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Status of NATRI Research Studies

View the status of specific studies that are planned, in progress, and completed for each of the areas being investigated in the NATRI research agenda. Links are to additional information about the studies,online solicitation of information, final reports, and products that have been developed as a result of NATRI investigations.

Introduction

Status of assistive technology in schools

Assistive technology policies, procedures, and resources

Assistive technology decision-making when developing IEPs

Assistive technology training and technical assistance

Planning and implementing assistive technology services

Effectiveness of assistive technology devices and services

Status of assistive technology instruction in personnel preparation programs

Introduction

Staff are conducting assistive technology (AT) research in seven different areas, as described in NATRI's Mission and the overview of the research topics, questions, and methodologies. This page provides a brief description about each of the studies being planned and conducted, and its status.

In preparation for a specific investigation, either a research prospectus or proposal is developed. Research proposals are required if the investigation is to be conducted by advanced graduate students who may be conducting thesis or dissertation research under the auspices of NATRI. Such proposals are considered by students' advisory committees, as well as NATRI staff. [The funding agency requires that a minimum of three advanced graduate students be supported by NATRI. Research conducted by those individuals is identified as dissertation research in the descriptions that follow.]

If research is initiated and conducted by NATRI staff, a research prospectus is developed for each investigation. Each prospectus is considered in staff meetings and formally approved after any necessary revisions.

After the proposal or prospectus is approved internally, it is submitted to the University of Kentucky Institutional Review Board to ensure that the rights of human subjects will be protected as the investigation progresses. Following such approval, the investigation is initiated. Prior to dissemination of results, all final reports are reviewed and approved by NATRI staff.

Investigations that involve historical research, synthesis of the literature, policy analysis, identification of resources, position papers, product development, or related activities are not submitted to the Institutional Review Board. In addition, planning for these is less formal. Typically, such investigations are discussed and approved in NATRI staff meetings and initiated shortly thereafter.

Information about specific investigations in each of the seven research areas can be accessed from the Table of Contents. Note that additional studies are being conceptualized and will be added to this list as planning becomes more definitive. Titles of final reports may change as a result of the investigations. Also, some investigations that are listed were either initiated or completed by NATRI staff prior to the formal establishment of NATRI in 2000. Those investigations are included because they have particular relevance for NATRI's mission.

• Return to Table of Contents •

Status of Assistive Technology in Schools

The goal for this area of research is to determine the status of AT use in schools and the role that AT provides in the education of students with disabilities.

Investigations

Status of Assistive Technology Services in Schools: Survey and case study research at baseline schools and districts selected to represent a cross-section of the nation's schools will provide data about individuals who use AT including age, gender, ethnicity, types of AT and related data
STATUS: Status of AT use is online; data being collected; State case studies designed and data collection underway

• Return to Table of Contents •

Assistive Technology Policies, Procedures, and Resources

The goals for this area of research are to (1) determine the AT practices of state Departments of Education, (2) identify the AT policies and procedures that are being used in schools, and (3) evaluate a set of quality indicators for the delivery of assistive technology services.

Investigations

Assistive Technology Policies of State Departments of Education: The Baseline Investigation: A mail survey of leadership personnel in each state Department of Education and the District of Columbia, to determine the extent to which AT policies, guidelines, or advisories were available to guide local school district AT practices
STATUS: Research completed prior to the '97 reauthorization of IDEA; report online

Assistive Technology Policies of State Departments of Education and the Impact of the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act on Those Policies: A national telephone survey of leadership personnel in each state Department of Education, the District of Columbia, and U. S. Trust Territory to determine the extent to which AT policies, guidelines, or advisories have been developed to guide local school district AT practices; examination of policies related to consideration of assistive technology and monitoring of compliance with the AT mandates of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); comparison of the results with those obtained for the baseline investigation reported above, in which similar data were collected prior to the 1997 reauthorization of IDEA; analysis of the policy guidelines that are available [Dissertation]
STATUS: Data collected and analyzed; final report written; journal article being prepared
Assistive Technology Policy Checklist: A checklist that can be adapted for several purposes, including AT policy analyses, development of AT policies, or obtaining feedback from stakeholders about the appropriateness of such policies
STATUS: Checklist completed; report online
Development and Evaluation of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services: Formal evaluation of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) developed by the QIAT Coalition; analysis of survey responses of 20 authorities on AT from each of five groups: (1) AT leaders who coordinate and/or provide AT services in local school districts; (2) AT leaders who influence, develop, coordinate, and conduct services at state and national levels; (3) leaders who develop and conduct AT programs at colleges and universities; (4) consumers of AT services and their families; and (5) leaders in the development of regulations and policies related to the use of AT in schools [Dissertation]
STATUS: Study approved; pilot test data being collected to test instrumentation; data collection form online

School District Assistive Technology Policies and Guidelines: Analysis of AT policies and guidelines collected from local education agencies
STATUS: Policies and guidelines being solicited for analysis through state case studies

• Return to Table of Contents •

Assistive Technology Decision-making when Developing IEPs

The goal for this area of research is to determine the ways that AT decisions are made by teams of people who develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students enrolled in special education programs.

