Introduction to TECHPOINTS | What are TECHPOINTS? | Technology Intervention Preparation Steps (TIPS) | The TECHPOINTS Guide

TECHPOINTS is a technology management resource that gives vocational rehabilitation staff an easy to follow system to determine when and how Assistive Work Technology (AWT) resources and services could be used with individual clients. TECHPOINTS conforms to case service policies and procedures used in the Vocational Rehabilitation program.

Considering the use of assistive work technology throughout the rehabilitation process is necessary to effectively work with consumers with severe disabilities, as well as many other individuals who have technology-related needs. The extensive technology-related resources and services available through the statewide network of AWT teams provides other VR staff with excellent technology support. TECHPOINTS can help vocational counselors review possible technology needs and determine how these needs best be addressed.

TECHPOINTS can be used to: 

• help new counselors get started using AWT services;

• help experienced counselors manage technology services more efficiently;

• give ideas on how to systematically consider technology options;

• suggest how to approach consumers about potential technology needs;

• integrate AWT services into routine VR case management practice; and,

• ensure that expenditures for technology-related devices are appropriate.

As with all rehabilitation services, using assistive technology should be individually planned and matched with the needs and capabilities of the individual. This requires that counselors and account representatives have a basic knowledge of assistive work technology resources and services. Involving the consumer throughout this process is a key ingredient needed to make this successful.

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What are TECHPOINTS ?

For assistive technology to be effectively used, counselors and account representatives need an understanding of what could be done, what factors should be considered and when technology services should be made available in the rehabilitation process. Utilizing a series of critical junctures (points) in the rehabilitation process, TECHPOINTS simply suggest when and how a counselor could consider use of AWT services. (View chart of TechPoints within the Vocational Rehabilitation Process)

General Phases

Referral/Application

TECHPOINTS 1 Referral/Application (Status 00,02)

Comprehensive Assessment and Planning

TECHPOINTS 2 Extended Evaluation (Status 06)

TECHPOINTS 3 Plan Development (Status 10, 12)

Services

TECHPOINTS 4 Services (Status 14, 16, 18)

TECHPOINTS 5 Placement/Follow-up (Status 20, 22)

Outcomes

TECHPOINTS 6 Closure Points (Status 08, 26, 28, 30)

Post-Employment

TECHPOINTS 7 Post-Employment (Status 32)

The seven TECHPOINTS are part of a continuous process that looks at each individuals potential technology-related needs, beginning at the start of the rehabilitation process and systematically following through to closure and follow-up. These "points" coincide with regular case service tasks and activities. TECHPOINTS will help counselors decide if technology-related solutions to challenges and problems may be appropriate, and when referral to a rehabilitation technologist would be needed. 

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Technology Intervention Preparation Steps (TIPS)

The vocational counselor has the primary responsibility to see that potential technology-related needs are addressed. At each TECHPOINT , questions and considerations are presented to assist in determining if assistive work technology services might be appropriate. TIPS - Technology Intervention Preparation Steps - help to identify the challenges and concerns that may be involved.

The questions and suggestions vary for each TECHPOINTS , but they follow a similar pattern that focuses on the particular environments that are most likely to be involved. Environments that are considered include home, community, vocational rehabilitation, school or training, and work.  These environments of every consumer's life are connected and interact together. When planning for technology resources and services, it's important that all environments that the consumer functions in now, or in the foreseeable future, be considered. The following examples illustrate some common technology-related applications. 
 

Home

Technology can be used to address independent living accommodations involving a person's residence including:

• improving living accommodations such as ramp design/construction;

• widening doors; or

• determining the need for assistive aids to perform activities of daily living involving food preparation, eating, hygiene, or dressing.

Community
 

Activities involving interaction within the community could be enhanced through the use of technology such as:

• curb cuts or ramps; 

• use of public transportation; or

• advocating for barrier-free access to public buildings.

Vocational Rehabilitation

The impact of technology for individuals as they take part in VR services could involve:

• accessibility of VR facilities;

• alternate formats for testing and evaluation tasks; or

• aids needed for reading, writing or communication.

School/Training

Technology resources can enhance the capacity of the person to complete educational programs with accommodations such as:

• general building and campus accessibility;

• laboratory or work station modification needs; or

• use of mobility aids or communication devices.

Job/Work Site
 

Technology-related services can enable a worker with a disability to perform essential job functions at their employment site, or improve the ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment, by:

• making modifications, adaptations or adjustments to individual work stations such as rearrangement of production lines or modification of tools or equipment;

• selecting assistive devices which might enable the person better perform essential job tasks; and

• consulting with the employer on how to meet ADA requirements.

At each TECHPOINT, suggestions on using AWT services are provided. Recalling what proved to be effective with previous consumers, and discussing cases with other counselors, will also be helpful. 

It isn't practical to arrange for an AWT assessment for every individual. When it appears that AWT services may be needed, the counselor should contact the AWT rehabilitation technologist in that region. The VR counselor should remain closely involved with AWT staff to effectively coordinate case service activities.

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The TECHPOINTS Guide

If you would like more information on TechPoints check out the complete TECHPOINTS Guide.  provides a quick reference for vocational counselors and others to see where and how assistive work technology services should be integrated into the rehabilitation process. TECHPOINTS suggests ways that a counselor or account representative could explore technology-related needs with individual consumers. This will not tell a counselor what to do, but it will raise questions and offer suggestions that will help to make consideration of technology-related needs a routine part of all VR services.

Consideration of technology-related options should be a regular part of what any counselor would look at as they work with customers, regardless of the disability or specific functional capacity. Just as there are different counseling strategies and approaches that effectively work with some individuals, TECHPOINTS is a flexible structure that can be adapted to all individuals.

Each TECHPOINTS suggests how AWT services might enhance services or open up new vocational options. Questions and considerations assist the counselor in determining if technology services may actually be needed. 

These Technology Intervention Preparation Steps, called TIPS, will help the counselor identify the challenges and concerns needed to effectively consider technology-related options.
 

TECHPOINTS, and TIPS in particular, are designed to help counselors think about technology options so that this becomes routine.  TIPS offer a practical way of thinking about the need for technology. Many counselors will find the system to be very close to the process that they have already used and found to work successfully. For others who are not quite sure where to start, these questions and "tips" should help organize thoughts concerning technology so that getting started will be easier.

The TECHPOINTS Guide is designed to be part of an ongoing training program for VR staff on ways to integrate the use of assistive work technology into the rehabilitation process. The introductory training on TECHPOINTS is a start to does not go into very much detail with any specific type or area of technology use. Additional training will be needed to expose counselors and other staff to more information so they can make informed choices on how to best use technology resources with their customers. 

Additional support on how to use is TECHPOINTS is available online and through the TechWorks training bulletin. Counselors with experience is using technology are invited to become involved in some of the online discussion groups that will be set up.

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This page last updated Thursday, February 14, 2008