Assistive Technology Clinic for Children & Youth
Comprehensive assistive technology assessments are available for children and youth through the Assistive Technology Assessment Clinic (AT Clinic) at the Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED).
Assessment programs are overseen by a nationally certified Assistive Technology Practitioner and designed to help individuals identify and use assistive technology to support independence and enhance quality of life.
Assistive Technology (AT) is any device used to perform tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. These devices can be as complex as computers with screen reading software or as simple as Velcro used in place of buttons or shoe laces.
The interdisciplinary clinical assessments are conducted from the Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED) and usually include environmental assessments in the home, school and/or worksite for:
- Computer access
- Environmental controls
- Adaptations to living and work environments
- Sensory impairments
- Activities of daily living
- Recreation
For individuals who have access to local video conferencing facilities but difficulty with transportation to the Morgantown site, tele-assessments (AT-TV) can be made available.
All assessments are conducted by licensed professionals whose disciplines include occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, recreation therapy and invited vendors as determined by the individual's assistive technology needs.
Clinic staff work with clients, families, providers, vendors and insurers to determine the type of assistive technology that best meets the needs of the individual and to identify possible funding sources.
After the assessment, staff will follow up with each client to ensure that the recommended assistive technology is received, that it functions properly, fulfills the recommendations made by the assessment team and meets the individual's needs to the greatest extent possible.
Computer access assessments for hardware and software are included in the comprehensive assessments but may also be scheduled separately. CED houses the only Microsoft Accessibility Resource Center in West Virginia and can offer accessible technology solutions on computers running Windows operating systems.
Full-day clinics are held on the third Monday of each month. Clients who only require computer access assessments are scheduled on a space available basis.
Clinic fees for agencies and organizations:
- Comprehensive Assistive Technology Assessments $850
- AT-TV Tele-Assessments $600
- Computer Access Assessments $300
Individuals, please call 800-841-8436 for fee information.
The West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS) provides assistive device demonstrations and trainings to interested individuals and groups. For loans to try out assistive technology, please call 800-841-8436 to make arrangements or go to our Virtual Loan Library at www.cedwvu.org/programs/wvats
The Assistive Technology Loan Library is a collection of assistive technology devices, books and other resources. The WVATS Demonstration Lab and Assistive Technology Loan Library are located at the CED. Clinic Clients and family members may ask for AT demonstrations and may borrow devices for up to four weeks. The Loan Library is available on the Internet at www.cedwvu.org/programs/wvats/virtuallibrary.html The online collection contains a photograph and description of each assistive technology device.
For more information, call the Center at 800-841-8436.
Center for Excellence in Disabilities
959 Hartman Run Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
1-800-841-8436 or Fax 304-293-7294
E-mail: ced@hsc.wvu.edu
www.cedwvu.org
All printed materials are made available in braille, electronic format, cassette tape and large print.
