Community Services

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are systems, strategies, and tools that replace or support natural speech. Determining the best speech-generating device (SGD) requires the expertise and experience of skilled clinicians who work in collaboration with the client, their family, and other service providers. IHD has been providing comprehensive AAC evaluations to children and adults with complex communication needs for over 20 years.

NAU AAC Evaluation and Training Program

Operating on tribal lands in 26 states, the purpose of the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) projects is to help tribal members with disabilities prepare for and obtain gainful employment. To assist AIVRS projects in achieving that goal, in October 2015 IHD was awarded a five-year grant and entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Its purpose was to develop the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Technical Assistance Center (AIVRTTAC) in order to provide education, guidance, and technical assistance (TA) to AIVRS projects. With renewed funding as of October 2021, and in partnership with Northwest Indian College’s Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, AIVRTTAC can continue to develop and provide training, technical assistance, and capacity building resources to more than 90 AIVRS projects across the nation.

1) Intensive Training and Technical Assistance (ITTA)

ITTA consists of extended training and technical assistance focused on the specific needs of AIVRS projects, with goals and activities established and agreed upon by AIVRTTAC and the project receiving ITTA. It might include an initial and post-case file review; a policies and procedures review; training on program management and case management practices; and coaching and guidance on vocational rehabilitation (VR) practices and services. ITTA is intended to bring about changes to policies, programs, practices, and/or operations that can increase an AIVRS project’s ability to help tribal members with disabilities obtain gainful employment.

In order to begin ITTA services, the AIVRS project and AIVRTTAC develop an ITTA Agreement, which involves the whole staff and stipulates a longer time commitment (several months to over a year) on the part of the AIVRS project. Typically, the ITTA site is provided a minimum of two on-site visits in order to gather information that will help define and inform the activities and processes in the ITTA Agreement. In addition, AIVRTTAC provides consistent in-depth virtual meetings to train staff on key topics that meet the objectives of the ITTA Agreement.

During the first grant period (2015 – 2021), AIVRTTAC staff provided ITTA to 31 AIVRS projects.

2) Targeted Training and Technical Assistance (TTTA)

TTTA is intended to address specific topics of interest to AIVRS projects through various methods, including meetings, conferences, webinars, phone calls, and collaboration with other RSA-funded centers. AIVRTTAC annually identified the needs of AIVRS projects in collaboration with RSA and tailored TTTA activities to address those needs. TTTA often takes on the form of coaching and guidance phone calls or short one-to-one emails. It also includes over 100 webinars and in-person training and TA that have been provided by AIVRTTAC since it was founded in 2015. TTTA trainings cover a wide range of topics, including conversations on self-care in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, an overview of the VR process, and best practices for project evaluation and data management.

AIVRTTAC has provided TTTA to over 450 individual participants and almost all of the 90+ AIVRS projects.

3) Universal Training and Technical Assistance (UTTA)

The purpose of UTTA is to make AIVRTTAC materials and products available in formats that can be used independently by AIVRS staff and other individuals in the AIVRS field. It is provided through website information or resources such as newsletters, recorded webinars and Talking Circles, products and tools, toolkits, and e-learning modules, all of which can be downloaded from the AIVRTTAC website by independent users. Through UTTA, AIVRTTAC has reached over 5,000 users.

4) Capacity Building

AIVRTTAC’s capacity building activities consist of training and continuing education courses offered by the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) Institute at Northwest Indian College to enhance the knowledge and skills of AIVRS project staff. The TVR Institute offers 13 courses in tribal VR knowledge and skills, which are attended by VR professionals to gain specific AIVRS training and to earn an Award of Completion in TVR Studies.

Information about enrollment and course details can be found on the TVR Institute website.

AIVRTTAC staff are always seeking to understand the needs of all AIVRS projects so that we may continue to design and provide culturally responsive training and TA activities. Our goal is to improve the capacity of AIVRS projects to provide VR services and increase successful employment outcomes for all eligible tribal participants.

Wayne Dagel is the project director for AIVRTTAC.

Visit AIVRTTAC ‘s website.

For more information contact:

Assistive technology (AT) includes thousands of products that enable persons with disabilities to be more productive and independent in daily activities. Our mission is to connect people with the assistive technology they need to participate as fully as possible in activities that matter to them.

