Welcome to Innov-AT!

If you are here, you likely have been referred for, or are considering an assistive technology assessment.

The information below is meant to help you learn more about assistive technology and introduce you to our process.

Our assistive technology services typically fall within two categories: the Assessment and the Implementation.

During the assessment, we will work with you (and if appropriate, your caregivers, employer, and loved ones) to evaluate what assistive technology tools may help you.

During the Implementation, we will support purchasing and setting up the assistive technology we recommended. Most importantly, during Implementation, we will make sure that you (and your team) understand how to use the tools.

Learn more about both of these below.

Assistive Technology Assessment

An assistive technology (AT) assessment is a process that helps an AT Specialist determine whether assistive technology tools can help you be more independent. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about which AT tools will best help you meet your goals.

Steps:

Introduction:

After we receive a referral with your information, we will contact you at your preferred method to learn a little more about you. The referrals we receive typically tell us a little about you, but we want to learn about you from you. If you are unable to communicate with us, we will look to your care team to advocate on your behalf.

Meeting:

We will schedule a meeting at a time and place that is convenient for you. During this meeting, we will ask more questions. You will be interviewed to learn more about the environments you live and work in, your current tools, and your current struggles. It is important that you openly share your experiences, wants, and needs during the assessment process. During the assessment, you may be asked to perform activities with and without assistive devices. This is to help us learn what works best for you.

At the end of the meeting, we will share our findings with you and discuss potential solutions. Your input during this process is important. This discussion may include recommendations for assistive technology, types of equipment, changes to how you perform tasks, and who may help you if needed. We will also let you know whether we are ready to make recommendations or need to schedule additional meetings to continue the assessment.

Reporting:

Once the assessment is complete, we will prepare a report that includes our recommendations, along with recommendations for purchasing, training, and funding. This report will be sent to the person who referred you for services. This report is typically sent within 3 weeks after the assessment is completed.

Follow Up:

The person who referred you to Innov-AT will contact you to discuss the findings and determine which assistive technology tools they are willing and able to fund.

Assistive Technology Implementation

Implementation services include purchasing assistive technology tools, creating custom tools, delivering and setting up assistive technology, and training for you and anyone you feel would benefit from understanding it. The implementation plan differs for each individual based on the recommended tools, the level of comfort with those tools, and the support team available. At the start of the implementation phase, we will work with you to set goals for learning about your assistive technology and to help you understand the training options we can provide.

Implementation May Include:

Purchasing:

We will purchase the requested items and ensure the correct items are delivered.

Set-Up:

We will set up assistive technology at your location or deliver it to you already set up.

Custom Tool Creation:

In some instances, assistive technology may need to be custom-built, designed, or modified. We will provide these custom tools to you, along with instructions for using them.

Training:

We will meet with you to instruct you on how to use your assistive technology. In some instances, this may be a one-time meeting. In other instances, this may be an ongoing process to make adjustments to the AT and to help ensure you (and your care team if necessary) can use the tools effectively.

Reporting:

We will provide regular updates to your referral/funding source about your progress and complete a final report once we are confident you are able to successfully use your assistive technology.

Expectations & Responsibilities

Learning about assistive technology and how to use it can be an emotional process. It can be very exciting to try new things and learn that you can be more independent. It can also be frustrating when things do not work on the first try or when funding isn’t readily available.

We are here to help you through this process and support you in learning to be as independent as possible with your tools. In this process, there are things you can expect from us. There are also things that are your responsibility.

What You Can Expect From Us:

  • We will work directly with you whenever possible. If you have a guardian, we will work with them to advocate on your behalf.

  • We will respect your space and your belongings. We will never touch or move your items without asking for your permission.

  • We will respect your privacy. Everything you share with us will remain with our team, except for the individuals documented in your Release of Information.

  • We will take the time to listen. We want to hear what you have to say, and we know it isn’t always easy to tell someone new about what's hardest for you. We will ask thoughtful questions and listen to your answers.

  • We will respect your refusal. If you do not like a certain type of AT or feel something will not work for you, we will take that into consideration and document that refusal as part of our assessment.

  • We will work within our professional realm of knowledge. AT is a broad field. Each of us has experience and expertise in different areas. We will bring in our team when needed to ensure we are providing the best possible service to you.

  • We will do our best to find a solution that works for you. If our team doesn’t have a tool that we know will work, we will work with other AT professionals and explore alternative solutions.

  • We will keep learning. We will regularly attend conferences, webinars, and training sessions, and collaborate with other professionals to learn about new assistive technology tools that may benefit you.

  • We will communicate clearly and frequently. We want to make sure that you are part of the process and you know what is happening every step of the way.

  • We will provide timely and accurate documentation. We know our reports are used to make funding decisions for your assistive technology, and we will always strive to provide full and accurate reports within the expected time frame.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Be willing to share your experience. Telling us what you have tried, what works for you, and what doesn’t. This makes our assessment easier.

  • Keep an open mind. We may ask you to try different tools or techniques that you have not tried before or that you have tried in the past. This helps us figure out what features work or do not work for you.

  • Be flexible when possible. We will do our best to schedule a meeting around times that work for you. The more flexible you are, the more likely we can schedule quickly.

  • Communicate when things change. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know as soon as possible. If your needs change, please let us know so we can adjust our plan.

  • Try your best. It can be hard to learn new things. In order for us to help you, we need you to try your best during both the assessment and implementation.

  • Practice. When implementing your assistive technology, we may ask you to practice certain things in between our meetings. It is important that you practice using your tools so we can work on new skills during our time together.