Skip to main content
    Back to Insights
    Clinical Perspectives

    Back to School Season Is for Grown-Ups Too: Staying Curious About AT and CRT

    By Angie Kiger, M.Ed., ATP/SMSSeptember 2, 20265 min read
    Angie Kiger with a large group of smiling therapists in blue scrubs in a pediatric clinic in the Dominican Republic

    It's that time of year again. No, I'm not talking about coffee shops rolling out the pumpkin-flavored lattes (although I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to indulge in a PSL soon). I'm talking about that wave that comes over most adults now that the kiddos have headed back to school. Summer's winding down and everybody's back in a routine. Something about this time of year feels like a second start to the calendar year, and it makes a lot of folks feel like there's still time to get back to work on those goals they set back in January. You know the ones. “This year I'm gonna learn something new, take a class, or earn a certification.”

    Hi, it's me, Angie, and I'm one of those people. Every fall, I get the itch to hit the reset button on the calendar year. So this year, I decided to do something about it, not just for me, but for everyone who works in the assistive technology (AT) and complex rehab technology (CRT) worlds. It's called Lab Notes, and before I tell you what it is, I want to tell you why.

    The Way We Learn Has Changed

    I've been in AT and CRT for 25+ years (when did I get so old?!), and staying current still isn't easy. New products hit my feed every day, and with so much AI-generated content out there, it's getting harder to tell what's real, who actually knows what they're talking about, and what's worth your time and money.

    At the same time, the way clinicians learn has changed. When I was a young therapist, the only way education could happen was in person, through an in-service over lunch or a full-day conference. Or, if you were really cutting edge, you could also do a continuing education class over a conference call. Those were all the rage when I first got started. I actually led a few of them early in my career, and my co-presenters and I still joke that we hope those recordings never surface. We are positive we did a terrible job.

    These days, I keep hearing that clinicians don't have the resources to attend full-day or multi-day conferences in person. Productivity requirements are real, CEU budgets are tight, and travel isn't always in the cards. And we're all living in a world where the answer to almost any question is a quick scroll away. I'm not knocking it. I've learned a lot of amazing and useful things on social media, YouTube included. The good news is that there are more ways to learn than ever before.

    There's no shortage of information out there. The hard part is finding what actually resonates with you as a learner.

    Rediscovering My Love of Teaching

    I spent over a decade on the road conducting clinical education seminars all throughout North America, and even got to travel to Europe once. I would talk for seven hours straight about all sorts of topics related to assistive technology and CRT. Honestly, my favorite part was never the lectures. It was connecting with people during the breaks or after the sessions, when they would come up and want to brainstorm a specific tough situation with me. I prided myself on coming up with practical, implementable solutions that attendees could use the next time they saw their clients. Even better were the days I got invited into a clinic or a school to make recommendations based on how a client was presenting right in front of us and teach hands-on.

    Earlier this year, I worked with Physiopedia Plus, an international online learning platform for rehab professionals, to create a series of on-demand courses for entry-level clinicians on wheelchair provision and seating. Somewhere in the middle of building them, I noticed that the spark for teaching I thought had completely fizzled out was turning into an actual flame. I missed it.

    I also started paying closer attention to all of the resources and classes being promoted in my inbox and on my social media feeds because, truth be told, I needed to earn a few CEU credits and broaden my knowledge too. A lot of what I came across was super helpful. I learned about amazing and innovative products, and I found excellent evidence-based clinical education that earned me the CEUs I needed. Unfortunately, some of what I found was not so helpful. And I kept thinking, other folks out there have to be experiencing the same thing.

    That got me thinking about what it would take to meet people no matter where they are in their AT and CRT career journey. What if there was a place where we could tap into the deep knowledge of the seasoned professionals who came before us, while also lifting up the folks who need more entry-level education? A community where everyone, at every level, is welcome. Where we sort through all of this together and land on something we can actually use.

    So, Lab Notes

    Lab Notes from Adaptation Labs is designed to be a resource for anyone who wants to stay current in AT and CRT without drowning in the noise. Trends worth watching. New products run through an experienced, unbiased lens. Funding and policy changes explained in plain language. And pointers to the courses and events that might be worth your investment of time and money.

    It's for ATPs, OTs, PTs, SLPs, recreation therapists, special educators, and anyone else who works with people who could benefit from AT or CRT. If you're on the industry side and want to understand what clinicians and end users actually need, you're welcome too. And if you use this technology yourself or care for someone who does, you absolutely belong here.

    It's not a content mill. It's in my own voice, from my own experience, plus perspectives from other authentic voices in the field. It comes out regularly, but not on a rigid schedule, because I'm not going to send you something just because the calendar says I should. There's a podcast in the works as well, so keep an eye out for that.

    Your Back-to-School Homework

    Two things.

    First, if you or someone you know is seeking self-paced learning, the on-demand wheelchair and seating courses I mentioned are now live on Physiopedia Plus. They start with the foundations of wheelchair provision and go all the way through power mobility. You can see the full list, and grab a discount code, on the On-Demand Courses page.

    Second, and this one's easy: subscribe to Lab Notes. It's free. Forward it to a colleague who's trying to keep up too. And reply and tell me who you are. I really do want to know who's reading.

    And if you're a manufacturer or product developer with something new and innovative that clinicians should know about, reach out. I'd love to hear about it and see if it's a fit for Lab Notes.

    Welcome back to school, y'all. Knowledge is power.

    Keep adapting!

    Angie

    Angie Kiger, M.Ed., ATP/SMS, founder of Adaptation Labs, brings more than 25 years of clinical, industry, and consulting experience in AT, CRT, and adaptive equipment. Based in Alexandria, VA, the firm serves clients nationwide, combining digital strategy with deep sector expertise to unlock potential from complex needs.