Make a Difference with Assistive Technology
If you’re a hands-on learner and a problem solver who is inspired to make a difference in the lives of others, UNE’s minor in Assistive Technology may be the perfect addition to your college transcript. Assistive technology refers to devices, equipment, software, and apps that help people live with more independence. As the only assistive technology minor for undergraduates in Maine, this cross-disciplinary program provides a wealth of opportunities for you to engage in innovation within the healthcare arena. This minor also positions you with enhanced career flexibility, either as a certified assistive technology professional (ATP) or as a professional in another health discipline such as OT or nursing, who would like to develop a career-boosting skill set.
Why UNE for your Minor in Assistive Technology
UNE’s Assistive Technology minor is designed to give you the tools and experiences you need to incorporate assistive technology practices into your academic major and career. The minor focuses on experiential learning through engagement with technology. You will acquire a new range of skills that sets you apart from other health care professionals in your field.
- Offers diverse courses and small class sizes
- Close working relationships with faculty members
- Accelerated pathway to Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) certification through RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)
- Career boosting skill enhancements as a future OT, PT, or nursing professional
- Promotes interdisciplinary study and interprofessional career prospects
- Unique opportunities to create assistive technology-related devices in the UNE Makerspace
- Several local clinical and internship opportunities related to assistive technology
Something that really excites me about assistive technology is how life-changing it can be. Watching someone who is unable to see or hear gain the ability to communicate using assistive technology is one of the most rewarding things. From communication devices to certain buttons in a home that open doors for wheelchair users, it’s the small things that can make a difference.”
— Jared Benoit ’24, Occupational Studies/Assistive Technology
Career Paths for Assistive Technology Minors
UNE’s Assistive Technology minor applies to health, educational, and business careers in diverse ways. At the core, the minor will prepare you to become board-certified and practice as an assistive technology professional (ATP). An ATP assesses the needs of clients with disabilities to determine the potential benefit of a health-related device. Beyond this viable post-baccalaureate career option, you can use an assistive technology minor to complement the specialties of an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech and language pathologist. At the intersection of health, technology, and education, this minor could also prepare you for a career in entrepreneurship, data science, or special education.
Majors That Pair Well With an Assistive Technology Minor
- Occupational Studies
- Applied Exercise Science
- Public Health
- Medical Biology
- Special Education
- Data Science
Potential Career Settings
- Occupational and Physical Therapy Practices
- Public Schools
- Private and Special Education Schools
- Nursing Homes and Geriatric Centers
- Speech Language Pathology Practices
- Product Development Companies
What will you study? Assistive Technology Minor Curriculum
Experiential Learning
At UNE, we believe in learning by doing. The Assistive Technology minor offers opportunities to perform hands-on work to complement your area of study and prepare you to step off of the graduation stage into a successful career. Whether you’re working with people in wheelchairs as an occupational therapist, programming communication devices as a speech-language pathologist, or practicing as an assistive technology professional (ATP), experiential learning allows you to polish these skills as a student.
Internships
There are a number of possible local internship sites that will enhance your studies as an assistive technology minor. Internship sites such as the Kennebunk School System and AllTech Portland provide a hands-on learning experience.
Classroom Activities
Our assistive technology classes take you way beyond the textbook to a variety of activities that put you in the context of a health care professional or innovator.
- Programming and setting up voice to text devices to be used with older adults
- Designing and building custom wheelchairs in the Makerspace
- Attending trips to local schools to learn about cognitive aids, sensory aids, computerized learning adaptations, and more
Experience an Assistive Technology Community Mobility Course
Examples of Available Courses
As an Assistive Technology minor, you’ll complete a total of six courses, including five foundational courses that cover a broad range of topics and one elective. The following are just some of the choices available:
- Assistive Technology in the Schools
- Assistive Technology for Aging in Place
- Assistive Technology of Community Mobility
- Disability Studies and Inclusive Communities
- Innovation through Technology
- Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Curriculum
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| OS 201 – Foundations of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| OS 301 – Assistive Technology in Schools | 3 |
| OS 302 – Assistive Technology for Aging in Place | 3 |
| OS 402 – Assistive Technology for Community Mobility | 3 |
| OS 432 – Disability Studies and Inclussive Communities | 3 |
| Program Specific Elective (see below) | 3 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 18 |
|---|
| Program Specific Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUMG 120 – Innovation through Technology | 3 |
| BUMG 313 – Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| OS 490 – Internship | Variable |
| SPE 220 – Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| SPE 301 – Creating an Inclusive Classroom Culture | 3 |
| SPE 315 – Supporting Students with Autism | 3 |
Assistive Technology by the Numbers
national average yearly salary of an assistive technology professional
Projected assistive technology industry annual growth
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions
Contact Undergraduate Admissions at (800) 477-4863 or email admissions@applegatearchitects.com. You can also stop by our office on the Biddeford Campus Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.