A Blizzard of Books: An Epic! Challenge

 Take part in Epic's biggest winter reading challenge of the year! 

From Monday 1/30 to Friday 2/3, Epic! classrooms will be automatically entered into the challenge with many chances to win cool prizes! If you haven't already heard of Epic!, read my previous post to learn more about it. 

Friday "Appy" Hour: Epic! blog post 

Listening Isn't Cheating: How Audio Books Can Help Us Learn

With technology advances providing easier access to high quality audio book through paid providers like Audible and Learning Allied or funded sites like Bookshare, to name only a few, many are turning to "ear reading" to improve fluency and comprehension for both academic and pleasure reading. However, the equality of audio books is often called into question where conversations may revolve around the notion that listening to books doesn't teach students to read and is viewed as taking an easy way out. Those who utilize text-to-speech programs and built-in accessibility tools as valuable tools for learning disagree with these suggestions. The KQED News article Listening Isn't Cheating: How Audio Books Can Help Us Learn by Ki Sung, tackles this subject and provides insight into the impact audio books can have.

Listening Isn't Cheating: How Audio Books Can Help Us Learn Article

Motivational Monday

The QIAT Top 10

This week I wanted to focus on some of the important information I gained while attending the ATIA 2017. The conference sessions were overflowing with incredible resources and tools that I couldn't wait to immediately implement (some will be shared in future posts). In addition to those sessions, several sessions focused on QIAT (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology). For those less familiar, QIAT is a free resource available to those in the assistive technology field. As described on the QIAT website:

The QIAT Community is a nationwide grassroots group that includes hundreds of individuals who provide input into the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating and implementing a set of widely-applicable Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in school settings that can be used as a tool to support: 

• school districts as they strive to develop and provide quality assistive technology services aligned to federal, state and local mandates 

• assistive technology service providers as they evaluate and constantly improve their services 

• consumers of assistive technology services as they seek adequate assistive technology services which meet their needs 

• universities and professional developers as they conduct research and deliver programs that promote the development of the competencies needed to provide quality assistive technology services 

• policy makers as they attempt to develop judicious and equitable policies related to assistive technology services.

Top 10 Things to know about QIAT

(Spoiler Alert...I saved my favorite for last!)

• 1. Within the QIAT website there is an abundance of free resources available to guide the improvement of AT services and to increase the educational participation and results of students. Through the use of the QIAT resources, there can be an improved quality and consistency of services provided

• 2. QIAT supports the implementation of IDEA and other legal mandates. 

• 3. QIAT resources were designed and developed for
• school districts
• AT service providers
• consumers of AT services
• universities and professional developers
• policy makers

• 4. QIAT resources include 
• Indicators
• Intent Statements
• Matrices
• Matrices Summary Sheet
• Matrices Worksheets

• 5. There are 8 Indicator areas. I have created links to the QIAT Indicators informational pages to provide insight into what each area entails. 
• Consideration for AT Needs
• Assessment
• AT in the IEP
• Implementation
• Evaluation of Effectiveness of AT
• AT in Transition
• Administrative Support of AT Services
• Professional Development and Training in AT

• 6. Within the QIAT website you can locate a Resource Bank. As described on the QIAT website, the"bank" is the place to share resources by contributing to the QIAT Resource Bank and follow links to some other web sites for people interested in assistive technology in general. Here you can find helpful websites and usable documents created by AT professionals. Then bank has the option to search if you are looking for something specific and is organized to streamline the searching process. 

• 7. QIAT Webinar Series: The free webinars were created by the members of the QIAT Leadership team. This series of webinars will provide a foundational background to the work of QIAT and QIAT tools & resources to support integration of AT in schools & other settings. 

Remember to locate them at Ablenet University then search for QIAT (or click on the hyperlink). The sessions are listed below...

QIAT Session 1: Overview of QIAT

QIAT Session 2: Consideration of AT Needs

QIAT Session 3: Assessment of AT Needs

QIAT Session 4: Including Assistive Technology in the IEP

QIAT Session 5: AT Implementation

QIAT Session 6: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of AT

QIAT Session 7: AT Transition

QIAT Session 8: Professional Development and Training in AT

QIAT Session 9: Administrative Support of AT Services

QIAT Session 10: Using QIAT Resources

• 8. QIAT Useful Links...The links on the page were suggested by individuals on the QIAT List who have found them to be of value in supporting, in some way, the development and provision of quality assistive technology services in school settings.

