- HAAT model
- An AT framework with four parts: Human, Activity, Assistive Technology, and Context. The device bridges the gap between the person's ability and the demands of the activity, all within a context.
- SETT framework
- Student, Environment, Tasks, Tools — define the student, environment, and tasks first; choose the Tool last. A team/needs-driven AT decision-making framework (Zabala).
- Assistive technology (AT) device
- Any item, piece of equipment, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability (Assistive Technology Act).
- Assistive technology service
- Any service that directly helps a person select, acquire, or use an AT device — including evaluation, customization, training, and follow-up.
- Feature matching
- Matching the features of candidate AT devices to the person's abilities, the task, and the environment — rather than starting from a favorite product.
- Occupational profile (AT intake)
- The client's story gathered first in assessment: goals, roles, routines, and the activities the person needs or wants to do — before measuring performance.
- Functional assessment
- Direct observation of the person doing the actual task in context to identify real abilities, barriers, and AT needs — more valid than self-report alone.
- Person-centered (client-centered) approach
- Building the AT plan around the consumer's own goals, values, and preferences, with the consumer as an active decision-maker, not a passive recipient.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Basic self-care occupations — feeding, dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting — that AT often targets.
- Instrumental ADLs (IADLs)
- More complex community-living tasks (cooking, managing money/medication, communication, driving) that AT can support.
- Universal design
- Designing products and environments to be usable by the widest range of people without adaptation; differs from AT, which is individualized to one user's need.
- Least restrictive / most enabling device
- Recommend the simplest, least intrusive AT that meets the need and maximizes independence — escalate to higher-tech only when justified.
- Speech clarity (for voice recognition)
- The most critical factor when assessing a client for voice recognition software — the system depends on clear, distinct, consistent speech to recognize commands.
- Environmental control unit (ECU / EADL)
- Technology that lets a person with limited movement operate home electronics — lights, TV, doors, thermostat, phone — for autonomy.
- Mat evaluation
- A hands-on assessment (supine and seated) of range of motion, posture, and flexibility that measures the body before a seating system is configured.
- Range of motion in seating
- Limited hip/knee range dictates achievable seating angles — restricted hip flexion may need an open seat-to-back angle so the body is never forced into a harmful position.
- Physical environment (mobility assessment)
- A primary consideration when recommending a wheelchair — doorways, terrain, and surfaces determine the features and dimensions the chair needs to be usable.
- ICF (International Classification of Functioning)
- A WHO framework describing function across body functions/structures, activities, and participation within environmental and personal factors — used to frame AT needs.
- Cognitive demands of AT
- An AT device must fit the user's cognitive ability — memory, attention, problem-solving — or it will be too complex to learn and likely abandoned.
- Multidisciplinary AT team
- AT assessment often involves OT, PT, SLP, rehab engineer, educator, supplier, and the consumer/family — each contributing a different perspective.
- Presuming competence
- Assuming a person with a communication or cognitive disability is capable of learning and participating, and providing access before requiring proof of skill.
- Pressure mapping
- An assessment tool that visualizes seat-interface pressure to identify high-pressure areas over bony prominences and guide cushion selection.
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
- Methods and devices that supplement or replace speech for people with severe expressive communication needs — from gestures to speech-generating devices.
- Aided vs. unaided AAC
- Unaided AAC uses only the body (gestures, sign, facial expression); aided AAC uses external tools (a board, book, or speech-generating device).
- Low-tech vs. high-tech AAC
- Low-tech: communication boards/books, picture symbols (no electronics). High-tech: speech-generating devices (SGDs) and apps with dynamic displays and voice output.
- Speech-generating device (SGD)
- A high-tech AAC device that produces spoken output from selected symbols, words, or typed text; selection method is matched to the user's access ability.
- Core vs. fringe vocabulary
- Core: a small set of high-frequency words used across contexts (want, more, go, stop). Fringe: topic-specific words. AAC layouts prioritize core for flexible communication.
- Symbol systems (AAC)
- Sets of pictures/symbols (e.g., PCS, Widgit) used to represent words on AAC displays; symbol type is matched to the user's language and cognitive level.
- Vocabulary options (AAC selection)
- The most important factor in choosing an AAC device — adequate vocabulary range and customizability let the user express their full communication needs.
- Direct selection
- An access method where the user points to or activates the target directly (touch, mouse, eye gaze, head pointer) — fastest when motor control allows.
- Scanning (indirect access)
- Choices are presented in sequence and the user selects with a switch when the target is highlighted — for users with very limited motor control.
- Row-column scanning
- A scanning pattern that highlights a row first, then steps across its cells — faster than linear item-by-item scanning on large displays.
- Trackball mouse
- A pointing device the user rolls with a finger/palm; requires less fine motor control and no whole-arm movement, so it suits limited dexterity.
- On-screen (virtual) keyboard
- A software keyboard operated by a pointer, switch, or eye gaze — a good text-input option for clients who cannot use a physical keyboard.
