So grateful for the support from my subscribers. It has been incredible to watch this blog continue to grow. Wishing you all a happy holiday and all the best in the New Year!
Friday, December 21, 2018
Monday, December 3, 2018
Motivational Monday
What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a feel good advertisement that incorporates inclusivity and accessibility for all!
Way to go Microsoft!
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
A Teacher's View of Assistive Technology
In this 15-minute video, published by the CTD Institute, teachers of students with a range of learning needs discuss the ways in which assistive technology can help. The teachers featured in the video provide examples of low to high-tech tools that are easily integrated into a classroom environment.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Friday, November 16, 2018
Friday "Appy" Hour: SeeSaw PD in your PJs
For this week's Friday "Appy" Hour we will be discussing the app Seesaw. Seesaw is a powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates students progress over time. As shared on Common Sense Media, "The Learning Journal is a robust digital portfolio and learning system where teachers can create meaningful multimedia experiences for students. Using Google, Clever, student emails, or a QR code, teachers assign tasks that engage students with a variety of work in the form of videos, photos, text, images, files, and drawings. Teachers follow up by approving posts, offering feedback, and, if desired, making items accessible to families via the Seesaw Family app (available online and via Android or iOS). Since teachers can view all students’ submissions at once, it’s an easy way to check for whole-class understanding. Teachers can also enable peer-to-peer feedback or create a class blog to encourage a richer, more connected experience. For added security, the blogs can be password protected, and teachers can opt to moderate posts.
Designed with an intuitive interface, Seesaw logically leads teachers through processes such as creating assignments, recording directions, providing student feedback, and sending family communications. Translation is available if the device language settings are different from the original message. The Activity Library hosts a variety of activities aligned with Common Core for all grade levels, and the Help Center provides lots of support as well as professional development online for teachers. A paid upgrade allows tracking of skills mastery."
The video below shows an overview of Seesaw. Be sure to read below for an expansive list of webinars to help get you started or learn more about all that Seesaw has to offer.
Brand New to Seesaw? Watch this: http://bit.ly/readyforwebinar
Watch recorded webinars anytime on our YouTube channel!
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If you work with students in PreK-2nd Grades:
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If you work with students in 3rd-5th Grades:
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If you work with students in 6th-12th Grades:
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Thursday, November 15, 2018
Utah Assistive Technology Program's YouTube Channel
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Intro to Assistive Technology from the CTD
November is Assistive Technology Awareness Month and what better way to start the month than by sharing this short video from the CTD Institute. The video is moderated by Chris Bugaj, an Assistive Technology Specialist and author of the recent title The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All, who outlines basic topics and concepts for using assistive technology with students with disabilities. Students, teachers and other service professionals can benefit from this overview video.
Looking to learn more, be sure to read some previous Where It's AT posts focused on "What is AT..."
Monday, November 12, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Webinar Wednesday: Supporting Students with Dyslexia: Standards, Accommodations, and Strategies
In this archived CTD webinar, AT Specialists Diana Petschauer and Kelsey Hall demonstrate AT tools to support students who experience dyslexia with regard to developing goals and choosing appropriate accommodations as part of students’ IEPs. Presenters also discuss interventions designed to close achievement gaps by providing well-researched programming that is explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory in nature, with plenty of opportunities for practice. (Click here to view the slides.)
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Webinar Wednesday: Writing Strategies for the Reluctant Writer
In this archived CTD webinar, participants explore some of the reasons students develop a reluctance to express themselves in writing, among these is dysgraphia. Regina Richards, M.A., shares a variety of high-tech and low-tech strategies for reversing writing reluctance. Also discussed are handwriting, spelling, and information organization (generating ideas and planning/translating the ideas into written format). Learn proven strategies that may be immediately implemented.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Accommodating Students With Dyslexia
Dyslexia is one of the most common disabilities affecting approximately 1 in 5 individuals (see the previous WIA blogpost focusing on Learning Ally's 1 in 5 Initiative). It does not reflect an overall defect in language, but a localized weakness within the phonologic module of the brain, which is where sounds of language are put together to form words or break words down into sounds.
