Rachael M. Haven, known as Shelley to friends, colleagues, and clients, has worked for nearly 40 years helping individuals with physical, sensory, cognitive, and learning challenges to unlock their potential with technology.
Shelley is an assistive technology consultant and former rehabilitation engineer who specializes in matching students with appropriate technology. Her consulting practice, Technology to Unlock Potential™, serves families, educators, and schools both online and in person with a focus on learning differences, ADHD, and executive functioning. Her latest endeavor is helping education professionals understand artificial intelligence (AI) and how to leverage generative AI for teaching, learning, and AT support.
Shelley's broad experience in AT includes evaluating client needs, custom designing and fabricating accommodations, conducting classes and workshops, and publishing training materials. In the education arena, Shelley provided AT training and technical assistance to hundreds of schools and districts (as a private consultant and as part of a state-funded program). She directed AT resources and services for Stanford University's Office of Accessible Education (OAE) from 2000 to 2008, was instrumental in creating the Schwab Learning Center at Stanford (now part of CHC in Palo Alto) for students with learning differences and ADHD, and laid the groundwork for Stanford's online accessibility program. More recently, Shelley created and taught an online college course for UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, “Assistive Technology for Learning Differences”.
From 2005-2025, Shelley held RESNA* certifications (currently inactive) as an Assistive Technology Professional and a Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist. She has a mechanical engineering degree and was previously licensed as a Professional Engineer (1984-2013).
*RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)
As shown in this website's logo, TechPotential is short for "Technology to Unlock Potential", which sums up my philosophy on "Why use technology?" For individuals with disabilities, technology can be the key to improving performance, independence, and self-confidence.
Technology to Unlock Potential™ is also the name of my assistive technology practice and the brand under which I provide assistive technology consultation, training, professional development workshops, and related educational resources for families, educators, schools, and organizations. I have used the name and logo continuously since 2012 in connection with these services and products, including this website, workshop materials, and client documents. The words "Technology to Unlock Potential" are intended to identify the source of these services – my professional practice – and to help clients recognize my work across trainings, reports, and resources.
Trademark Notice: Technology to Unlock Potential™ is a trademark of Rachael M. Haven and TechPotential LLC, and is used in connection with my assistive technology consulting and training services as well as products. TechPotential™ and other marks shown on this site are trademarks of their respective owners.
If you need to reference my practice, please use the mark in its full form and capitalization ("Technology to Unlock Potential™"). Please do not use my name, mark, or logo in a way that suggests endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship without express written permission. For additional info or questions, feel free to contact me through the site’s Contact page.