| Title: |
Developing a competency framework for effective assistive technology training |
| Authors: |
Slaughter, Rohan; Griffiths, Tom; Birchall, Bob; Green, Dawn; Leckenby, Katy; McIntyre, Fil |
| Source: |
Slaughter, R, Griffiths, T, Birchall, B, Green, D, Leckenby, K & McIntyre, F 2025, Developing a competency framework for effective assistive technology training. vol. RR1511, London. < https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/developing-a-competency-framework-for-effective-assistive-technology-training > |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Discovery - University of Dundee Online Publications |
| Subject Terms: |
Assistive Technology; Training; Disability; special educational needs; SEND; Teaching; Speech therapy; Occupational therapy; Competence progression; Technology in education |
| Description: |
This report considers the provision of digital assistive technology (AT) in special schools and specialist colleges. The definition of digital assistive technology includes software, hardware and services specifically designed to support people with a disability or learning difficulty, as well as accessibility features found in mainstream software and operating systems. Provision of AT in specialist education contexts is often dependent on localised expertise, or on individuals with an interest and enthusiasm for the topic. To date, no formal training pathways exist for the majority of learner-facing staff who support AT, and no agreed framework of skills and competencies informs the training that does exist. This has been cited as a barrier to the development of new AT training pathways for learner-facing staff. This work addresses this gap by proposing a competency framework of knowledge and skills required by different job roles across the AT implementation pathway: assessment, provisioning, ongoing support and review. This framework is the result of a comprehensive review of published literature in the field, combined with exploratory work conducted by the research team with participants from specialist schools and colleges in England. Expert sources (staff working in various roles in ‘AT mature’ special schools and specialist colleges) have been consulted to determine what current AT professionals in specialist schools and colleges see as the minimum required standards for staff working across the AT implementation pathway. This work focuses on specialist provision where staff have an understanding of both the learning environment and the skills and knowledge needed to support pupils or students with additional support needs to use assistive technology effectively. The framework highlights the benefits derived from all staff working in special schools and specialist colleges having some level of competence and skills in the AT implementation pathway. The work also identifies that, given the range of needs ... |
| Document Type: |
book |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| ISBN: |
978-1-83870-644-9; 1-83870-644-5 |
| Relation: |
urn:ISBN:9781838706449 |
| Availability: |
https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/2d31a748-2b6c-4f09-9553-5af566d28e83; https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/files/149310498/developing-a-competency-framework-for-effective-assistive-technology-training.pdf; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/developing-a-competency-framework-for-effective-assistive-technology-training |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.6130E62F |
| Database: |
BASE |