ATP Assistive Technology Professional (RESNA) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law requires public schools to provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilities when necessary for a free appropriate public education?
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Correct answer)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Assistive Technology Act of 1998
Correct answer: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA mandates that IEP teams consider assistive technology needs for every student with a disability.
Question 2: During an AT assessment, the HAAT model (Human Activity Assistive Technology) framework emphasizes the interaction between which primary components?
- Device, environment, cost, and training
- Human, activity, context, and AT (Correct answer)
- Clinician, client, caregiver, and AT
- Assessment, intervention, outcome, and follow-up
Correct answer: Human, activity, context, and AT
The HAAT model by Cook and Polgar centers on four elements: the human user, their activity, the AT, and the context/environment.
Question 3: A client with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is losing upper extremity function. Which AAC access method should an ATP recommend as motor function declines further?
- Standard QWERTY keyboard with key guards
- Eye-gaze technology (Correct answer)
- Mouth stick with membrane keyboard
- Voice recognition software
Correct answer: Eye-gaze technology
Eye-gaze technology allows access via voluntary eye movements and is ideal as voluntary motor control progressively deteriorates in ALS.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a trial period when recommending an AT device?
- To reduce the cost of the device for the client
- To allow the funding source to approve the device
- To evaluate device effectiveness in the client's natural environment before final selection (Correct answer)
- To train the clinician on device features
Correct answer: To evaluate device effectiveness in the client's natural environment before final selection
Trial periods allow the ATP and client to assess real-world performance and fit before committing to a permanent device.
Question 5: Which seating principle refers to achieving neutral alignment through the pelvis as the foundation for trunk and extremity positioning?
- Postural control hierarchy
- Pelvic stabilization priority
- Proximal stability for distal mobility (Correct answer)
- Trunk-first positioning
Correct answer: Proximal stability for distal mobility
Proximal stability for distal mobility means stable pelvic and trunk support enables more controlled and functional extremity use.
Question 6: Under the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, what are states required to maintain to help individuals with disabilities acquire AT?
- Medicaid waiver programs for all AT devices
- Statewide AT programs with device loan libraries and reutilization programs (Correct answer)
- Free AT for all citizens regardless of income
- Federal AT warehouses in each congressional district
Correct answer: Statewide AT programs with device loan libraries and reutilization programs
The AT Act requires each state to maintain statewide AT programs offering device demonstrations, short-term loans, and reutilization services.
Question 7: When documenting medical necessity for a power wheelchair, which element is most critical to justify insurance funding?
- The client's preference for power over manual
- Functional limitations that cannot be met by less complex devices (Correct answer)
- The availability of the device from a local supplier
- The color and aesthetic features chosen by the client
Correct answer: Functional limitations that cannot be met by less complex devices
Funders require evidence that less complex solutions are insufficient and that the specific device directly addresses documented functional limitations.
ATP Assistive Technology Professional (RESNA) 2
Which federal law requires public schools to provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilities when necessary for a free appropriate public education?