Hi Simon.
I think your graphical road map is excellent. I wonder what it would look
like for our area.
With regards to the professional title, I am not aware of the title
"Assistive Technologist", in the same way as "Rehab Engineer" or "S<" or
"Physiotherapist". If it does exist so well and good, but I bet you can't
get a pamphlet on it like some of the other professions. Part of the problem
I suspect is the small number of us. This is possibly down to awareness of
the problem and the number of centres doing this sort of work.
I know there is a vast gulf between what could be supplied to enhance the
computer access capabilities of many clients, and what is supplied - due to
funding difficulties and the division of health and education. This is
particularly difficult when young adults go to college as the DWS's don't
want to pay for it and they are no longer "at school" so education
authorities don't seem to get involved.
Kings do a course in AT, but that is an MSC, requiring resources of time and
money!
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/kcsmd/mep/core/mscinat/core_mscinat1.htm
What guidance would we give to someone leaving school who wished to pursue a
career in AT? Which courses are suitable?
Rehab Engineers are only just being integrated into the IPEM. Creating a new
occupational group for "Assistive Technologists" could be a problem, or,
this might be the right time to do it.
I shall be looking into the information provided by Mrs Draffan with
interest.
Good Luck,
Geoff
G.J.Harbach I.Eng MIED IIPEM
Clinical Technologist
Special Controls Service Manager
Posture & Mobility Services
West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre
91 Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak
Birmingham, B29 6JA
Tel 0121 627 8941
-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Judge [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 September 2003 11:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Careers in AT
Yes, thanks Barry - I think I will end up joining IPEM... Interesting
though, since my first instinct was to join an 'institute' affiliated
with my original training (i.e. IEE / BCS)! I think i'll just join
both!
We've tried to be very specific about the specialised service we offer
(easier for us I suppose), but are also regularly meeting with the other
education and health based AAC/AT services in the area... As part of
this we produced a map of how the services should link together and
disseminated this to both professions to try and improve referrals...
www.meru.org.uk/aac-london/ for a look!
Cheers.
Simon
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Taylor, Barry [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 26 September 2003 09:44
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Careers in AT
>
>
> Simon
>
> IPEM http://www.ipem.org.uk/
> might be the closest professional body to what you do. You
> can become a member without working for the NHS (and a
> chartered engineer too). I think it's fair to say that IPEM
> has been very physics biased although it is trying to change.
> I'm not sure how it would fit in to the education field.
>
> There does seem to be an enormous gulf between AT in
> education and in health. In Hull we work closely with
> education staff (teachers, SaLTs,advisors), but still don't
> manage to talk to their technologists.
>
> Participating in a working group on "independent living"
> recently it has been interesting to see the differing views
> of what constitutes EAT or even AT. It seems partly due to
> the very diverse & patchy services around the country. And we
> didn't even touch on children! I have constant difficulty in
> defining our AT service which deals with anything that other
> provision can't handle!
>
> To answer you original question - it's very fragmented isn't
> it? I can't imagine how a career could be planned in any detail.
> Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
> Bioengineering Department
> Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary
> Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ
> Tel 01482 675928, fax 01482 675750
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Simon Judge [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 25 September 2003 19:26
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Careers in AT
>
>
> Exactly! Thanks for the comments.
>
> I am currently investigating becoming registered as a
> Clinical Scientist -
> since this seems to be the nearest thing to a professional
> body. I am on
> the CS payscale although not directly working for the NHS.
> Because of this
> it looks like I wont be able to register!
>
> I don't think that the field should be defined by the professional's
> background/training/speciality. I can only think of
> vocational professions
> where people are categorised in this way. There seems to be
> plenty of them
> and us as it is (education/health/rehab). The profession is
> defined by what
> service you are providing to the end users... if it is to do
> with AT then
> you are an AT professional.
>
> Geoff - in what way is AT professional (or variant) not a identifiable
> title? Is the crux about creating a title that people can
> attach themselves
> to? What needs to happen to 'register' the title and have the relevant
> professional bodies in the different sectors recognise it (short of a
> miracle!)?
>
> RE: websites for jobs - is not FAST the kind of organisation that
> could/should host this?
>
> I didn't realise EAT didn't include powered mobility! Also -
> should the
> field be aiming towards a state where the user interface is
> not dependent
> on the technology the user is trying to use?
>
> Sorry, lots of questions and blah!
>
> Cheers.
>
> Simon
>
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