Due to the spontaneity and urgency to establish the program to begin in January 2000, only 20 participants applied for the first session. Applications for the second program are due October 10, 2000. They will be screened and accepted by the occupational therapist, physical therapist and two speech and language pathologists involved for 20 participants to start December 5, 2000. Fliers are disbursed throughout the county. The applications are submitted to the Kern Assistive Technology Center for the panel to review.
Costs are minimal.
Overhead for room and equipment use is absorbed by the agencies involved. To keep costs low, most instructors volunteered their time for the first session. All instructors will be paid for the second session through the interagency agreement with the Kern Assistive Technology Center. Proceeds from the course were used to further develop the Kern Assistive Technology Center. Participants in the first course consisted of eight speech and language pathologists, two psychologists, one school nurse, one occupational therapist, one teacher for the visually impaired, two special day class teachers, one regular education teacher, one regional center service coordinator, one vocational training specialist, and the assistive technology center specialist.