RESNA seeks to revise standards

ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA’s Professional Standards Board has proposed revising the organization’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to make them easier to understand, particularly for people outside of the profession. 

RESNA has published a draft revision and put it out for public comment through July 29. 

“To me, as one of the people who last revised the document in 2008, it’s clear, but stepping back and re-examining it, it may not be as clear as it could be for others,” said Julie Piriano, chair of the PSB.  

The PSB last revised the document in 2008 to, among other things, reflect the new assistive technology professional certification. 

With this revision, the board has proposed organizing the document by “duties owned to the consumer and public, duties owned to companies and affiliated entities, and duties owed to RESNA,” Piriano says. 

“The standards were listed in no particular order, which made it difficult to figure out,” she said. “They weren’t categorized in a way that was clear.” 

The PSB has also added language to the document about the need for certificants to keep their information in the RESNA database accurate and up to date. 

“That has always been expected, but it has not been in writing,” Piriano said. 

While the impetus for revising the document was, in part, due to comments received from people who found the process of submitting complaints confusing, RESNA has not received an increase in complaints. 

“The PSB is the oversight governing board for RESNA’s certificant programs and it’s just part of normal business for them to do their due diligence,” said Liz Dombrowski, certification manager for RESNA. “It’s not a reaction to anything – it’s more of an opportunity for enhancement.” 

The PSB will review all comments and then send a final draft to RESNA’s board of directors. Once approved, the board will announce an implementation date. 

“There are no wholesale sweeping changes,” Piriano said. “There’s an easy crosswalk between the draft revision and the previous document. We don’t anticipate any hiccups.”