4.35-Technology First
Open Door Technology First Policy and Procedures
Background/Regulatory Guidance:
Ohio is a Technology First state meaning that it emphasizes expanding access to technology for people with developmental disabilities. Each county board and intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities are required to implement a written policy to enact technology first.
Open Door Implementation of Technology First:
Intermediate Care Facility Technology First Plan:
The Technology First Plan at Open Door ICF locations seeks to ensure that each individual during their person-centered planning process (OISP) is assessed initially and at least annually regarding technology solutions that may be used to support the outcomes in their individual plan. The QIDP and interdisciplinary team will be responsible to:
- Discuss individual needs, explore information related to available technologies that would enhance their freedom, ability to communicate with others, access and pursue activities and meaningful relations with people important to them, perform tasks towards outcomes for employment, help to increase or maintain independence with daily tasks and activities, or reduce dependence on staff.
- Expand on options through referrals for assessments by technology subject experts or resources
- Identify evaluations or trials of technology solutions to determine what is available and what would work best for the individual’s needs
- Document technology options in both assessment and OISP
When technology solutions have been determined by individual and team to meet the assessed needs, the team will list technology and implementation of the technological solutions through established outcome measures. The technology solutions in OISP can be reviewed and modified at any time based on individual request or team. Technology solutions may be listed on a trial basis where individual and team review progress at the end of trial.
When reviewing technology solutions to determine their effectiveness and if they should continue, the team will consider the individual’s experience with achieving outcomes, individual’s desire to continue using the technology, whether it enhanced their lives, whether additional support is needed to facilitate the use of the technology, whether the technology reduced dependence on staff by increasing their independence and without having effect of isolation them from their community or preventing them from interaction with people they choose.
Collaboration
Open Door will actively collaborate with individuals served and their families, providers of services, the department, and community partners (ie: schools, mental health agencies, health care agencies, local VR centers, and employers) to expand awareness and use of technology solutions by individuals served. Open Door will continue to seek subject matter experts and consult with them on new technology offerings and ways to enhance our Technology First commitment
Training
The facility will address the ability to increase capacity for use of technology solutions and outline steps to be taken to establish benchmarks for increasing the number of individuals benefiting from the use of technology solutions.
During the strategic planning process annually, the facility will review and update goals and objectives related to increasing technological services. This includes review of data related to overall participation and progress of the technology objectives of the agency.
The agency will also evaluate resources for new technologies, collaborate with other partners, and evaluate staff trainings for new hires and on-going training opportunities to increase staff level of knowledge, skill, and comfort related to accessing technology that are recommended for individual outcomes. Staff training related to technology will be reviewed at staff meetings.
Open Door Waiver Services Technology First Plan:
The Technology First Plan for Open Door Waiver services division seeks to ensure that each individual during their person-centered planning process (OISP) is assessed initially and at least annually regarding technology solutions that may be used to support the outcomes in their individual plan. Open Door will work with county board SSA and team to:
- Discuss individual needs, explore information related to available technologies that would enhance their freedom, ability to communicate with others, access and pursue activities and meaningful relations with people important to them, perform tasks towards outcomes for employment, help to increase or maintain independence with daily tasks and activities, or reduce dependence on staff.
- Expand on options through referrals for assessments by technology subject experts or resources
- Identify evaluations or trials of technology solutions to determine what is available and what would work best for the individual’s needs
- Document technology options in both assessment and OISP
When technology solutions have been determined by individual and team to meet the assessed needs, the county board will list technology and implementation of the technological solutions through established outcome measures. The technology solutions in OISP can be reviewed and modified at any time based on individual request or team. Technology solutions may be listed on a trial basis where individual and team review progress at the end of trial.
When reviewing technology solutions to determine their effectiveness and if they should continue, the county board and team will consider the individual’s experience with achieving outcomes, individual’s desire to continue using the technology, whether it enhanced their lives, whether additional support is needed to facilitate the use of the technology, whether the technology reduced dependence on staff by increasing their independence and without having effect of isolation them from their community or preventing them from interaction with people they choose.
Collaboration
Open Door will actively collaborate with county boards, individuals served and their families, providers of services, the department, and community partners (ie: schools, mental health agencies, health care agencies, local VR centers, and employers) to expand awareness and use of technology solutions by individuals served. Open Door will continue to seek subject matter experts and consult with them on new technology offerings and ways to enhance our Technology First commitment
Training
The county board and Open Door will address the ability to increase capacity for use of technology solutions and outline steps to be taken to establish benchmarks for increasing the number of individuals benefiting from the use of technology solutions.
During the strategic planning process annually, the facility will review and update goals and objectives related to increasing technological services. This includes review of data related to overall participation and progress of the technology objectives of the agency.
The agency will also evaluate resources for new technologies, collaborate with other partners, and evaluate staff trainings for new hires and on-going training opportunities to increase staff level of knowledge, skill, and comfort related to accessing technology that are recommended for individual outcomes. Staff training related to technology will be reviewed at staff meetings.
