ARATA is a national association whose purpose is to serve as a forum for issues in rehabilitation and assistive technology.
More about ARATA (pdf brochure 1.1Mb)
ARATA publishes a newsletter for members three times a year. This is distributed electronically with other formats available.
Assistive Technology Practitioners and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
As part of the gathering of good practice to establish the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the ARATA board engaged an expert project team to draw together ARATA's policy and evidence base around assistive technology practice.
The ARATA project team, coordinated by Lloyd Walker includes Gunela Astbrink, Natasha Layton and Michael Summers, brings a wide range of specialist expertise in assistive technology and ensures the voice of AT practitioners is well represented.
ARATA's position in relation to AT and the NDIS was lauched at our August 2012 conference. A key part of communicating our policies are in these papers:
- ARATA's Policy on Assistive Technology and the NDIS (PDF 1.6Mb)
- Background papers underpinning ARATA's policy statement on Assistive Technology and the NDIS (PDF 1.3Mb)
The Board and ARATA members will continue to highlight the role of the AT practitioner and how AT services enhance great outcomes for people who use assistive technologies. The ARATA Board is happy for others to draw on the work here
Consultation Paper for an Options Paper for an National Accreditation System for Assistive Technology Prescribers and Suppliers
This joint project between ARATA and ATSA will describe how an Australian national accreditation system for AT practitioners and suppliers should be constructed. A Consultation Paper (see below) was released for broad comment (closed 6 May) and the extensive responses received are informing the preparation of the final Options Paper that will be submitted to FaHCSIA at the end of May.
The Project Team will present an overview of the responses received and the planned approach to the Options Paper at lunchtime sessions at the ATSA Daily Living Expos in Sydney and Brisbane in the next two weeks. All are welcome to register for an Expo and come and listen.
Sydney, Thursday 16th May http://www.dailylivingexpo.com.au/sydney-lunchtime-session/
Brisbane, Thursday 23rd May http://www.dailylivingexpo.com.au/brisbane-lunchtime-session/
You can find more on the project work and downnload additional papers and high resolution versions for printing at our WIKI site: http://www.arata.org.au/NDIS
Bridging the AT Gap
A very sucessful conference was held in Sydney over three days at the end August 2012. Papers and proceedings are in the Resources section of this site.Updates are also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARATAconference
Assistive technology updates
- i-CREATe Conference 2012 - Singapore 24 to 26 July 2012
“Assistive & Rehabilitation Technology (ART) in an Inclusive Community”.
This program will include a range of workshops on the types of assistive technologies available for use in education and employment sectors. There will also be presentations by people with disabilities using technologies in their daily lives, including education, training and employment. More information of the convention can be found at www.icreateasia.org
Download the conference poster
- Article: Gathering and Applying Evidence in Computer Access Services (doc 550 kb)
- arata-ls: Listserve guidelines
- Policy: Guidelines for SIGs and Regional Chapters