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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this chapter, the reader will be able to:
Define assistive technology (AT) devices and services in pediatric populations.
Describe a range of AT from low tech to digital tech.
Discuss legislative issues affecting funding and delivery of AT services.
Discuss principles of AT assessment and service delivery, including the role of the physical therapist as part of an interdisciplinary team.
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Children with disabilities often need and can benefit from the use of assistive technology (AT) devices and services. These services and supports can increase children’s participation in everyday activities at home, school, and in the community. Unfortunately, AT is highly underused,1 and too few service providers know how to implement AT in the services they provide.2 Physical therapists have long been involved in the practice of providing adaptive equipment for positioning and mobility.3 However, the role of the physical therapist in AT services delivery is much more than that. Physical therapists, along with other service providers, also need to know how to consider a range of ATs to optimize the overall functioning of children with disabilities1 and support their participation in everyday activities.4 Physical therapists also need to know about laws and legislations to support the acquisition of AT devices and services and how to access additional AT training and resources to support children’s use and maintenance of AT. Physical therapists are in an ideal position to consider, recommend, and in many cases implement AT services because they are often one of the first service providers to provide interventions to children with disabilities.2 Unfortunately, physical therapists and other service providers often feel inadequately prepared in obtaining and using AT.2,5 Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of AT for pediatric populations, including how to identify funding sources and AT resources. We will also discuss the role of the physical therapist as a member of an interdisciplinary team and describe principles of AT assessment and service delivery.
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OVERVIEW OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
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In the past 40 years, there has been an explosion of AT devices from low tech to high tech, including digital tech.3 This section will focus on the definition of AT and highlight different types of AT devices for pediatric populations.
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What Is Assistive Technology?
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A formal definition of AT and AT services, outlined in Table 20-1, comes from the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (29 USC §2202, 1999) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC §1400, 2004). In simplified terms, AT is any tool to help a person with a disability to do something they have trouble doing. AT can range from low-tech options such as pencil grips to more high-tech options such as computerized communication devices. AT also ...