Assistive Technology Degree Requirements

Drop in and ask the folks on the listserv at www.qiat.org this question. They *are* the “assistive technology consultants.” I suspect they got there through special education pathways but now that technology takes such a greater role than even 10 years ago, there should be other paths being carved out.

I have a child with Autism and the field of Assistive Technology interests me. I am currently attending college and finishing an A.S. degree in general studies. What kind of degree or background do you need to work in Assitive Technology and do the assessments and recommend programs.
Thanks

See the above answer.

I have been looking into Graduate school programs in Maryland because I am thinking of pursuing teacher certification. You might want to look at this program at Johns Hopkins University (www.jhu.edu) because it might give you an idea of what the course work would include. (I think this program might be geared to individuals who are already in the field of education, though - couldn’t tell if you were already in education or not):

“Master of Science in Special Education - Technology in Special Education
The Technology in Special Education program prepares educators and related service professionals, such as speech-language pathologists and physical or occupational therapists, for leadership roles in the integration of assistive technology into effective instruction. Through hands-on experience and classroom activities, students learn to apply research and best practices in the selection, acquisition, and use of assistive technologies for children with disabilities. Graduates of this program are prepared to design and evaluate assistive technology strategies and to facilitate the delivery of team-based assistive technology services at the school and district levels. Students participate in collaborative projects, information forums, and field experiences that provide a foundation for future professional networking.
Course Requirements
The plan of study requires a minimum of 36 graduate credits to be completed within five years. At least 33 credits must be completed in the School of Professional Studies in Business and Education.”

I also found Loyola College (www.loyola.edu) but their program (Master of Education - Educational Technology Focus” ) is more geared to general education technology with assistive technology as just one course within the curriculum. This program could be used (with additional credits) to obtain new teacher certification.