- Eye-gaze / eye-tracking access
- An access method that lets a user select on-screen targets by looking at them; requires gaze-point calibration and adequate eye control.
- Switch access
- Using one or more switches (activated by any reliable movement) to operate scanning AT — sized, placed, and mounted to the user's best, least-fatiguing motion.
- Head pointer / head mouse
- A direct-selection access method that tracks head movement to move a cursor — useful when hand control is absent but head control is good.
- Screen reader
- Software that converts on-screen text to synthesized speech (or braille output), giving people who are blind or have low vision access to digital content.
- Screen magnification
- Software/hardware that enlarges screen content (with contrast/color options) for users with low vision who still use sight.
- Optical character recognition (OCR)
- Technology that converts printed text into digital text so a screen reader can read it aloud — a key reading solution for visual impairment.
- Refreshable braille display
- A device with pins that raise/lower to render on-screen text in braille, line by line, for users who read braille.
- CCTV / video magnifier
- A camera-and-screen device that enlarges printed material with adjustable magnification and contrast for low-vision reading.
- FM system
- A hearing assistive technology that transmits a speaker's voice wirelessly to the listener, cutting background noise — ideal for group/classroom settings.
- Hearing loop (induction loop)
- An assistive listening system that sends sound directly to a hearing aid's telecoil, improving clarity in public/group spaces.
- Power vs. manual wheelchair
- Manual suits users with the strength/endurance to self-propel; power is indicated when self-propulsion is unsafe, inefficient, or impossible for the needed distances.
- Pressure-redistributing cushion
- A wheelchair cushion (foam, gel, air, or hybrid) that spreads load off bony prominences to prevent pressure injuries; selected from the assessment and pressure mapping.
- Tilt vs. recline (power seating)
- Tilt keeps hip/knee angles fixed while changing orientation in space (good for pressure relief/positioning); recline opens the seat-to-back angle. Often combined.
- Customization / adaptability
- A key selection factor — AT that can be adjusted as the user's abilities, tasks, or environments change is more likely to keep meeting the need over time.
- Word prediction
- Software that suggests likely words as the user types, reducing keystrokes and fatigue — supports writing for users with motor or learning needs.
- Adapted / alternative keyboard
- A modified keyboard (enlarged keys, key guard, compact, or one-handed layout) chosen to match a user's motor abilities for text entry.
- Ease of use (device selection)
- A priority factor — a device that is hard to operate frustrates the user and leads to abandonment, so usability often outweighs aesthetics or extra features.
- Flexibility in output methods
- For speech impairments, AAC should offer multiple output options (synthesized voice, text, symbols) so communication works across partners and settings.
- Implementation phase (once funded)
- The RESNA service-delivery step that begins after funding is approved/secured — ordering, preparing, fitting, mounting, delivering, and training on the equipment.
- Letter of medical necessity (LMN)
- Documentation justifying why specific AT is medically necessary for the consumer — central to securing funding from insurers/Medicare/Medicaid.
- Funding sources for AT
- Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, vocational rehab, schools (IDEA), and assistive-technology act programs; documentation of medical necessity drives approval.
- Fitting / delivery adjustments
- At delivery the ATP adjusts seat-to-floor height, backrest angle, footrest length, and controls so the equipment fits the user as configured in the plan.
- Mounting system
- Hardware (frame clamp, mounting tube/sections, and a mounting plate) that attaches a device (e.g., an SGD) to a wheelchair so it is positioned for use.
- Mount placement criteria
- Position a mounted device for both visual regard and physical access — the user must be able to see it and reach/activate it reliably.
- Swing-away mount
- A mount that swings or flips out of the way and locks, so a wheelchair-mounted device can be moved aside for transfers without removing it entirely.
- Center of gravity (mounted device)
- Adding a heavy mounted device shifts a wheelchair's center of gravity and can increase tip risk — stability must be checked before final mounting.
- Pre-delivery preparation
- Before delivery the ATP prepares, assembles, and installs the technology (and software setup) so it is ready and verified for the user.
- Safety & function check
- Before delivery the ATP verifies the product for safety, function, performance, and quality — confirming it works as specified and is safe to use.
- Training across environments
- RESNA implementation includes training the user (and caregivers) to operate and maintain the AT in an accessible way across all the environments where it's used.
- Caregiver training
- Teaching family/caregivers to set up, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the AT — essential for consistent use and to prevent abandonment.
- Basic troubleshooting
- Routine user-level checks (power, batteries/charging, and connections) that keep AT working and that users/caregivers should be trained to perform.
- Gaze-point calibration
- The setup step for eye-tracking systems where the device learns the user's eye positions so it can accurately detect where the user is looking.
- Customizable speech profiles
- Configuring speech-recognition for an individual voice (e.g., a user who stutters) so the system adapts to that person's speech patterns.
- RF vs. IR for environmental control
- Radio frequency (RF) passes through walls and has greater range/reliability than line-of-sight infrared (IR) for whole-home environmental control.
