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The manner in which AT is supplied to people is just as important as the AT itself. Even if the AT has been carefully selected as the best fit for a particular person s disability and circumstances, if it is just posted to them, in many cases it will be a failure. A lot of frustration and expense can be saved if 30 minutes to 1 hour is spent in face-to-face instruction, or if that is not COVID-safe , via Facetime, Zoom or even telephone.The quality and effectiveness of this face-to-face instruction depends on the communication and listening skills of the trainer, and their experience with a wide range of individuals. Many people will have anxieties about new technology, are resistant to change, perhaps resentful of solutions being imposed on them; they need to be led gently with a carefully delivered positive learning experience. Other people will try to drive the training and almost bully the trainer, bringing incorrect assumptions about the AT, and often dismissive of useful suggestions. Some will have mental conditions, anger issues, low self-esteem, poor communication or even English as a Second Language. These layers have to be dealt with intelligently and nimbly by the AT trainer. And often there are additional people to manage family members who also know best .This lecture runs through some typical scenarios, supplying AT to people in their homes, workplaces and schools. Combinations of disabilities are also discussed; for example, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Impairment, soft muscle tone, speech and vision impairment can all occur in the one individual, adding additional layers of complexity to the training process. |
