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. The Institute for Human Development (IHD) has been providing comprehensive AAC evaluations to children and adults with complex communication needs for more than 20 years.

NAU AAC Evaluation and Training Program

Operating on tribal lands in 25 states, the purpose of the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) Programs is to help tribal members with disabilities prepare for and obtain gainful employment. To assist AIVRS Programs in achieving that goal, in October 2015 the Northern Arizona University’s Institute for Human Development 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 Programs. Now in its sixth year, this grant has enabled AIVRTTAC to develop and provide three types of training and TA to 86 AIVRS Programs across the nation.

1) Intensive Training and Technical Assistance (ITA)

ITA activities 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. ITA is intended to bring about changes to policies, programs, practices, and/or operations that can increase an AIVRS Program’s capacity for improved outcomes at one or more systems levels (whether programmatic, community, state, or federal).

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

Over the last six years, AIVRTTAC has provided ITA to over 30 AIVRS Programs.

2) Targeted Training and Technical Assistance (TTA)

TTA often takes on the form of coaching and guidance phone calls or short one-to-one emails, with the goal of helping AIVRS Program staff clarify challenges. It also includes the almost 100 webinars and in-person training and TA that have been provided by AIVRTTAC over the last six years. TTA 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 program evaluation and data management.

Since 2015, AIVRTTAC has provided TTA to over 450 individual participants and almost all 86 currently funded AIVRS Programs.

3) Universal Training and Technical Assistance (UTA)

UTA 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 UTA, AIVRTTAC has reached over 5,000 users in the last six years.

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

Dr. Lee Gaseoma and Wayne Dagel are the Co-Project Directors for AIVRTTAC.

Visit AIVRTTAC ‘s website

For more information contact:

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (CFDA 84.250Z; PR/Award Number H250Z150002).  However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The AIVRTTAC will also provide for the AIVRS programs webinars, self-paced training, and regional training and develop quarterly evidence-based practice guides, on-line newsletters, videos, and FAQ documents.

The mission of the 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. The program is designed to provide short-term (4 weeks) loans of assistive technology for learning products.

Arizona Department of Education AT Short Term Loan Library

For more information contact:

Our mission is to connect people with disabilities with the assistive technology they need to participate as fully as possible in activities that matter to them.

AzTAP offers comprehensive set of programs and services including:

• Information and assistance for assistive technology 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 re-use program
• Providing affordable financial loans to help people buy the technology they need

Please follow this link to AzTAP.

The Assistive Technology (AT) Center is a resource to the communities of Northern Arizona. Located on the Northern Arizona University campus, the Center is a program of the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and 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.

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
• aids for low visual
• 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

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: 928-523-6759

FAX: 1-855-819-0087

Email: ATCenter@nau.edu

The Institute for Human Development’s Growing in Beauty Partnership Program (GIBPP) is funded by the Navajo Nation’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. The Growing in Beauty program (GIB) assists the Navajo tribe in addressing their intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Arizona’s Part C Program for infants and toddlers (Arizona Early Intervention Program or AzEIP). The IGA between AzEIP and the Navajo Nation requires the tribal program to identify and serve children with disabilities from birth to three years old and their families as regulated by Part C of the Individuals Disabilities Education Improvement Act. The IHD Growing in Beauty Partnership Program provides professional staff, including speech/ language pathologists, physical therapists and, when available, occupational therapists, to fill the personnel gaps in the tribal program’s interdisciplinary teams. The IHD/GIBPP also provides support from a licensed social worker, as needed.

For more information contact:

See our page about the Interdisciplinary Training Clinic.

As a student of the Institute for Human Development, you can gain real experience in interdisciplinary team practices through our clinic. All our services are provided by students who are supervised by faculty members from their respective academic areas.

Participating disciplines may include:

• speech pathology and audiology
• nursing
• physical therapy
• special education
• social work
• psychology
• nutrition
• dental hygiene
• educational psychology
• engineering

For clients

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

• assessment
• program design and implementation
• technical assistance

For care givers

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

Your referral packed will be mailed to you. It will request the following information:

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

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), Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), or who are suspected of being impacted by opioid use, trauma, or related exposure.

The Institute of Human Development has been awarded a grant to organize and lead a series of trainings for practitioners, clinicians, therapists, home visitors, Head Start staff, counselors, families, and individuals interested in learning more about supports for children on the Navajo Nation exposed to substance use.

The Institute of Human Development will use 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 – IHD’s Project SCOPE page.