Often times individuals with dyslexia are mistaken as less cognitively intact while the truth is....most of the time these said individuals are of average to above average in intelligence and exceed in their creativity. Although we are living in 2018, schools are still not designed to be accessible for all learners and many educators are not provided the proper training to identify and tools to support dyslexic students. This ripple effect causes many students to go through their educational career compensating for their deficits, experiencing undue stress and prohibiting students from reaching their full potential. The underlying message here is knowledge and tools are powerful and impactful, which is why I am sharing the following article, Accommodating Students with Dyslexia by Jessica Hamman, focuses on five easy-to-implement accommodations that can make class less stressful and more manageable for students with dyslexia.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Take the ZYX Challenge!
The ZYX Challenge is an idea that was created last spring by Jasleen Toor and friends all currently ninth graders living in New Jersey. They have created ZYX Challenge social media accounts for Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook with the goal of raising funds and awareness for IDA (International Dyslexia Association).
We ask each of you to take the Challenge and post it on social media.Encourage your kids, friends, and family to do the same. It’s a fun and easy way to raise awareness and show your support.
Here’s how it works:
- Make a video of your attempt to say the alphabet backwards in under 45 seconds. Open the video with a brief introduction such as “I’m taking the challenge to support the millions of kids in schools who struggle daily with dyslexia.”
- If you make a mistake or are unable to complete the challenge, make a donation to IDA on this page: http://idysa.convio.net/goto/zyxchallenge
- Challenge another person to do the same and post it on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtags #ZYXChallenge and #UntilEveryoneCanRead
Get ready…ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA!
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Webinar Wednesday: How Do I Develop Switch Skills?
October 17, 2018, 02:00 pm CST - 60-minutes
You have selected an optimal switch site and switch type. How do you help the student to develop switch competence? This webinar will present strategies to increase the student’s ability to use a switch effectively.
FREE
About the presenter
Michelle L. Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Michelle is an occupational therapist with 30 years of experience and has been in private practice, Access to Independence, for over 10 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the co-editor of Seating and Wheeled Mobility: a clinical resource guide, editor of Fundamentals in Assistive Technology, 4th ed., NRRTS Continuing Education Curriculum Coordinator and Clinical Editor of Directions magazine. Michelle is on the teaching faculty of RESNA. Michelle is a member of the Clinician Task Force. Michelle is a certified ATP, certified SMS and is a Senior Disability Analyst of the ABDA.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
5 Important Steps to Navigating Dyslexia
Source: https://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 8, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Thursday, October 4, 2018
The Creative Brilliance of Dyslexia | Kate Griggs | TEDxBrighton
Even in 2018, there are many misconceptions and lack of awareness when it comes to dyslexia. The month of October is dedicated to bringing awareness to dyslexia to help empower those living with dyslexia and educate those working with students with dyslexia.
The following TEDx Talk featuring Kate Griggs helps us to re-think our perception in dyslexia and to change the way we approach learning differences in our day-to-day lives. Kate is passionate about helping the world understand dyslexia as a different way of thinking, not a disadvantage.
In 2005 Kate founded dyslexia charity Xtraordinary People, uniting the UK dyslexia charities and devising and leading a high-profile campaign, which culminated in the UK government’s Dyslexia Review. Kate was given an award by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in recognition of her campaigning work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
The following TEDx Talk featuring Kate Griggs helps us to re-think our perception in dyslexia and to change the way we approach learning differences in our day-to-day lives. Kate is passionate about helping the world understand dyslexia as a different way of thinking, not a disadvantage.
In 2005 Kate founded dyslexia charity Xtraordinary People, uniting the UK dyslexia charities and devising and leading a high-profile campaign, which culminated in the UK government’s Dyslexia Review. Kate was given an award by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in recognition of her campaigning work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Webinar Wednesday: Feature Match...What's That?