• 9. The book!!! Yes, there's a book! Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology: A Comprehensive Guide to Assistive Technology Services is published by CAST (also worth exploring) and written by Joy Zabala and the Quality Indicators Leadership Team, with whom I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and at ATIA 2017.

Within the book readers will be provided with valuable and credible resources for evaluating, choosing, deploying, and supporting assistive technology services in K-12 and postsecondary educational environments. The book costs $49.99 (discounts applied when purchased in bulk). 

• 10. As I said, I saved my favorite for last....The QIAT listserv! The QIAT listserv provides a platform to partake in important discussions or post questions regarding AT tools and services with other professionals in the field. Often times conversations move into educational technology tools as they often utilized during AT implementation. Whether you post, provide insight and information to others or just observe, it is a valuable tool that allows you to receive up-to-date advances in AT service delivery.

Source: QIAT; Ablenet

Webinar Wednesdays: Assistive Technology for Math Issues

This past Monday, Jamie Martin (@ATdyslexia), assistive technology consultant and trainer, presented the webinar "Assistive Technology for Math Issues" hosted by Understood.org. The focus on the webinar was to discuss various assistive technology tools to address mathematic difficulties, with specific discussions on dyscalculia. If your own child or students experience mathematical difficulties that go beyond the normal "struggles" all students encounter, then this may be the right webinar for you to partake in. For more information about dyscalculia you can view my previous post "Demystifying the 4 D's".

If you weren't able to catch the webinar live, below you will find the recorded webinar. Also, be sure to visit Understood.org's site to learn more about dyscalculia and other assistive technology tools to support struggling learners. 

Follow the links below to access other articles that provide assistive technology tools resources to support math difficulties.

Assistive Technology for Math (Understood.org)

Math, Math and More Math Article (Glenda's Assistive Technology Blog)

Source: Understood.org; Jamie Martin; Glenda's Assistive Technology Blog

Motivational Monday

I took this photo as I was walking out of Disney World...After an incredibly inspiring week at ATIA 2017, I thought this was fitting....

ATIA 2017 - AT Bootcamp Highlights (Day 2)

The second day of the AT Bootcamp, facilitated by Mike Cole and Kelly Fonner, was filled with a tremendous amount of information regarding accessibility, AT tools to support devices and tools to support language, writing and mathematics. Today was jam packed with resources and information to support the successful selection and implementation of AT and AAC. The information below only touches the surface of some of the highlights from today's session. Again, my hope is you find this as helpful as I did...

1.  Accessibility: A large portion of the morning was spent discussing the built accessibility features found within most devices today. I joined the group to review the iOS accessibility features. Having recently participated in Apple's Accessibility workshop, many of these I'd been acquainted with, but today was an excellent opportunity to review and play with the tools. Some of my personal built in iOS accessibility tools are Guided Access, Voice Over, Zoom, Speech-To-Text/Dictation and Sticky Keys. See my previous post that delves deeper into the various Apple accessibility features.

Apple Showcases Accessibility Features Post

2. Switch Access: For those individuals with limited or no usage of their hands switch access can can provide opportunities for independence and communication which normally would not be possible. Additionally, switch access is often utilized by people with limited mobility, motor impairments or degenerative diseases where dexterity is impacted to allow interaction with the touch screen. During AT Bootcamp, we were presented with both proximity and mechanical switches and discussions focused on the selection process when switch access is being considered.

A checklist was shared to determine ideal control sites and placement for switches as well as  some helpful tips for the implementation of switches.

With so much to consider for switch access, the greatest take away I had was to always "assume competence". By doing so, the process for determining the right tools to provide access.  For more information about switch access visit the Better Living Through Technology website.

3. AAC: Mike and Kelly provided an in-depth look at the expansive topic of AAC with the session  covering areas from AAC models & assessment, low to high tech tools, a comparison of dedicated devices compared to applications, AAC considerations, examples of symbols sets and implementation strategies. Some of the information discussed can be found in the slide images below:

 

The information shared helped to simplify a normally overwhelming area and even delved into debunking many myths revolving around AAC. To read about AAC myths visit Carole Zangari'sAAC Myth Buster Wrap Up or Tobii Dynavox's AAC Myths Revealed

For those looking for an excellent resource to determine goals for initial and re-assessments regarding AAC, definitely take a peek at TobiiDynavox's DAGG-2 (Dynamic AAC Goals Guide 2)

4. Academics: Other conversations focused on literacy, writing and mathematics. With so many resources to share I am listing a few standout key applications and software covered during the bootcamp: 