Assistive Technology can include:

• adapted eating utensils
• adapted toys for play
• adapted gear for recreation and leisure
• communication aids
• alternative computer hardware and software
• tools to assist with mobility and transportation
• tools to assist with dressing and hygiene
• vision aids
• aids for hearing loss
• tools to assist with attention and memory

This technology may range from very low-cost, light-tech adaptations to higher-tech, more costly devices.

Individuals with a variety of support needs use assistive technology to:

• participate in everyday activities
• build social connections
• enjoy play and recreation
• navigate their environments safely
• communicate effectively
• complete academic requirements
• meet employment demands

AzTAP offers comprehensive set of programs and services, including:

• Information and assistance for AT-related questions
• Demonstrating AT devices from our inventories of approximately 4000 AT-related products
• Lending out devices for short-term use
• Consulting with clients to help them select and obtain technology that matches their unique needs
• Operating an online equipment reuse program
• Providing affordable financial loans to help people purchase the technology they need

Additional information can be found on the IHD AzTAP webpage. Please follow this link to the AzTAP website.

For more information contact:

The mission of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Assistive Technology Short Term Loan Library is to make a wide variety of assistive technology devices, equipment, software, and professional development materials available to school personnel in order to improve access to assistive technology at no cost to recipients. The program is designed to provide short-term (four-week) loans of assistive technology for learning products.

ADE Assistive Technology Short Term Loan Library

Arizona Department of Education

For more information contact:

ATEI provides comprehensive assistive technology (AT) services to RSA’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) clients statewide. ATEI’s AT services include:

• the provision of comprehensive assistive technology evaluations;
• client AT device training;
• product installation services;
• technical assistance;
• client-specific AT and bulk product purchases;
• product distribution to clients; and
• the management of an employment-related, dedicated assistive technology inventory for device demonstrations and short-term product loans for RSA clients, staff, and community-based AT specialists.

The project website can be accessed at the following link: Assistive Technology for Employment and Independence (ATEI)

For more information contact:

The Assistive Technology (AT) Center is a resource to the communities of northern Arizona. The Center supports the mission of IHD through the provision of direct services, interdisciplinary training, technical assistance, and information dissemination related to the field of AT. 

Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, or device that may be used to increase, maintain, or improve an individual’s functional capabilities. Properly selected assistive technology products enable individuals with disabilities to improve their health, wellness, and quality of life through participation and engagement in daily activities. 

For more information, please contact:

NAU IHD Assistive Technology Center (Bldg. 27, Room 171, Mountain Campus)

P.O. Box 5630

Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5630

Main Phone: 928-523-4628

FAX: 1-855-819-0087

Email: ATCenter@nau.edu

The Institute for Human Development’s Growing in Beauty Partnership Program (GIBPP) team works with the Navajo Nation’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services to provide early intervention services for children up to three years old who are suspected of having a disability. GIBPP staff provide professional services in disciplines such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology. IHD/GIBPP also provides support from a licensed social worker, as needed.

Growing in Beauty Partnership Program

For more information contact:

IHD’s Interdisciplinary Training Clinic offers free comprehensive health evaluations and recommendations to children and families. It also serves as a training experience for NAU graduate students in several fields related to health and education. All our services are provided by students who are supervised by faculty members from their respective academic areas.

Participating disciplines may include:

• speech language pathology
• occupational therapy
• nursing
• physical therapy
• special education
• social work
• psychology
• educational psychology

For clients

Individuals of any age may be referred to the clinic for:

• a comprehensive developmental evaluation
• support in getting connected to resources
• technical assistance

For caregivers

To refer someone under your care to the interdisciplinary training clinic, contact:

Your referral packed will be mailed to you. You will be asked to provide the following information:

• medical history
• developmental history
• educational/vocational history
• social history
• the reason for referral

See our page about the Interdisciplinary Training Clinic.

Project SCOPE, Supporting Children of the OPioid Epidemic, is a national initiative to train interdisciplinary teams on emerging knowledge and evidence-based practices in screening, monitoring, and collaborative care for children impacted by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), or who are suspected of being impacted by opioid use, trauma, or related exposure.

The Institute for Human Development was awarded a grant to organize and lead a series of trainings for  individuals interested in learning more about supports for children exposed to substance use. IHD used the Extension of Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model to provide free continuing education using an instructional and case study reflection approach through video conferencing.

For more information, see IHD’s Project SCOPE page.