OCC5121 - Advanced adaptive and assistive technology - 2017

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Organisational Unit

Department of Occupational Therapy

Coordinator(s)

TBA

Not offered in 2017

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.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  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 (1,000 words) (20%)
  • Literature review (3,000 words) (30%)
  • Exam (30%)

Workload requirements

40 hours attendance in lectures/practicums (block mode), 4 hours clinic attendance (over 2 separate occasions), 16 hours seminar attendance (including a 20 minute presentation), 2 written assignments (1,000 and 2,000 words).

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

TBA

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study