Advancing Assistive Technology for Learning and Accessibility in Higher Education for Students with I/DD (ATLAS)
Project Description:
Over the last several decades there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education, as well as an increase in the use of assistive technology (AT) to remove barriers to access. However, despite its demonstrable benefits, college students with disabilities considered "severe" – such as intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) – are less likely to utilize AT (Kowaleski & Ariza, 2022; Bouck & Long, 2021). This is particularly troubling since research suggests that individuals with severe disabilities have significantly lower levels of enrollment in higher education, higher rates of unemployment, and lower rates of independent living compared to other students with disabilities (Satterfield, 2020; Bouck & Flanagan, 2015).
To address barriers to AT use by individuals with I/DD, the Advancing Assistive Technology for Learning and Accessibility in Higher Education for Students with I/DD (ATLAS) will incorporate evidence-informed strategies to determine ways in which the use of assistive technology (AT) may lead to improved academic performance and self-determination resulting in increased overall independence. By incorporating person-centered planning practices and the SETT Framework, ATLAS will support participants in identifying their needs and limitations as experienced in postsecondary environments, with the overarching goal being to empower individuals with I/DD to utilize AT effectively as a tool for accessing and succeeding in postsecondary education, thereby enhancing academic performance, fostering self-determination, and ultimately leading to greater overall independence.
In support of this goal, the project's objectives and activities over the next year include the following:
Prepare ATLAS project staff (PS) and SIP-C support staff (SS) to implement the project and achieve the intended outcomes.
Identify participants for the ATLAS project.
Assess participant's AT needs.
Support ATLAS participants to access and use AT specific to their needs or limitations and preferences identified under Objective 3.
Collaborate with participants, on an individual basis, to assist them in obtaining permanent AT.
Determine the impact of AT use on the academic performance and self-determination of ATLAS participants and their overall independence levels.
Increase awareness of the efficacy of AT in improving academic performance and self-determination in participants with I/DD in PSE environments.
Sustain project outcomes by increasing awareness and building capacity for individuals with I/DD to access and use AT in PSE.
Keyword(s):
Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Other Direct/Model Services
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
