Assistive Technology Certificate

Deliver state of the art assistive technology services

UIC-DHD Assistive Technology Certificate Program (ATCP) is designed to give you hands-on, practical training in assessing and implementing assistive technologies. The ATCP’s goal is to train working professionals to deliver state of the art assistive technology services and solutions for people with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities. You’ll learn how to properly analyze needs, select appropriate technology, and train people in the use of these devices.

Each AT course at UIC is taught by a instructor with extensive clinical experience in their course topic areas.  The core faculty are faculty members in the Department of Disability and Human Development, are senior clinicians in the UIC Assistive Technology Unit and are RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs). Adjunct faculty are recognized AT professionals working in a variety of settings.

Our program is a flexible packaging of 12 credit hours that can be taken entirely online or through a combination of online and lab-based courses at UIC.

Stats and Facts

100%
online format available
Patricia Politano; Project ATLiS (Photo: Robert Dupuis-Devlin)
Developing leaders
Training educators to be leaders in assistive technology interventions, assessments and policies to help students succeed
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Lauren placed cell phone in phone holder that is attached to her wheelchair
Expanding independence
Assistive technology provides assistance with daily living tasks which promote greater independence
What to expect
An in depth look at the program
94
graduates since 2003 inception
12
credit hours of AT courses
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Your career

Knowledge of adaptive technology support for people with disabilities is beneficial to any field. With advances in technology providing support for people with disabilities to live more independently in the community, the demand for these professionals will continue to grow.

A certificate in assistive technology is a perfect fit if you serve individuals in:

  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech language pathology
  • Special education
  • Engineering
  • Vocational rehabilitation

Learn from the best

  • Brenda Sposato Bonfiglio

    Brenda Sposato Bonfiglio

    Teaching courses in assistive technology with specialization in seating, positioning and wheeled mobility

  • Glenn Hedman

    Glenn Hedman

    Director of ATU, researching areas of accessible pathways in the built environment and emergency evacuation from high-rise structures

  • headshot of Kathy

    Kathy Hooyenga

    Specialized expertise in computer access, access to augmentative communication, and adaptive equipment design

  • Patricia Politano

    Patricia Politano

    Augmentative communication specialist and international speaker with 25 years experience delivering community-based services

Understanding by doing

Understanding the technological advances in the field will prepare you to assess and provide solutions to acommodate the needs of people with disabilities. Our courses give you hands-on experiences so you’re ready for real-world situations. You’ll get in-depth training in topics like:

  • Computers, communication and controls in rehabilitation technology: You’ll learn how to evaluate access methods and controls used to operate computers, communication devices and powered wheelchairs, and investigate device features and integration factors.
  • Augmentative communication assessment: We examine strategies and evaluation materials, including case example discussions of specific approaches for different ages, disabilities, and settings. You’ll work directly with speech-generating devices and gain hands-on experience using a variety of access methods, rate enhancement techniques and vocabulary expansion tools.
  • Adaptive equipment design and fabrication: Explore custom design and fabrication of low-tech adaptive equipment. Practice sessions put you to work in our Assistive Technology Unit shop, where you’ll complete an individual project based on actual consumer request.

Headshot of Maris and Maitha together smiling

Questions?

Still wondering what a certificate in assistive technology can do for you? Contact DHD’s Office of Student Affairs and get your questions answered.

You can contact DHD’s Office of Student Affairs: