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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Webinar Wednesday: AT and the IEP Resources and Webinar

All about Assistive Technology and the IEP
AT and the IEP  - Featuring Lisa Lightner  
Are you a parent or family member of a child with an IEP? Do you work with students with disabilities and their families? This family-oriented webinar will provide valuable ideas on how to advocate for assistive technology devices and services designed to help students be successful at school. 
This Thursday 
March 29th, 2018- 1:00pm EST

You can access the entire webinar archive as well as all upcoming CTD events by visiting 
Resources on AT and the IEP

When meeting with the IEP team, parents are a child's most effective advocate. It's important that they be prepared and informed. This brief guide informs parents about assistive technology and the IEP.   Also available in Spanish.

This fact sheet provides tips to help parents navigate the IEP process, particularly with respect to assistive technology.

This Infographic offers information and tips on how general education teachers conduct and follow through with Individualized education programs (IEP's).
There are many components to consider in assistive technology selection, such as student history, current needs, and future goals. This article from the Center for Parent Information and Resources gives step-by-step instructions to this process that all members of an IEP team can utilize. 

This illustrated guide describes AT basics in user-friendly language. It discusses how to select AT devices and provides annotated photos of a wide range of AT options. This is a great starting point for those who want to learn about AT and teach others.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Web 2.0 Tools Accessibility Report Cards

In the 21st century classrooms, Web 2.0 tools are transforming the way students are supported and instruction is delivered. As it becomes more common practice for schools to incorporate technology into their classrooms, teachers will strive to select technology tools that enhance their instruction. Web 2.0 Tools are online software programs that allow users to do a number of different things. They can be used to teach curriculum content, store data, create/edit video, edit photos, collaborate and so much more. These programs are often free and are used by teachers, students, and sometimes parents, both in and out of the classroom, on a pretty regular basis.

So where does this leave our students with learning differences? The answer should be, right beside their peers. It is important that when selecting the tools to be used in your classroom, to consider what accessibility features are available as well. For those unsure where to begin looking, Wendy Torres' eBook, Web 2.0 Tools Accessibility: 6 Report Cards for Six Web 2.0 Tools, is the perfect place to get started. The eBook provides a brief overview and highlights the accessibility features of 6 popular Web 2.0 Tools, including Book Creator, Flipgrid, My Simple Show, Sugarcane Games, Wakelet and Sutori. Click on the image below to view the eBook

Monday, March 26, 2018

Motivational Monday



Thursday, March 22, 2018

Autism Awareness Month: Discounted AAC and Literacy Apps

The time of year has arrived again where many AAC and literacy apps become discounted in honor of Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month. If you're looking to purchase an AAC or literacy app don't miss your chance to download select apps at a substantial discount. It is important to note the specific sale dates for each app as they vary!! Additionally, deeper discounts are available if you are purchasing these apps in bulk through Apple's VPP (Volume Purchasing Program). 


SLP, AAC Consultant, AT Consultant, Special Educator, Lauren Enders, created the following graphics below. Please be sure to click the links to the graphic as well as a spreadsheet with links for purchasing/downloading apps.



Here's the link to a PDF of this graphic for sharing: http://bit.ly/aacappsalegraphicmarchapril18

Here's the link to the spreadsheet with sale dates and download links: http://bit.ly/aacappsalesmarchapril18



Source: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenSEndersMaCccSlp/

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Feature Matching Guide and Webinar


Those working in the field of Assistive Technology understand all too well the importance of feature matching when making the determination of getting technology into the hands of those in need of support. As shared on the CTD website, understanding the key needs, goals, and objectives for a student and the key features of an app/device, enables us to match students with the most appropriate device or app to achieve a desired goal. Dr. Therese Willkomm created the resource featured below for app analysis to help guide the process. Before accessing the guide, be sure to view the webinar, Feature Matching of Apps for Students with Disabilities.


In this webinar, Dr. Therese Willkomm discusses and demonstrates various tools, resources, and strategies to select the most appropriate app based upon desired outcomes, the environment, and the student's abilities. Participants will learn how to perform an app analysis that analyzes apps based measurable student goals and the physical, sensory, cognitive, environmental, and social abilities required to affectively use the app for the intended goal.


To learn more about feature matching, also visit http://matchingpersonandtechnology.com/ which provides more detailed information regarding the feature matching and sample feature matching checklists. 



Sources: Center on Technology and Disability, Matching Person and Technology

Monday, March 19, 2018

Motivational Monday



Thursday, March 8, 2018

Is Assistive Technology Cheating?

Is it “cheating” to use assistive technology (AT) like dictation and text-to-speech? Does it give kids an unfair advantage? Hear from Jamie Martin, assistive technology consultant and dyslexia expert, on these and other common myths about AT tools.



Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Trialing Assistive Technology Tools

Understood has become a "go-to" resource for parents and educators looking to further their knowledge regarding various disabilities or a place to turn to when in need of more support and answers. The following article, "8 Places to Test-Drive Assistive Technology" helps highlight some of the best ways to trial assistive technology to ensure it is the best fit for your student or child. 

8 Places to Test-Drive Assistive Technology