Abstract
A survey was completed by OT practitioners to identify education they received in assistive technology (AT), their comfort using AT, and the types of AT they use in practice to evaluate the match between AT education and practice.
Primary Author and Speaker: Morgan O’Neil
Additional Authors and Speakers: Rochelle Mendonca, Phyllis Simon
Assistive technology (AT) includes products, modifications, services, and processes that enable people with disabilities to participate in occupations (WFOT 2017). The World Federation of Occupational Therapy advocates that AT provision is a core competency within occupational therapy (OT) practice to optimize fit of abilities and engagement in occupations. Additionally, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education 2018 requirements include standards referencing the provision of AT, including designing, fabricating, applying, fitting, and training (ACOTE, 2022). Although AT is an essential part of OT services, the evidence-based knowledge about the delivery process is sparse (Larsen et al., 2023). To address this gap, a survey was completed by 127 OTPs to understand their use of AT in practice, education they received about AT in their OT academic programs, and AT continuing education they engaged in. Participants were recruited across age ranges, 22 states, and 12 different practice settings. OTPs identified the type of AT (e.g., high, mid, low tech) that they use most frequently as well as their comfort with implementing AT. In addition, they answered qualitative questions about their experience with learning about AT when they were in OT school and information about continuing education, they completed related to AT. The data showed that 50% of participants reported using AT daily in their practice, but when asked about the adequateness of their education, the answers varied. Most participants went on to qualitatively describe their education and how they learned on the job. Seventy-seven percent of the participants said they received no additional training from their workplace; and 53% reported they had not sought out additional continuing education. Raising awareness about the value of AT in practice among occupational therapists, starting with their OT education, is an important first step to ensure that AT is used as an intervention.
Accreditation Council on Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). (2022). 2018 Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education standards and Interpretive guide. August 2022 guide version. https://acoteonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2018-ACOTE-Standards.pdf
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