RESNA contact information is as follows:
The RESNA web address is
http://www.resna.org
e-mail can be directed to [log in to unmask]
There snail mail address is:
Nell Bailey
RESNA Technical Assistance Project
1700 North Moore St.
Suite 1540
Arlington, VA 22209
On Sat, 28 Mar 1998, ANCIL TORRES wrote:
> No, I have never heard about RESNA. Howwever, I would like to find out more
> about them. Is there a phone number or email address that I can get to
> contact them?
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VICUG-L: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List On Behalf Of Lynn
> Zelvin
> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 1998 7:45 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: act: ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH AWARENESS IN INDIANA
>
> Hi,
> I want to call attention to one paragraph in this write-up of what seems
> to be the development of an assistive technology curicullum
> While I think we need to be on top of these attempts by universities to
> make sure blindness and low vision are covered properly and that
> blindness skills are properly respected, I am particularly worried about
> the attempt of RESNA to set itself up as the certifying body for
> assistive tech competency. They have claimed their exam is just this
> little value added thing, but if you read, you will see that they seem to
> be considering themselves a certifying body and others are now referring
> to this without an explanation of the problems involved.
>
> For those who are not aware, RESNA (the Rehab Engineering Society of
> North America) is a professional organization, somewhat similar to some
> areas of assistive tech as AER is to blindness professions. However,
> they were awarded the federal contract to provide technical assistance to
> the state tech act projects which makes it seem sometimes as if they
> govern the tech act projects or represent them, which they do not and
> individual projects would find this somewhat offensive.
>
> Here are some problems with their exam that is supposed to test basic
> assistive technology competency (referred to in the paragraph at the end
> of this post):
>
> 1. The idea of an exam to test general skills, implies that this general
> knowledge is somehow more important to certify than the specific skills
> that are not well represented by such an exam, specifically the knowledge
> that goes into doing a good job of evaluating needs for blindness and low
> vision technology or teaching its use. as well as other forms of
> specific knowledge, such as that of the person working with Augmentative
> and Alternative /Communication users.
>
> 2. There are many more blind people working with blindness-related
> assistive technology than there seem to be disabled people working, for
> example, as occupational therapists. When it comes to other
> disabilities, the input of consumers comes primarily from the independent
> living centers. In some cases, the consumers are not well represented
> in any way in the AT fields. So I think we in particular need to pay
> attention to the risk to the jobs of many of us who work in the field.
> The entire process of preparing for an exam that tests this sort of
> generalist knowledge is not usually particularly accessible to non-print
> readers. This begins with any necessary study materials, access to
> catalogs and product documentation for non-blindness-related products,
> access to so-called hands-on workshops, and in particular access to the
> information materials, study materials, application, and necessary
> accommodations to take this particular exam. I could go into more detail
> at another time about my own experience trying to go through this.
>
> Well, because I am so long-winded, I will leave it at two points, but I
> would welcome some discussion about how to deal with the implications of
> this generalist approach to assistive tech or to the resna exam process in
> particular. I am interested to hear if there are any blind people out
> there who have taken and/or passed the RESNA exam, or even how many have
> even heard of it.
>
> Lynn
>
>
>
> > On July 1, 1996, consortium members conducted a telephone conference
> > with Jean Minkle, RESNA Consultant. The conference gave consortium
> > members the opportunity to ask direct questions about the RESNA
> > credentialing process of Assistive Technology Practitioners and
> > Suppliers. Ms. Minkle explained that the overall purpose of the
> > credentialing process is to improve the quality of assistive
> > technology services and additionally improve the potential of people
> > with disabilities through technology. The credentialing exam offers
> > professionals involved in assistive technology service delivery the
> > mechanism to demonstrate their competence needed to provide safe and
> > effective services to people with disabilities. The value-added
> > credential communicates to consumers that the provider has met the
> > criteria for a foundation level of knowledge. The charter
> > credentialing exam was administered at the annual Closing the Gap
> > Conference in October 1996. The consortium agreed to make
> > recommendations that would complement the RESNA guidelines.
>
+----------------------------+
| Steve Zielinski (N8UJS) |
| [log in to unmask] |
+----------------------------+
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