OVERVIEW

The mission of TnT is threefold:

(1) to study prevalence, policy and resources, individualized decision making, training and support and other factors related to use of assistive technology (AT) devices and services in early intervention.

(2) to disseminate current knowledge and research findings in timely ways to families, multidiscipline EI providers, administrators, educators and policymakers using a variety of methods and approaches.

(3) to partner with parents of children with disabilities, with individuals with disabilities, in the design and implementation of the national research program.

TnT's work can be articulated in the following Guiding Principals:

- The Institute represents a COLLABORATIVE model of integrated activities focused on the timing and use of AT devices and services to support families in promoting children's participation and learning opportunities within natural environments.

- Families are INTEGRAL and equal partners in the design, research, dissemination, and evaluation activities and ESSENTIAL advisors throughout the management and operation of the Institute.

- All institute activities represent INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORTS focused on system-wide change.

- Research studies focus on APPLIED PROBLEMS in a methodical, rigorous manner.

- Dissemination activities promote adoption of new and better solutions to systems-wide problems.