October 04, 2018, 12:00 pm CST - 60-minutes
Feature Match… What’s That?
As a key component of an Assistive Technology Assessment, Feature Match, is often misunderstood, misused, or missed completely in the process of a consumer receiving an unbiased and full-scoping AT evaluation. Often consumers are met with AT tool recommendations based upon the knowledge base of their local assessor, rather than the consumers own full range of abilities and needs being matched to the features that are available throughout a wide range of products that are available throughout the marketplace. AT and Rehabilitation Technology providers do not always need to know ALL of the products that are available, but they do need to know how to do a proper Feature Match process and how to search for products beyond their immediate toolbox. Join Kirk and Kelly to explore these options and receive a full set of feature match charts that are composed to range a wide variety of AT areas.
FREE
About the presenters
Kelly Fonner, MS
Kirk Behke, M.Ed., ATP
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018
Friday, September 28, 2018
Back to the AT Basics: From High to Low to No Tech Tools
The purpose of assistive technology is to remove or reduce the effects of functional limitations. When discussing AT tools to meet the needs of individuals, often times conversations and determinations center on the most expensive, most complex, or most recent technologies.
As stated in Visual Supports for People with Autism, "The use of high-tech devices and software to support individuals with disabilities is certainly not a silver bullet, and it is important to understand the specific needs and strengths of each individual before making any decisions. A good rule of thumb is “just because something is new, doesn’t mean it is the best choice.” While some individuals may benefit from the use of handheld computers or other mobile devices, others may benefit from more traditional, low-tech visual supports or a combination of the two."
A critical component of the AT process is the matching an individual’s strengths, needs, and preferences with the most appropriate software or hardware, referred to as Feature Matching. As shared in a latter post, a comprehensive feature matching assessment such as the SETT Framework (Student, Environment, Tasks, Tools) (Zabala, 2005) should explore both the needs of the individual along with how and where the tools will be used.
The determination between high tech and low tech options depends on the individual and their abilities. It is essential to remember one size does not fit all. Ultimately, the determination for the technology should be based upon and meet the needs of the individual, never that the individual's needs meet the requirement for the technologies.
The chart below provides some examples of high to low to no tech adaptive solutions available to individuals in need of AT. If you are seeking a more comprehensive list of high to low tech tools, visit the Assistive Technology Continuum of Low to High Tech Tools list created by the Boston Public Schools' Access Technology Center (ATC). Additionally, Glenda's Assistive Technology blog offers tools sorted by specific disabilities.
The chart below provides some examples of high to low to no tech adaptive solutions available to individuals in need of AT. If you are seeking a more comprehensive list of high to low tech tools, visit the Assistive Technology Continuum of Low to High Tech Tools list created by the Boston Public Schools' Access Technology Center (ATC). Additionally, Glenda's Assistive Technology blog offers tools sorted by specific disabilities.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Back to the AT Basics: The SETT Framework
What is the SETT Framework?
The SETT Framework, developed by Joy Zabala, utilizes a systematic process to determine the appropriate technologies and tools for an individual with a disability. As stated on Joy Zabala's webpage, "The framework is a four-part model intended to promote collaborative decision-making in all phases of assistive technology service design and delivery from consideration through implementation and evaluation of effectiveness."
SETT is an acronym for Student, Environments, Tasks and Tools. Although the letters form a memorable word, they are not intended to imply an order, other than that the student, environments, and tasks should be fully explored before tools are considered or selected.
So why use the SETT framework? To answer, it simply ensures the individuals are receiving the tools that best meet their needs which can ultimately "level the playing field."
The graphic from Understood.org posted below provides a visual explanation regarding the SETT Framework.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Back to the AT Basics: A Review
Looking for information to get started learning about assistive technology, visit some previous Where It's AT blog posts:
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