Investigations

Assistive Technology Decision-Making in IEP Meetings: Combination of structured interviews, direct observation, and interaction analysis to examine how AT is being considered in IEP meetings.
STATUS: Planning initiated; IEP meeting checklist developed; state case studies data being collected

• Return to Table of Contents •

Assistive Technology Training and Technical Assistance

The goal for this area of research is to determine the training and technical support needed by individuals who are involved with planning and implementing the use of AT devices and services with students.

Investigations

Identification of Knowledge and Skills Needed to Implement Assistive Technology Services: A series of national surveys to determine the social validity of AT knowledge and skills needed by a variety of different school personnel, including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel
STATUS: State case studies online surveys and indexes developed; critical incident survey online

Assistive Technology Training and Technical Assistance Needs: A series of national surveys to determine the social validity of AT training and technical assistance needed by a variety of different school personnel, including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel
STATUS: State case study online surveys and interviews developed; critical incidents survey online

Promising Practices in Providing Assistive Technology Professional Development and Technical Assistance: Case studies of successful training and technical assistance being solicited from professionals in the field
STATUS: Online solicitation of cases is underway; critical incidents survey online

• Return to Table of Contents •

Planning and Implementing Assistive Technology Services

The goal for this area of research is to examine how AT is integrated into the learning environment and the ways that AT devices and services are used to facilitate instruction and access to the curriculum.

Investigations

The Role of Theory and Research in Practice: A position paper about the interrelationships among theory, research, and practice and how these impact NATRI's activities; explanation of the importance of conceptual models and their role in conducting AT research and influencing AT practices
STATUS: Report completed and online

A Functional Approach to the Delivery of Assistive Technology Services: Description of a model that can be used to guide the planning and delivery of AT services; examples of how the model can be applied and how it is being used to guide many of NATRI's research activities
STATUS: Report completed and online

How Assistive Technology Services Can go Awry: Summary of a case study conducted prior to the 1997 AT mandates of IDEA illustrating many of the problems that can be encountered in delivering AT services when policies and procedures are not in place; follow-up report of the student who was studied
STATUS: Report completed and online
Promising Practices in the Delivery of Assistive Technology Services: Case studies conducted by NATRI staff and contributed by AT practitioners that will illustrate successful AT planning, implementation, and evaluation at the school district, classroom, and student levels
STATUS: Online solicitation of case studies underway; stat case studies data collection is underway; critical incidents survey is online

• Return to Table of Contents •

Effectiveness of Assistive Technology Devices and Services

The goal for this area of research is to determine the effects that AT devices and services have on the academic, social, and functional performance of students who use them.

Investigations

Effective and Ineffective Assistive Technology Practices: Critical incident research to collect reports of effective and ineffective AT practices, including analysis of circumstances surrounding assistive device abandonment
STATUS: Study approved; critical incidents survey online; data being collected online

Factors Related to the Abandonment of Assistive Technologies: Solicitation of reports and mini-case studies of instances where AT devices or practices have been discontinued
STATUS: Reports of AT abandonment being solicited online through critical incidents survey

• Return to Table of Contents •

Status of Assistive Technology Instruction in Personnel Preparation Programs

The goal for this area of research is to identify how institutions of higher education (IHEs) are developing AT knowledge and skills in those who are preparing for professional positions in schools.

Investigations

Case Study on Technology Integration into a Special Education Teacher Preparation Program: Case study that traced more than 35 years of activities related to the development and implementation of technology curricula in a University Department of Special Education
STATUS: Research completed; report online
A Technology Self-Assessment for Special Education Professors: Development of a self-assessment instrument that special education professors can use to identify topics and priorities when designing their own technology professional development programs
STATUS: Self-assessment completed; report online
Status of Assistive Technology Instruction in Personnel Preparation Programs: A series of national surveys to determine how instruction about AT is provided in institutions of higher education programs that prepare special education teachers, general education teachers, school psychologists, and school administrators; list of AT personal preparation programs
STATUS: Procedures and instruments being developed; comprehensive list of AT higher education programs being develeped
Promising Practices in Integrating Instruction about Assistive Technology into Personnel Preparation Programs: Case studies of promising practice about technology instruction in higher education programs that prepare special educators and related personnel
STATUS: Online solicitation of case studies is underway

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An Equal Opportunity University
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
© 2001-2006 - National Assistive Technology Research Institute - All rights reserved
NATRI documents may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.

		Glossary • Provide Feedback • Home NATRI Background and Contacts Main MenuResearch Status NATRI Findings Assistive Technology Planner Assistive Technology Information and Resources Status of NATRI Research Studies View the status of specific studies that are planned, in progress, and completed for each of the areas being investigated in the NATRI research agenda. Links are to additional information about the studies,online solicitation of information, final reports, and products that have been developed as a result of NATRI investigations. Table of Contents Introduction Status of assistive technology in schools Assistive technology policies, procedures, and resources Assistive technology decision-making when developing IEPs Assistive technology training and technical assistance Planning and implementing assistive technology services Effectiveness of assistive technology devices and services Status of assistive technology instruction in personnel preparation programs Introduction Staff are conducting assistive technology (AT) research in seven different areas, as described in NATRI's Mission and the overview of the research topics, questions, and methodologies. This page provides a brief description about each of the studies being planned and conducted, and its status. In preparation for a specific investigation, either a research prospectus or proposal is developed. Research proposals are required if the investigation is to be conducted by advanced graduate students who may be conducting thesis or dissertation research under the auspices of NATRI. Such proposals are considered by students' advisory committees, as well as NATRI staff. [The funding agency requires that a minimum of three advanced graduate students be supported by NATRI. Research conducted by those individuals is identified as dissertation research in the descriptions that follow.] If research is initiated and conducted by NATRI staff, a research prospectus is developed for each investigation. Each prospectus is considered in staff meetings and formally approved after any necessary revisions. After the proposal or prospectus is approved internally, it is submitted to the University of Kentucky Institutional Review Board to ensure that the rights of human subjects will be protected as the investigation progresses. Following such approval, the investigation is initiated. Prior to dissemination of results, all final reports are reviewed and approved by NATRI staff. Investigations that involve historical research, synthesis of the literature, policy analysis, identification of resources, position papers, product development, or related activities are not submitted to the Institutional Review Board. In addition, planning for these is less formal. Typically, such investigations are discussed and approved in NATRI staff meetings and initiated shortly thereafter. Information about specific investigations in each of the seven research areas can be accessed from the Table of Contents. Note that additional studies are being conceptualized and will be added to this list as planning becomes more definitive. Titles of final reports may change as a result of the investigations. Also, some investigations that are listed were either initiated or completed by NATRI staff prior to the formal establishment of NATRI in 2000. Those investigations are included because they have particular relevance for NATRI's mission. • Return to Table of Contents • Status of Assistive Technology in Schools The goal for this area of research is to determine the status of AT use in schools and the role that AT provides in the education of students with disabilities. Investigations Status of Assistive Technology Services in Schools Survey and case study research at baseline schools and districts selected to represent a cross-section of the nation's schools will provide data about individuals who use AT including age, gender, ethnicity, types of AT and related data STATUS: Status of AT use is online; data being collected; State case studies designed and data collection underway • Return to Table of Contents • Assistive Technology Policies, Procedures, and Resources The goals for this area of research are to (1) determine the AT practices of state Departments of Education, (2) identify the AT policies and procedures that are being used in schools, and (3) evaluate a set of quality indicators for the delivery of assistive technology services. Investigations Assistive Technology Policies of State Departments of Education: The Baseline Investigation A mail survey of leadership personnel in each state Department of Education and the District of Columbia, to determine the extent to which AT policies, guidelines, or advisories were available to guide local school district AT practices STATUS: Research completed prior to the '97 reauthorization of IDEA; report online Assistive Technology Policies of State Departments of Education and the Impact of the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act on Those Policies A national telephone survey of leadership personnel in each state Department of Education, the District of Columbia, and U. S. Trust Territory to determine the extent to which AT policies, guidelines, or advisories have been developed to guide local school district AT practices; examination of policies related to consideration of assistive technology and monitoring of compliance with the AT mandates of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); comparison of the results with those obtained for the baseline investigation reported above, in which similar data were collected prior to the 1997 reauthorization of IDEA; analysis of the policy guidelines that are available [Dissertation] STATUS: Data collected and analyzed; final report written; journal article being prepared Assistive Technology Policy Checklist A checklist that can be adapted for several purposes, including AT policy analyses, development of AT policies, or obtaining feedback from stakeholders about the appropriateness of such policies STATUS: Checklist completed; report online Development and Evaluation of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services Formal evaluation of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) developed by the QIAT Coalition; analysis of survey responses of 20 authorities on AT from each of five groups: (1) AT leaders who coordinate and/or provide AT services in local school districts; (2) AT leaders who influence, develop, coordinate, and conduct services at state and national levels; (3) leaders who develop and conduct AT programs at colleges and universities; (4) consumers of AT services and their families; and (5) leaders in the development of regulations and policies related to the use of AT in schools [Dissertation] STATUS: Study approved; pilot test data being collected to test instrumentation; data collection form online School District Assistive