Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP)
The Assistive Technology Partnership Education (ATP/Ed) Program provides statewide services to IFSP and IEP team members working with children and students with disabilities (birth to 21) who are receiving services within Nebraska school systems. Our vision is to ensure that individual children/students can be successful by creating systemic capacity that results in quality Assistive Technology (AT) services for every child/student who needs AT.
ATP Education Program's Services
- Webinar Series focusing on AT Devices and AT Processes
- Request training on topics related to AT Devices and AT Processes/Services including:
- How to consider AT
- How to conduct evaluation of AT needs o How to acquire and provide AT tools/systems
- How to implement AT effectively
- How to evaluate the effectiveness of AT for a child/student
- Training on specific categories of AT (e.g., AAC, Reading, Switches, etc.) or specific AT tools/systems
- Many other opportunities through the ATP Education Program’s Academy
COACHING
- IFSP/IEP teams may request coaching support from the ATP Education Program Team. Coaching supports are designed to help IFSP/IEP teams provide quality AT services to students receiving special education services and may include (but not limited to):
- Determining if a child/student needs AT
- Developing a quality implementation plan for AT
- Documenting AT effectively in the IFSP/IEP
- Teaching a child/student to effectively use AT on tasks
- Determining if AT is working effectively for a child/student
- Find potential AT tools/systems based on an identified set of features
The ATP Education Program offers a service that allows education programs to borrow equipment to support children and students receiving special education services. These short-term AT equipment loans are available free-of-charge for any member of a child’s IFSP or a student’s IEP team in Nebraska employed by or those who are contracted with a school/district/program from which the child/student is receiving special education services. Teams may use the loaned equipment to try with a child/student to determine if it will meet the child’s/student’s needs to receive a free appropriate public education.
All Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership Programs
Who Does the Program Support?
Any Nebraska resident with a disability.
What Does the Program Do?
Helps to increase access to, and funding for, individuals who need assistive technology by working with different agencies, companies, and non-profits.
Who Does the Program Support?
Individuals who may need a device to assist in one or more life functions due to a disability.
What Does the Program Do?
Creates a pool of donated equipment that may be reused free of charge by others who need the equipment.
Who Does the Program Support?
Individuals working with and referred from Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).
What Does the Program Do?
Upon referral from Nebraska VR, assesses, makes recommendations, and provides loans of AT equipment to assist an individual with their job goal.
Who Does the Program Support?
Students with disabilities ages 14-21 who are referred from the VR Pre-ETS Program.
What Does the Program Do?
Provide consultations for AT and modifications to assist qualifying students with school, training, or work.
Who Does the Program Support?
Individuals who qualify for Medicaid waiver and have a physical disability that would require support equivalent to a nursing facility.
What Does the Program Do?
Technology Specialists work with individuals who have a disability to determine what assistive technology/home modifications are appropriate for their primary living environment.
Who Does the Program Support?
Individuals with significant combined vision and hearing loss who meet federal income guidelines.
What Does the Program Do?
Provide free telecommunication equipment and training to stay connected with family and friends.
Who Does the Program Support?
Adults who are aging, recovering from injury or illness, or experiencing a disability.
What Does the Program Do?
Provides loans of AT devices to assist with determining which AT may work for a person or when personal AT is being repaired.