- Positioning before access
- Stable, supported seating/positioning is set up before fine access methods, because the user's posture directly affects how reliably they can operate the device.
- Switch placement and mounting
- A switch is mounted at the body site of the user's most reliable, least-fatiguing movement, and secured so it stays consistently positioned for activation.
- Wheelchair skin/seating fit
- Discomfort or new redness after delivery often signals inadequate cushioning or fit — addressed promptly to prevent pressure injuries.
- Follow-up (evaluation) phase
- The RESNA step where the ATP reassesses AT outcomes over time, adjusts or repairs equipment, and re-recommends as needs change — preventing abandonment.
- AT abandonment
- When a user stops using a device; prevented by involving the user in selection, ensuring fit and training, and following up to adjust the AT as needs change.
- Outcome measurement
- Comparing function (and goal attainment) with and without the AT — ideally with objective, functional data — to show the device improves performance.
- Trial-based evaluation
- A hands-on trial of the device while documenting performance with and without it — objective evidence the AT improves function, used to justify the recommendation.
- Sign of an unsuitable device
- If a client shows confusion and needs constant instruction to use a device, that signals poor fit or excessive complexity — the AT may be unsuitable.
- Functional independence (success measure)
- A strong indicator of AT success is the user operating the device independently to accomplish the target task across the relevant environments.
- Goal attainment scaling
- An outcome method that rates progress toward individualized, pre-set goals — useful for measuring AT effectiveness against what the consumer wanted to achieve.
- SGD response delay (troubleshooting)
- Lag/delays on a speech-generating device often point to insufficient memory/processing — a maintenance/evaluation finding to address so communication stays fluent.
- Reassessment over time
- AT needs change with the person's condition, growth, environment, and goals, so periodic reassessment is required to keep the technology appropriate.
- User satisfaction & usability data
- Consumer feedback on comfort, ease, and impact on daily routines is essential qualitative outcome data alongside objective functional measures.
- Maintenance and repair
- Ongoing service — cleaning, charging, software updates, and repair — that keeps AT functioning; part of follow-up and a common reason devices fall out of use.
- Adjusting AT after follow-up
- Follow-up findings (discomfort, errors, disuse) drive concrete changes — re-fitting, re-training, or re-recommending — rather than simply noting a problem.
- RESNA Code of Ethics
- The ethical code ATPs must follow — hold paramount the welfare of persons served, disclose conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality, and practice within competence.
- RESNA Standards of Practice
- Practice standards for AT professionals covering competent service delivery, informing consumers of options, documentation, and supporting consumer choice.
- Hold paramount consumer welfare
- The ATP must recommend the equipment best matched to the consumer's needs, even when an employer or referral incentive favors a different (higher-margin) product.
- Conflict-of-interest disclosure
- An ATP with a financial relationship to a manufacturer must disclose it (and any affiliation that could bias a recommendation) to the consumer.
- Confidentiality
- The ATP maintains confidentiality of privileged/personal information and does not disclose it without proper authorization — even when a caregiver or colleague asks.
- Scope of competence
- The ATP recognizes the limits of their competence and refers to or collaborates with a qualified professional for needs beyond their skills (e.g., complex rehab seating).
- Informed consumer choice
- The ATP informs the consumer of device options and funding mechanisms regardless of financial status, and supports the consumer's right to choose.
- Honesty about safety concerns
- When a consumer goal conflicts with safety, the ATP honestly discusses the concern, documents it, and explores alternatives that still meet the underlying goal.
- Minimize unreasonable risk
- RESNA standards require recommendations that maximize functional outcomes while minimizing unreasonable risk to the consumer and others.
- Referral-bonus / kickback handling
- An ATP offered a manufacturer bonus to steer recommendations should decline it or, at minimum, fully disclose the relationship and keep recommendations needs-based.
- Documentation duty
- The ATP documents the assessment, options discussed, trials, recommendation, and justification — supporting both ethical practice and funding.
- Evidence-based practice (AT)
- Integrating the best available research, clinical expertise, and the consumer's values/preferences when selecting and recommending assistive technology.
- Cultural competence
- Respecting the consumer's culture, language, and context so the AT and the way it's introduced fit the person's life and are more likely to be used.
- Professional development / CEUs
- Maintaining the ATP credential requires ongoing continuing education so the professional stays current with evolving assistive technology and practice.
- ATP credential
- RESNA's Assistive Technology Professional certification — recognizes competence in analyzing needs, recommending, and supporting AT; held by OTs, PTs, SLPs, engineers, suppliers, and educators.
- RESNA
- The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America — the body that develops and grants the ATP (and SMS) certifications and the AT standards.
- SMS credential
- RESNA's Seating & Mobility Specialist certification, a specialty credential for which the ATP is a prerequisite.
- Supporting consumer autonomy
- The ATP empowers the consumer to make informed decisions about their own AT rather than deciding for them — a core ethical and person-centered principle.
