How the professional training of Assistive Technologists can inform a future research agenda

This chapter discusses how the experience gained from developing training to support the professionalisation of the assistive technologist role may support and shape the assistive technology research agenda. Through exploring the approach taken in developing the unique MSc Educational Assistive Technology (MSc EduAT) the authors will describe their motivations for the curriculum design, which is founded on extensive experience of assistive technology service delivery at all levels and a significant track record of leading Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) research at the University of Dundee. In order to support the development of evidence based AT policy with regards to the professionalisation of Assistive Technologists the authors propose that three particular areas of research are needed: (1) identifying the social return on investment generated by specialist AT roles; (2) AT assessment tool development and (3) development of an AT training framework and discovery tool.