachael McDonald

Offered

Peninsula First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Assistive technology promotes greater independence for people with
disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they otherwise would have great difficulty or not be able to accomplish. This unit will involve problem solving and clinical reasoning to help the students to develop into competent assistive technology professionals and providers. The course will consist of information relating to social and political aspects of people with disability and technology. The areas of Seating and Positioning, Mobility, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Daily Living Technologies and Assistive Technology Access will be studied in detail. Students will choose one area for their first assignment, and will attend 2 separate
clinics each of 4 hours duration to observe clinical practice.

Objectives

At the completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of a range of clinical conditions for whom various assistive technologies are applicable;
2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the barriers and enhancers created by using assistive and adaptive technologies for disabled people;
3. Describe the social and political aspects of disability with reference to assistive and adaptive technologies;
4. Develop and describe appropriate assistive technology provision for clients with specific conditions, supported with sound clinical reasoning;
5. Demonstrate advanced skills in assessing, applying for funding and prescribing a range of Assistive Technology Devices for clients in everyday practice;
6. Understand and implement the principles of adaptive and assistive technology in the areas of: Seating and Positioning, Mobility, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Daily Living Technologies and Assistive Technology Access;
7. Display specialist information in one of the areas of Seating and Positioning, Mobility, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Daily Living Technologies and Assistive Technology Access;
8. Demonstrate professional competence in searching and summarising (verbally and in writing) the scientific literature on a specific topic related to assistive technology.

Assessment

Seminar presentation (20%)
Essay (1000 words)(20%)
Literature Review (3000 words)(30%)
Exam (30%)

Contact hours

40 hours attendance in lectures/practicums (block mode), 4 hrs clinic
attendance (over 2 separate occasions), 16 hrs seminar attendance (including a 20 minute presentation), 2 written assignments (1000 and 2000 words)