Assistive technology reasoning in rural school-based occupational therapy

This study explores broad issues associated with assistive technology (AT) service provision in rural school settings. The study was designed to explore the beliefs of practitioners working in rural schools about their role in AT service provision. This article includes an extensive review of the literature and findings from a naturalistic study of AT service provision experience in rural school settings. The study portion of this article involved completion of an open-ended questionnaire followed by semi-structured ethnographic interviews. The participants completing the questionnaires were 22 occupational therapy practitioners and seven individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds recognized as leaders in AT in the state of West Virginia. Data were collected over a 3-year period. Themes identified in the data emphasized concerns about the unclear role of potential AT providers resulting in the use of AT as a last resort, the lack of inclusion of AT in the core curriculum, and the limited collaboration and in-service education opportunities recognized by practitioners. This qualitative study is not generalizable. Findings can be viewed within the context of other research to help enrich the reader's understanding of AT service delivery.