• Ginger
• Co:Writer
• Draft Builder
• Read & Write
• Webnotes
• Draft Builder
• Clicker (Connect, Sentences, Docs)
• Snap & Read
• Grammarly 

ATIA 2017 - AT Bootcamp Highlights (Day 1)

Tuesday kicked off the first day of the ATIA 2017 convention and the pre-conference sessions. I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the two-day AT Bootcamp session run by Mike Marotta (@mmatp), Brian Wojick (@bwwojic), Mike Cole (@TheRealMikeCole) and Kelly Fonner (@KellyFonner). Although the day was filled with valuable information and tools,  I am sharing some of my key highlights and take aways from the first day of AT Bootcamp...I hope you find these as helpful as I did! 

1. The importance of supporting the technology: Much emphasis falls on the importance of selecting a device or tool to meet the needs of the individual in need of support. However, much of today's AT Bootcamp discussion also focused on the critical part successful implementation plays. If those who are supporting the device are not comfortable or properly trained, then all of the work to get the device or tool into the hands of the student would be all for nothing. The quote below by Bill Gates truly embodies the message: 

2. SETT Framework: For those working in the field of AT, the SETT framework created by Joy Zabala is a common "go-to" resource when evaluating and determining the right tools to meet each student's needs. As Joy describes on her website: "The SETT Framework is a tool that helps teams gather and organize information that can be used to guide collaborative decisions about services that foster the educational success of students with disabilities. Originally developed to support assistive technology selection and use in educational settings, the principles of the SETT Framework have been used to guide decisions about a much broader range of educational services, and also, with minor adjustments, have been successfully used in non-educational environments and service plans." 

3. Comparing AT Consideration vs. AT Evaluation: There are specific differences when comparing an AT consideration and an AT evaluation. The graphic presented at the AT Bootcamp helps to provide clarification between the two.

4.  Feature Matching: An excellent discussion regarding feature matching helped to provide insight into the critical role it plays in device selection. To provide clarity, feature matching is the systematic process where a person's needs, strengths and abilities are matched to available low and high tech tools and strategies. Two key points made during AT bootcamp was feature matching refocuses the priority back onto the student's needs instead of the device selection and makes the decision making process one that involves the entire team, not just the assisitive technology specialist.

The presenters shared a link for the website http://matchingpersonandtechnology.com/ which provides more detailed information regarding the feature matching and sample feature matching checklists. 

Additionally, Carole Zangari of the PrAACtical AAC blog, shared the link for the Student Inventory for Technology Supports (SIFTS) . SIFTS is a free, web-based survey tool that helps teams match the needs and abilities of a student to specific AT features. It is not a comprehensive assessment tool, but provides guidance to help teams in the process of AAC and AT selection.

5. iOT (Internet of Things): Wearable Technology 

The Internet of Things is one of the latest trending topics in the tech field with much conversation focusing on wearable and voice activated technology. Wearable technology has become common place in our everyday lives between smart watches or activity trackers like FitBits, allowing students more discretion when using these tools within the learning environment. Additionally, voice activated technology, such as the Amazon Echo, or the sister product Amazon Dot, create affordable options for home automation particularly when paired with programs like Workflow, Zapier  or IFTTT (If This Then That). The possibilities of voice activated Technologies are just emerging and have already made many positive strides towards leveling the playing field for those with disabilities. 

Stay Tuned for Day 2 of AT Bootcamp! 

1 Day Until ATIA 2017

Can you tell I'm excited? Tomorrow is the first day of the ATIA 2017 pre-conference sessions. I will be joining Mike Marotta, Brian Wojcik, Kelly Fonner and Mike Cole for two full days of AT Bootcamp training. I will be sure to share what I've learned with all of you too, so stay tuned and check in! If you have questions you want me to ask, comment below and I'll do my best to have them answered. 

Assistive Technology at a Glance

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To access the full article, click here: 

Understood.org AT at a Glance Article

For many children with reading disabilities, including kids with dyslexia, assistive technology (AT) can help to remove barriers and reduce daily academic struggles. With the field of technology always evolving, it almost seems like new technologies become available each day. This can be both challenging and overwhelming for parents and educators who are unsure of which technologies would work for their student or child. The big question is....Where should I begin? To help provide a starting point, the team at Understood.org has created a guide featuring AT tools for reading and tips on where to locate the tools. 

Types of Assistive Technology Tools for Reading

Here are some of the most helpful AT tools for reading.

