Instructor-led

Making Assistive Technology Solutions Across the Life Span

Create low tech solutions with everyday objects, through the power of creative problem solving

The “A.T. makers movement” throughout the US continues to grow. This “hands-on” online course will explore tools, materials, techniques, and resources for making hundreds of assistive technology solutions for reading, writing, self-care, life skills, leisure and recreation, tablets, smart phones, work tasks, upper and lower extremity impairments, vision loss, communication impairments and more.

According to the World Health Organization and the 2020 Census, the number of individuals with disabilities in the US and the world continues to grow. Lack of funding and time are the two greatest barriers to obtaining needed assistive technology solutions to perform essential tasks at home, in school, at the workplace and in the community. In addition, assistive technology has a very high failure rate and abandonment rate due to the unique needs of individuals needing quick custom or adapted solutions. This course teaches students methods, materials, tools, and resources for quickly fabricating low-cost assistive technology solutions for specific functional limitations and specific activities across the life span.

This course embraces the “ABLE” principles of creating devices that are adaptable, adjustable, reusable, collapsible, repositionable, expandable, and portable. You will learn how to repurpose everyday items into useable assistive technology solutions. These principles support the need for quick solution development while recognizing that creating effective solutions often use a trial-and-error process.

Your registration fee includes a building kit of materials for your project assignments. Please make sure to identify a mailing address where you can receive these materials.

*If you have taken Assistive Technology in Minutes in the past, please join us again for new projects, new materials, and new AT solutions. With 25 class members building and sharing projects each week, you’ll finish class with 200 ideas you can use with your students and clients.

This course uses the text Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes Book III – Make Stuff and Love People by Therese Willkomm, Ph.D  available through Amazon.com.

 

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Meet the Presenters

Therese Willkomm
Therese Willkomm, Ph.D.
Dr. Therese Willkomm is currently the Director of the New Hampshire Statewide Assistive Technology Program (ATinNH) with the Institute on Disability and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. In addition, Dr. Willkomm is the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Assistive Technology Program and the coordinator of the Disability Studies Minor. She has been engaged in providing/managing assistive technology services for over 28 years in the areas of home, school, and worksite modifications for persons with disabilities. She is known nationally and internationally as “The MacGyver of Assistive Technology" and for her work in rural rehabilitation technology. Dr. Willkomm has presented in 38 states, five foreign counties, and three U.S. territories and authored 22 publications including her most recent book Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes Book III - Make Stuff and Love People (2021)
Disclosure:

Disclosure

Dr. Therese Willkomm has been paid by Perkins to be the instructor for this class, which uses her textbook.

She has no nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

This workshop is offered for 2.0 AOTA CEUs.
AOTA logo

Perkins School for the Blind is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 05254. This course is offered at 2.0 CEUs, introductory level, OT service delivery. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Dates:
September 25, 2023 - November 19, 2023
Level:
Introductory
Length:
Multiple weeks
Credits:
3 Graduate
40 Continuing Education
40 Professional Development
40 ACVREP
40 CTLE
40 OSPI
2.0 AOTA
Cost:
$475 - Regular price
$450 - Early bird (Ends September 10, 2023)
Syllabus: