Engineering reasonable accommodation: the delivery and use of assistive technology in a vocational training program

Abstract

The Vocational Training Facility (VTF) developed a three-workstation classroom as part of a project to test a new approach to the vocational training of students with physical disabilities. The three VTF workstations were equipped with an array of commercial and prototype assistive devices and software to facilitate the access to curriculum and daily-living materials. This article focuses on the prescription and set-up procedures, the use of assistive technology (AT) and its integration within a vocational training workstation, as well as a model for designing reasonable accommodation (RA) solutions that address the needs and capabilities of the individual student, the requirements of the job and the demands of the work environment.