RESNA

MEET RESNA’S PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD

Written by: ANDREA VAN HOOK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RESNA

RESNA’s Professional Standards Board (PSB), which handles oversight and compliance of RESNA’s certification programs, added new members over the summer. The members of the 2020-2021 PSB are:

• Julie Piriano, PT, ATP/SMS – Chair

• Doug Rakowski, OT, ATP – Vice Chair

• Beth Speaker-Christensen, SLP, ATP – Vice Chair

• Cheryl Sheffield, OT, ATP – Secretary

• Jennifer Border, Consumer

• Eric Grieb, OT, ATP

• Michele Gunn, ATP, CRTS ®

• Johnny Kelly, Consumer

• Jason Kelln, ATP, CRTS ®

• David Savage, ATP/RET

• Rich Schein, PhD

• Lois Turner, SLP, ATP

• Antoinette Verdone, ATP

• Kyle Walker, ATP

• Alisa Brownlee, ATP – RESNA Board Liaison

PSB members are engaged in a number of important activities, including:

• Setting eligibility standards for initial certification and certification renewal.

• Designing, administering and maintaining certification exams.

• Maintaining a registry of RESNA certified professionals.

• Ensuring compliance with RESNA’s NCCA accreditation for the ATP program and following best practices for certification programs.

• Serving as the final decision-making body for all complaints and disciplinary action.

The certification programs under the PSB’s responsibility are the Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) and the Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) certifications.

RESNA credentials are the standard of excellence for all of those in the assistive technology field. In addition to the rigorous initial application and examination requirements, applicants also agree to uphold the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice. Renewing ATPs, SMSs, and RETs recommit to these ethical standards, as well as demonstrating their continued practical

experience in the assistive technology field in addition to completing education regularly to demonstrate their continued competency. This helps the public feel confident they are collaborating with a credentialed assistive technology professional committed to practicing in a way to achieve the highest quality of life for their clients.

To maintain this public trust and integrity, the Complaints Review Committee of the PSB is a very important and necessary aspect of the program. This committee oversees and enforces the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice when RESNA certified professionals have fallen short of their obligations. RESNA maintains a peer-reviewed Complaints Policy and enforcement process for the handling allegations of misconduct. Any member of the public or assistive technology professional who believes a RESNA certified professional has violated the Code of Ethics or the Standards of Practice can report alleged misconduct by filing a complaint. The Complaints Review Committee is committed to maintaining an enforcement process that is credible to the public and fair to professionals who find their conduct under question.

The certification section of the RESNA website has information on how to file a complaint, the complaint form, and the complaints process. Please visit www.resna. org/Certification/Ethics-and-Standards-of- Practice for more information.

THE END OF THE YEAR IS THE BUSIEST TIME FOR RENEWALS, AND BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS, THERE ARE FEWER “IN OFFICE” DAYS.

Notice to those renewing their ATP:

Please scan and e-mail your paperworkto certification@resna.org, instead ofusing “snail mail” or FedEx. Due toCOVID-19, staff is working remotelyand the forwarding of physical mail iscausing delays. Staff will then set upan invoice for you to pay online. If youneed to pay by check, staff will providethe bank address. Please do not sendchecks in the mail to the office.

Do not wait until the last minute to submityour renewal paperwork! The end of theyear is the busiest time for renewals, andbecause of the holidays, there are fewer“in office” days. It can take up to threeweeks to process a recertification.

Updated RESNA Address and Phone

Please note RESNA’s new address:2001 K Street NW, 3rd floor North Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: 202-367-1121 Fax: 202-367-2121 info@resna.org

Andrea may be reached at EXECOFFICE@RESNA.ORG

Andrea Van Hook is executive director of RESNA. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit association management. She lives and works in the Washington, D.C., area.