Assistive Technology Certificate

Accredited

The UIC-DHD Assistive Technology Certificate Program (ATCP) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Education (CoA-RATE). As part of the accreditation process, the ATCP annually reports program data to CAAHEP. For the academic year 2021: 97% student retention, 100% pass rate for those seeking RESNA ATP credential, 90% employed and providing AT services post-completion.

Flexible package of 13 graduate-level credit hours

The AT certificate is a flexible package of 13 graduate-level credit hours* designed to train working professionals to deliver state of the art assistive technology services and solutions for people with disabilities. You’ll learn how to analyze a person’s interaction with their environment, help them select effective technology, and support their use of tools through implementation and follow-up training. Apply today!
* Starting Spring 2022. Requirement for current students is 12 credits.

Online and Blended Courses

The ATCP can be completed entirely online or through a combination of online and lab-based courses at UIC. Each course is taught by an instructor with extensive clinical experience in their area of concentration. The core faculty are also senior clinicians in the UIC Assistive Technology Unit and RESNA-Certified Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs). Adjunct faculty are recognized AT professionals working in a variety of settings.

View the list of courses in the What to Expect section. You can also download the ATCP Student Handbook for course and program details.

Continuing Education

Our courses can be taken individually for continuing education without applying to the AT certificate program. Register for individual courses through Extended Campus today!

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Your classes were taught by knowledgeable and engaging professors that allowed me to expand my skills in the area of assistive technology (AT). I found it beneficial even with 15 years experience in the area of AT in educational settings.
Mary  |  ATCP graduate

Stats and Facts

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
Since 2004
and still going strong!
20 individual courses Learn More
What to expect
A detailed look at the program

Your career

Providing access for people with disabilities to learn, live, work, and play more independently in the community is a growing part of many different fields of practice. A certificate in assistive technology is a perfect way to expand your professional training in fields such as:

  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech language pathology
  • Special education
  • Engineering
  • Vocational rehabilitation (we have two CRCC pre-approved courses)

CRCC logo for pre-approved courses

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The AT Certificate Program is one of a kind. It offers the support and training that my graduate training program was missing.
Ellyn  |  ATCP graduate

Learn from the best

  • Brenda Sposato Bonfiglio

    Brenda Sposato Bonfiglio

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

  • Daniel Cochrane

    Daniel Cochrane

    Specialized expertise in assistive technology practice in the K12 school setting with over 20 years of experience in an Illinois K12 public school district

  • 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

  • Headshot of Stephanie Bay, a white woman with blond hair

    Stephanie Bay

    Experienced clinician specializing in augmentative communication with research interests around the social participation of people who use AAC and AAC implementation strategies.

Understanding by doing

Our courses give you hands-on experiences so you’re ready for real-world situations. Get in-depth training on topics like:

  • Computers, communication and controls in rehabilitation technology: 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: 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.
  • Consideration and assessment in K12 Settings: Work with your own real-life student in a case study project that takes you through all stages of AT consideration, assessment, implementation, and documentation. Design and deliver an AT assessment and get real results you can share with your team.
  • 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.

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The UIC AT Certificate Program is so informative, engaging, and important! Coursework was thoughtful, well-organized, and presented in a manner that made me feel ready to bring newly acquired knowledge into my practice.
Alisa  |  ATCP graduate

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Questions?

Still wondering what a certificate in assistive technology can do for you? Contact us and get your questions answered.

You can contact the AT Certificate Program: