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Assistive Technology Services

PATS (PARC Assistive Technology Services) is a CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited assistive technology program which provides a variety of adaptive equipment and training to assist individuals with developmental and physical disabilities use computers. Over 150 PARC participants are served through the PATS Daily Training/Support program and the PATS Outreach program.  

PATS Mission

The mission of PARC Assistive Technology Services is to support PARC adults who require assistive technology in order to utilize the computer as a tool for achieving greater independence in vocational, leisure, social, and communication skills.

PATS Daily Training and Support

Participants in the PATS Daily Training/Support program come to the PATS room for 1 hour each day to learn specific computer skills and to complete paid computer work under the supervision of PATS staff. Productivity evaluations are completed at least twice yearly for PATS participants to determine each individual’s rate of pay, per Department of Labor regulations. Paid work falls into one of these categories: data entry, text entry, graphics, or Internet search. Participants also learn to use computers for social and leisure activities, such as game-playing, sending e-mail, and browsing the Internet. Each PATS participant works on his/her own individual objectives, with data collected to show progress. PATS provides a variety of adaptive equipment to help individuals with physical disabilities use the computers.

Special assistance is provided to participants who use electronic communication devices due to severe speech impairments. When an individual’s electronic communication device is connected to the computer with a special cable, it can be used to type letter-by-letter, or to send words, phrases, or even entire sentences into the computer with the selection of one or two icons on the device.

Adaptive equipment provided in the PATS room includes: special trackballs and joysticks which are easier for people with disabilities to use than mice, expanded keyboards with key-guards, miniature keyboards, switches on adjustable mounts and on-screen keyboards to allow complete computer operation with the press of a single switch, single-switch game software, cables allowing hook-up of electronic communication devices, and screen magnifier/screen reading software for participants with visual disabilities.

Any adult who attends PARC’s day program can be referred for a PATS assessment (for possible inclusion in the PATS Daily Training/Support program) if he/she meets the following criteria:

  • Is capable of visually attending to and discriminating 3” figures on a computer screen (or capable of understanding adaptations for persons with visual impairments).
  • Matches hand-printed capital letters to letters on a computer keyboard (and hand-printed numerals to numeral keys on a computer keyboard). 
  • Follows left-to-right progression when reading or copying words or numbers.
  • Is motivated to work on the computer 
  • Has limited opportunities to participate in vocational tasks at Parc, due to a physical disability. (At least for now, we are giving priority to those individuals with physical disabilities.)

PARC attendees who are referred to PATS start with a one-month trial period during which we carefully assess motivation and potential to use the computer as a vocational tool. A variety of computers, software, and adaptive equipment is tried. With assistance from PARC’s OT/PT department, we determine what positioning of the individual, computer, and adaptive equipment allows best functioning. After the month trial period, one of 3 recommendations is made:

  • If the individual shows the motivation and the potential for further progress, especially in learning to use the computer as a vocational tool, a recommendation is made for him/her to continue to receive services in the PATS room. (In some cases, if the PATS program is already operating at full capacity, the individual may be put on a waiting list for the next available opening.) 
  • If the individual shows the motivation and skills to use the computer for games and for social interaction, but does not show motivation or potential for further use of the computer for vocational skills, a recommendation is made for the individual to receive PATS Outreach services in his/her regular day program. (If we are unsure whether the individual will develop vocational skills, we have sometimes extended the trial period in the PATS room.)
  • If the individual shows neither the interest nor the potential to learn to use the computer for games or social interaction, a recommendation for no further computer activity at this time is made (he/she can be referred again in the future).

PATS Outreach

Open Sign-up: The opportunity to attend “Open Sign-up” sessions is provided on a rotating basis to PARC individuals who are not participants in our PATS Daily Training and Support program. Those who are interested sign up for a month of weekly computer sessions held in the PATS room. Usual Open Sign-up activities include computer games, Print Shop projects of the person’s choice, and Internet browsing.

Other PATS Outreach: One of our PATS staff visits ADS (Adult Developmental Services) and OAHP (Older Adult Habilitation Program) classrooms each day with a computer on a cart. The computer has been adapted with a switch interface, which allows single-switch access. Cause/effect and interactive games are offered to ADS/OAHP consumers, as well as assistance with Print Shop to make signs and greeting cards.

Adapted computers have been placed in other locations throughout PARC for use by all Day Program attendees, and their respective staff have been trained. 

PATS News

Adults with disabilities can benefit from the use of computers in their homes. They can use computers to plan out-of-house activities and to e-mail friends and family via the Internet, play games that help them increase their academic skills, create works of art, and use switches to participate in cause/effect activities. The PARC Systems Administrator and PATS Coordinator are hard at work placing adapted computers in 21 of PARC’s group homes. We have been fortunate to receive grant money from the Peoria Pilot Club to purchase adapted trackballs and joysticks, grant money from Push America to purchase “Jelly Bean” switches, and proceeds from the 2006  “PARC ‘n Play” fundraiser to purchase mounts for the switches. Residential staff will be trained on the new equipment after it is in place. 

Staff Qualifications

The PATS Coordinator holds a Masters Degree in Special Education, and continually updates her knowledge in the area of assistive technology through workshops, seminars, and day-to-day experience. Our two PATS Program Instructors hold high school diplomas, are DSP (Direct Support Professional)-certified, and keep up to-date on assistive technology through on-going in-service training. All PATS staff undergo a minimum of 12 hours of training yearly, and are current in certifications (CPR, First Aid, etc.). For a listing of specific training completed by PATS staff, please contact the Ellen Cantrell, PATS Coordinator, at (309) 689-3618 or email her. 

Conflict of Interest Statement

PATS staff are careful to avoid conflicts of interest, per PARC Personnel Policies. Admission of participants into the PATS program is based upon a specific referral criteria and an objective assessment, without favoritism. PATS does not have special connections with any vendors of computers, adaptive equipment, software, etc. Donations of computers or other equipment are carefully documented, and any donated equipment that is not needed by PATS/PARC is passed along to other agencies assisting people with disabilities or for recycling.

Contact PATS

For more information on PATS, contact Ellen Cantrell, Coordinator of PARC Assistive Technology Services, at (309) 689-3618 or email her.

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