[Trainer-talk] AT Trainer

[Nancy Coffman]

Hello.

I don't have any formal training to be an assistive technology trainer. I have learned pretty much on my own. I won't say that being sf-taught is the way to go, but I will say that being able to learn on your own is essential. There are so many technology options now that didn't exist before. 

I don't know if the blindness field will evolve so that people develop specialties, but there may be room for specialists. We cannot all know 4 windows screen readers, Google ChromeVox, Voiceover for the Mac, 
Voiceover for IOS devices, Narrator on Microsoft mobile devices, talkback on Androids, magnification for each operating system, the ins and outs of every Braille display and note taking device. It is actually overwhelming to even think about it!

I think the Access Technology Institute offer some great courses. I think Lions World also still has an Assistive Technology Trainer certification. I will be interested to hear what route you take for training. You are correct that getting a special education certification would give you the education you need for working with children. A lot of that would transfer to work with adults. 
Nancy Coffman
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 21, 2014, at 8:52 AM, Matthew Dierckens via Trainer-talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Zack.
> I am currently taking a course from CSUN to become a certified assistive technology specialist. If you google search CSUN assistive technology training program you should be able to find it.
> The cost of the course is $1795 for 16 weeks.
> 
> God bless. :)
> Matthew Dierckens
> Macintosh Trainer
> Blind Access Training
> www.blindaccesstraining.com
> 1-877-774-7670, extension 3
> work email:matthew at blindaccesstraining.com
> Personal email: matt.dierckens at me.com
> 
> 
> 
>> On Aug 21, 2014, at 10:34, Zach Mann via Trainer-talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello,
>> My name is Zach Mann and i am looking in to becoming an assistive Technology Trainer. I am currently working with DVR on career exploration in this field. They are asking that i find information on jobs in this field, as well as what college programs i can attend to gain the skills to becoming an AT trainer. I know there are not actual programs for this, type of job, however i know i could get a degree in education for a TVI to teach k12 AT.
>> I have also been working with DVR to try and attend the Colorado Center For The Blind, so that i can gain the confidence and skills I need to do this type of work to the best of my abilities.
>> I would like to talk to some AT trainers about this to gain some insight on how they got started in this field as well as what kind of training they them selves have gone through.
>> Thanks ever some much for your assistance n helping me pursuing the goal.
>> I can be reached at mann_zach at yahoo.com
>> Sincerely,
>> Zach Mann
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