Quality Indicators in Assistive Technology for Post-Secondary Settings (QIAT-PS)

Janet Peters, Great Lakes ADA Center project coordinator on accessible technology and assistive technology, reported on a collaborative project with the Southwest ADA Center to create quality indicators for providing assistive technology in post-secondary education settings. Based on interviews with individuals with disabilities to learn about the impact of AT on their post-secondary education, project staff created quality indicators in five areas and developed online tools that schools could use to evaluate their programs and performance. The tools were piloted in several colleges and universities, who completed baseline self-evaluations, created and implemented action plans, and followed up with another self-evaluation to see if their score increased. Data are still being gathered and analyzed, but so far participants report that the tool is useful for the campus disability office because it helps them do a better job and justify requests for increased funding for improvements. Many sites continue to use the tool to monitor their progress. Future research needs to explore the connection between AT programs and outcomes such as graduation rates and future employment. 

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