Special Education Services: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

H.2.1 Auditory Training Equipment (ATE)

ATE is managed by School District No. 47 (Powell River)

Mandate and purpose
Ministerial Order 149/89, the Support services for Schools Order, states in section 2:
(1) Each board is responsible for referring any of its students who are hearing impaired to the Ministry of Health for a needs assessment to determine if the student requires auditory training equipment for classroom use.
(2) On request of a board, the minister shall loan to the board auditory training equipment for each student who has been assessed under subsection (1) as needing the equipment.
(3) The minister is responsible for routine maintenance of auditory training equipment loaned to a board.

Referral for ATE Services
Requests to assess auditory training equipment needs for use by individual students are forwarded to a qualified audiologist by the superintendent or designate, the school principal, or the parents.
On receipt of the request, the audiologist completes a needs assessment, determines equipment requirements and forwards a recommendation for action to the school/district and the ATE program.
The ATE program administrator, in collaboration with the school/district, decides on the necessary action, including if necessary, the purchase of equipment to be provided on loan to the school/district for use by an individual student.
In collaboration with the school/district and the ATE program, the local audiologist installs the equipment, adjusts it to the student's individual requirements, and instructs the classroom teacher, hearing resource teacher and student on the use and care of the equipment.

Repair and maintenance
The school/district in consultation with the local audiologist is responsible for maintenance of the equipment and for monitoring on a regular basis the student's needs for assistive listening devices. If any problem arises between the periodic checks, the teacher or principal should contact the hearing resource teacher immediately. If unable to resolve the problem the hearing resource teacher should contact the local audiology support or ATE program staff. Equipment in need of more extensive investigation or repair has to be sent to ATE program Technical Support Centre.
Teachers should review the use and functioning of auditory training equipment on a regular basis. Teachers can request training from the local audiology support or from ATE program staff to be able to do routine checks.

Returns
School districts and independent schools are responsible for the proper care of auditory training equipment on loan to them and for the return of all items when they are no longer required. The equipment remains the property of the B.C. Government (Ministry of Education) and must be returned to the ATE program Technical Support Centre, if the student leaves the district or no longer requires the equipment.

Liability
Loss or damage of items must be reported immediately to the ATE program administrator. The school/ district is responsible for auditory training equipment on loan to its students and should ensure that all equipment is listed in the school inventory for insurance purposes.
When major (serial-numbered) school-assigned equipment is lost or intentionally damaged beyond use, the school/district will be expected to cover the cost of the replacement.
Schools/districts may elect to loan auditory training equipment to students outside of regular hours of instruction. In those instances districts are advised to develop policies to ensure liability issues are stated.

For current information about ATE procedures, fitting criteria and technical questions please contact:
Director of Provincial Programs
School District No.47 ( Powell River)
Direct phone: (604) 439-0542; fax: (604) 439-0573

Technical questions regarding ATE should be directed to the Administrator of ATE in Powell River:
(604) 414-2609 Ext. 2249

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