Technology Policies and Guidelines Analysis of AT policies and guidelines collected from local education agencies STATUS: Policies and guidelines being solicited for analysis through state case studies • Return to Table of Contents • Assistive Technology Decision-making when Developing IEPs The goal for this area of research is to determine the ways that AT decisions are made by teams of people who develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students enrolled in special education programs. Investigations Assistive Technology Decision-Making in IEP Meetings Combination of structured interviews, direct observation, and interaction analysis to examine how AT is being considered in IEP meetings. STATUS: Planning initiated; IEP meeting checklist developed; state case studies data being collected • Return to Table of Contents • Assistive Technology Training and Technical Assistance The goal for this area of research is to determine the training and technical support needed by individuals who are involved with planning and implementing the use of AT devices and services with students. Investigations Identification of Knowledge and Skills Needed to Implement Assistive Technology Services A series of national surveys to determine the social validity of AT knowledge and skills needed by a variety of different school personnel, including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel STATUS: State case studies online surveys and indexes developed; critical incident survey online Assistive Technology Training and Technical Assistance Needs A series of national surveys to determine the social validity of AT training and technical assistance needed by a variety of different school personnel, including administrators, teachers, and related services personnel STATUS: State case study online surveys and interviews developed; critical incidents survey online Promising Practices in Providing Assistive Technology Professional Development and Technical Assistance Case studies of successful training and technical assistance being solicited from professionals in the field STATUS: Online solicitation of cases is underway; critical incidents survey online • Return to Table of Contents • Planning and Implementing Assistive Technology Services The goal for this area of research is to examine how AT is integrated into the learning environment and the ways that AT devices and services are used to facilitate instruction and access to the curriculum. Investigations The Role of Theory and Research in Practice A position paper about the interrelationships among theory, research, and practice and how these impact NATRI's activities; explanation of the importance of conceptual models and their role in conducting AT research and influencing AT practices STATUS: Report completed and online A Functional Approach to the Delivery of Assistive Technology Services Description of a model that can be used to guide the planning and delivery of AT services; examples of how the model can be applied and how it is being used to guide many of NATRI's research activities STATUS: Report completed and online How Assistive Technology Services Can go Awry Summary of a case study conducted prior to the 1997 AT mandates of IDEA illustrating many of the problems that can be encountered in delivering AT services when policies and procedures are not in place; follow-up report of the student who was studied STATUS: Report completed and online Promising Practices in the Delivery of Assistive Technology Services Case studies conducted by NATRI staff and contributed by AT practitioners that will illustrate successful AT planning, implementation, and evaluation at the school district, classroom, and student levels STATUS: Online solicitation of case studies underway; stat case studies data collection is underway; critical incidents survey is online • Return to Table of Contents • Effectiveness of Assistive Technology Devices and Services The goal for this area of research is to determine the effects that AT devices and services have on the academic, social, and functional performance of students who use them. Investigations Effective and Ineffective Assistive Technology Practices Critical incident research to collect reports of effective and ineffective AT practices, including analysis of circumstances surrounding assistive device abandonment STATUS: Study approved; critical incidents survey online; data being collected online Factors Related to the Abandonment of Assistive Technologies Solicitation of reports and mini-case studies of instances where AT devices or practices have been discontinued STATUS: Reports of AT abandonment being solicited online through critical incidents survey • Return to Table of Contents • Status of Assistive Technology Instruction in Personnel Preparation Programs The goal for this area of research is to identify how institutions of higher education (IHEs) are developing AT knowledge and skills in those who are preparing for professional positions in schools. Investigations Case Study on Technology Integration into a Special Education Teacher Preparation Program Case study that traced more than 35 years of activities related to the development and implementation of technology curricula in a University Department of Special Education STATUS: Research completed; report online A Technology Self-Assessment for Special Education Professors Development of a self-assessment instrument that special education professors can use to identify topics and priorities when designing their own technology professional development programs STATUS: Self-assessment completed; report online Status of Assistive Technology Instruction in Personnel Preparation Programs A series of national surveys to determine how instruction about AT is provided in institutions of higher education programs that prepare special education teachers, general education teachers, school psychologists, and school administrators; list of AT personal preparation programs STATUS: Procedures and instruments being developed; comprehensive list of AT higher education programs being develeped Promising Practices in Integrating Instruction about Assistive Technology into Personnel Preparation Programs Case studies of promising practice about technology instruction in higher education programs that prepare special educators and related personnel STATUS: Online solicitation of case studies is underway • Return to Top • Return to NATRI Information NATRI Background and Contacts • Assistive Technology Planner • NATRI Findings • Assistive Technology Information and Resources Glossary • Provide Feedback • Home An Equal Opportunity University Last Updated: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 © 2001-2006 - National Assistive Technology Research Institute - All rights reserved NATRI documents may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided their source is identified.