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Entry into the AT field:
1983
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How I got into the
field
In the early 1980s I was a
faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. One of my responsibilities
was to find out as much as I could about the rehabilitation technology field
and begin to implement services at the university. We were interested in
applications of rehabilitation engineering and initiated efforts to establish a
technology service delivery center and eventually developed a rehabilitation
technology concentration in the undergraduate vocational rehabilitation
program.
With a background in vocational
evaluation the concept of AT and accommodations made sense. It amazed me then,
and still does today, that technology resources and services are not more of an
integral part of the entire rehabilitation process.
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Important event(s) that influenced
my early decision to get into the assistive technology field
Involvement with RESNA enabled me to interact
with key people who were pioneers in the field, such as Dudley Childress, Don
McNeal, Gerry Warren, and Doug Hobson. These individuals and many others all
reinforced this as a good decision.
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Why I chose the AT
field
As a vocational rehabilitation
professional with a specialty in vocational evaluation, the importance of
something that could help increase the opportunities of persons with
disabilities to work and lead independent lives has always made sense. The
field of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology offered such
promise that it seemed logical that there should be greater utilization of
these resources and services throughout the rehabilitation process. Spreading
the gospel of assistive technology and how practical applications of technology
resources and services can impact the lives of persons with disabilities to
other VR professionals such as rehab counselors and vocational evaluators is my
primary professional passion.
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My inspiration and
mentor
Probably the most influential
person was Sam McFarland. A riverboat ride in Memphis in 1985 started a
friendship and mentoring relationship that made it clear this field was indeed
special. Sam was a rehabilitation engineer who had a special blend of clinical
expertise, technical knowledge, common sense and the ability to make you feel
important. He helped a bumbling cheese-head from Wisconsin learn how to spell
"AT." It was unfortunate we lost Sam so soon, but his legacy lives on in many
ways.
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Why the field is important to me
and the central focus of my work
As a
vocational evaluator my training centered around helping individuals with
disabilities find meaningful employment. Much of the traditional methods
focused on testing, identifying transferable skills and matching someone with
job demands. Today I look at vocational evaluation practice and cannot imagine
one can do an effective job without considering and using AT and workplace
accommodation problem solving as part of the process. With the move toward
serving persons with more significant disabilities, while at the same time
demanding improved employment outcomes, the incorporation of AT resources and
services is not only important but essential.
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My memorable successes and
greatest contributions to the field
Surviving being conference chair of the 1986
RESNA Conference and heading up the Meetings Committee for many years!
Directing and being involved with two national projects that promoted
rehabilitation technology resources and services within the vocational
rehabilitation field stand out as good efforts that may have helped to turn on
a few more light bulbs for vocational rehabilitation staffs that may not have
really aware of how technology resources and services could assist them.
The AT field really has contributed much
more to my work as a professional in the vocational rehabilitation field than I
have given to the AT field. I hope that I have added to the awareness that
other rehabilitation professionals have about assistive technology resources
and services.
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My most memorable
failures
One thought that comes to
mind was just the naïve assumption that assistive technology and
rehabilitation engineering made so much sense that the spread and utilization
of these resources would have garnered much stronger support that it has from
schools, state agencies and employers. Efforts I have been involved with to
increase awareness, and therefore utilization, have only been partially
successful. Realizing now that this will be an evolutionary not revolutionary
process has helped me to see things from these other perspectives.
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Significant changes and advances
in the field since I first entered it
Today the field has a much broader base and
involves professionals from a wider variety of backgrounds. In the early 1980's
rehabilitation engineering was clearly the buzzword. While research,
development and engineering of products and devices are still important and
should be supported, today we find a tremendous amount of readily available
products and resources that can meet many of the needs that exist. We no longer
have to develop nearly as many unique products to solve problems. Many more
options are available to select from. What has not changed, however, is the
need for creativity, problem-solving and individualized services. Products that
were once one-of-a-kind "handicap devices" are now commercially available items
that are less costly, more reliable and readily available to reduce time delays
in making accommodations. Universal design and ergonomics have helped to
distribute and market many of these resources to new and varied groups. Today
the consumer has a much more active role in the process and is able to make
choices about what they would like to use.
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On the future of rehabilitation
engineering and assistive technology
Rehabilitation engineering will continue to play
an important, but perhaps less obvious role in the future. More
behind-the-scenes inroads will be made by rehabilitation engineering to promote
greater adaptation of universal design principles so that products and
resources are not necessarily identified with "disability". The challenges of
the past with fragmented service delivery and funding systems will likely
remain serious issues to address.
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My role within RESNA and what it
gave back to me
Becoming involved in
RESNA has been an excellent influence on my career. The decision to "get a
little involved" resulted in co-chairing the 1986 RESNA conference and
subsequently working on the Meetings Committee for many years. This enabled me
to meet and work with an outstanding group of individuals. I consider myself to
be a dual-career professional with one foot in the AT field and the other in
voc rehabilitation. RESNA has been an excellent venue to bring these various
disciplines together.
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On the future of RESNA
RESNA always seems to be at a crossroads. This
seems to be the nature of professional associations in emerging and developing
fields such as ours. Forming real partnerships and collaborations with other
groups and organizations will be essential for RESNA to not only encourage and
sustain growth, but to have the impact needed on the lives of persons with
disabilities and disabling conditions. The certification work which RESNA has
initiated will continue to be important. The diversity of RESNA has always been
its strength as well as its major weakness. Determining how best to use our
diverse backgrounds and interests will be the key to future growth.
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My suggestions for those just
entering the field
It's a great field
- stay flexible, remain diligent and always do your best to think outside that
proverbial box, both with the individuals that you serve and with the field
that you will help guide. You may have to use your technical knowledge and
skills in ways that you have not considered to be able to find your
niche.