• Text-to-speech (TTS) lets kids see text and hear it read aloud at the same time. To use this tool, kids click on or highlight words, and the words are read by a computer-generated voice. TTS can be used with books, emails, web pages and any digital text. It can also be used to convert text files into audio files.
• Audiobooks and digital TTS books allow kids to hear books read aloud. Some kids like to read along with the book so they can see the words at the same time. Audiobooks are read by human voices. Digital TTS books are created with TTS, and use computer-generated voices.
• Optical character recognition (OCR) reads aloud text from images and pictures. Kids with reading issues can use OCR by taking photos of worksheets and other documents, and even objects like street signs. They can also scan documents in. OCR can read words from pictures on web pages (such as image files, like JPG). Like TTS, OCR uses computer-generated voices.
• Graphic organizers are visual representations, like diagrams and mind maps, of ideas and concepts. Kids can use graphic organizers to take notes while reading, which can help with comprehension. Graphic organizers can be digital or pen and paper.
• Annotation tools let kids take notes and write comments while reading. This can make it easier to retain information. Annotation tools can be found on certain software or apps, or they can be traditional pens, markers and sticky notes.
• Display control allows kids to control how text is displayed. When reading on a screen, they can change the font, font size, color and spacing of text. Kids can also mask or cover parts of the screen to lessen distractions while reading. When reading on paper, they can use a simple adaptive tool, like a plastic reading guide. Some books use large print or special fonts. Or they may replace certain words with images.
• Dictionaries and thesauri allow kids to look up words they don’t understand when reading. A picture dictionary is a popular tool that uses images to define words. And a talking dictionary reads definitions aloud.

Where to Access Assistive Technology for Reading

Some reading tools are “low-tech.” There are traditional classroom tools like sticky notes and highlighter pens. You can typically find them at any store that sells school supplies.

Your child’s school or teacher may be able to provide certain adaptive tools, like reading guides or special worksheets. You can check with the school or local library to access certain stand-alone technology tools, like books on tape or CD (kids will need audio player to use them). You may also want to learn about where to find free audiobooks and digital TTS books.

Today, however, most AT tools for reading are used on one of three computer platforms for assistive technology:

• Desktop and laptop computers: Computers typically have built-in AT options, like TTS. You can download software programs for reading issues to add more AT functions to computers.
• Mobile devices (like tablets and smartphones): Mobile devices also have built-in AT. You can add more reading tools to mobile devices with apps. Explore Tech Finder to find apps for reading issues.
• Chromebooks (and Chrome browsers on any device): Chromebooks also have built-in AT. And you can add Chrome apps and extensions to help kids with reading issues even more.

Learn more about assistive technology. Find out whether schools will pay for reading tools for your child. And get an expert’s advice on the first assistive technology to try for your child.

Source: Understood.org

The countdown to ATIA is on...

It's only one week until the ATIA 2017 conference begins and I'm in the process of planning which sessions I want to attend, in addition to the pre-conference sessions I already selected. There are hundreds of sessions to choose from and thankfully the ATIA 2017 app is making this planning process much easier. Whether you're attending or just curious in what ATIA 2017 is all about, definitely download the easy to use app and begin planning your week. 

Get It All at Your Fingertips or Switchtips

Check out this incredible tool to help you get prepared for ATIA 2017 and get all the conference content in one simple app. The mobile app is the most up-to-date resource for conference attendees and is available for both iOS and Android users.
 

Get prepared for ATIA 2017 using the app to:

• Search sessions
• Create your own schedule
• Contact speakers
• Check out ATIA exhibitors

While you're in Orlando, use the app to:

• Modify your schedule
• Find locations
• Get handouts
• Take notes
• Tweet your experiences - #ATIA17
• Get notifications for any updates or changes
• Fill out session evals and more!

The ATIA 2017 conference app is a must for everyone attending!

How to Download the App:

Apple App Store

Open the Apple App Store and enter "ATIA 2017" into the search bar.

iPad Users: Be sure to select "iPhone Only" when searching for the app on your iPad.

 

Google Play Store

Open the Google Play Store and enter "ATIA 2017" into the search bar.

 After downloading the app from the store, follow these steps:

1. Got to "Meetings."
2. Select the 2017 App.
3. Click "Load."
4. Go to "My Planner" and choose "Sign Up."
5. Go to "Home" to review sessions, speakers, and exhibitors. "Bookmark" them to add them to "My Planner."

Questions or need help? Email marketing@atia.org

Source: ATIA 2017

Motivational Monday

Ringing in 2017