UConn's "Assistive Technology Mindset"
I ran across this on the University of Connecticut's Technology Act Homepage and liked the phrasing...thought it might give us some ideas on writing more personalized descriptions or "missions" for our teams:
Assistive Technology is
so much more than finding
the newest catalog and
placing an order
Assistive technology is a complex issue for both consumers and service providers. Previous procedures and policies that provided services to people with special needs don't always work when assistive technology becomes part of the picture. Successful use of assistive technology means creation of an entirely new mindset.
Waiting for the Next, Newer Model
Nothing is more disconcerting than purchasing a piece of technology that becomes obsolete in a week. People who are just getting into technology are particularly afraid of this possibility, so they frequently advise waiting "a month or two" until a new model is released. Invariably, just at that release, there is another, newer model on the horizon. The cardinal rule of dealing with any technology is that it will change. Purchasing a piece of technology is never a permanent solution.
The Importance of Independence
Some people with disabilities become dependent on other people to accomplish certain tasks in their lives. Assistive technology often offers people the ability to do these tasks independently. While the "doing" might be slower, especially in the beginning, independence created by the use of assistive technology is often viewed as "the least restrictive environment" and as a road to real independent living.
Awareness, Access, Availability
Awareness is an important first step in the spread of assistive technology, but with awareness there is always an outcry for access to needed technology. Access is only possible when the technology is available and on-site, whenever and wherever the consumer needs it.
The Pro-Active Approach
How does a school or agency plan for and meet the needs of their students? Recent history in Connecticut has suggested that many school districts and agencies have been forced to react to consumer demands for access to assistive technology. One of the major focuses of the Tech Act is to start school systems and state agencies thinking about pro-active approaches, planning for expected needs, procuring equipment and services and having them available and accessible before the need becomes acute.
Difficult Transitions
Another major area of concern is the time and service gaps consumers are facing when they pass from one agency's jurisdiction to another's. It's not uncommon for a child to get a device, learn how to use it and gain a great deal of independence and success, and then "lose" that device for over a year when he or she is moved to another agency's control while that agency re-evaluates, re-discusses, re-decides, and re-orders. Meanwhile, the individual is being denied access to an essential device.
Timely Delivery
A great evaluation, super decisions, and the best prices for the best equipment serve little or no purpose when the actual procurement takes so long that the recommended items are no longer available! Purchase, set-up, training, and implementation of assistive technology programs should be carried out as rapidly as possible once a team decision has been made.
From http://www.techact.uconn.edu/mind.html. The rest of their site is under construction, but some more recently updated pages are linked to this site.