Date: Saturday, February 1, 2014
Category: General
In December 2013, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) initiated a study of the current role of the assistive technology professional.
The purpose of the job analysis is to re-validate the core competencies and knowledge needed by assistive technology professionals to perform their professional responsibilities in an effective and ethical manner. The procedures used in conducting the job analysis study involve an interactive process that combines:
- the job analysis expertise of Knapp & Associates International, Inc. staff;
- the professional knowledge of a panel of subject matter experts comprised of experienced and currently practicing assistive technology professionals; and
- the judgments of a national sample of practitioners.
The job analysis study consists of three phases:
- Phase One: Development of a competency and knowledge framework (1/13/2014)
- Phase Two: Creation of competency and knowledge statements (1/31/2014)
- Phase Three: Administration of a survey to a national sample of assistive technology professionals (2/22/2014)
Early in the process, RESNA formed a Job Analysis Committee comprised of individuals with significant experience in assistive technology. Commitee members were selected to be representative of the diversity of the profession. The panel includes the following participants:
Diana Petschauer, M.Ed. Special Ed., ATP
Doug Gayton, ATP
Elizabeth Koch, OTR/L, ATP
Fiona Bessy-Bushnell, MA, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Jan Rogers, OT, ATP
Jarod Rowles ATP/SMS
Robert McKnight, ATP/SMS
Julie Piriano, PT, ATP/SMS
Laura Simmons-Martinez,
Linda Potts, MEd, OTR/L, ATP
Marsye Kaplan, MS CCC-SLP ATP
Meghan Donahue, MS, ATP
Mike Seidel, ATP, CRTS
Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Weesie Walker, ATP/SMS, CRTS
The outcome of the job analysis will inform the June 2014 update to the content outline of the ATP certification exam. The revised ATP exam is scheduled for release June 2015.