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Friday, March 19, 2021

World Down Syndrome Day 2021

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) takes place this year on March 21, 2021 and is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.


Join people around the world to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome on March 21st.

How can you get involved? Choose some socks that are going to get noticed, albeit mismatched socks or your craziest and most colorful socks! Encourage your friends, classmates and colleagues to join in too! The notion behind #LotsofSocks is to start a conversation and help bring global awareness to World Down Syndrome Day. Grab those crazy, mismatched socks and start raising awareness! 


Friday "Appy" Hour: Assistiveware Autism Acceptance Month Discounts


Access to AAC and the right to communicate are basic rights that are being eroded by the stress the pandemic has put on the whole system. That’s why, to mark Autism Acceptance Month we offer our traditional discount for a longer period and to more products.

Save the date

From 30th March until and including 6th April 2021 we’re offering our usual 50% discount on:

  • Proloquo2Go (Mac & iOS)
  • the Gateway vocabulary (in-app purchase in Proloquo2Go)
  • Proloquo4Text (Mac & iOS)
  • Keeble 
  • Pictello
  • Our AAC videos on-demand
For schools - the discount on our apps also applies to Apple’s Educational Volume Purchase Program (VPP). When your school or educational organization purchases 20 copies or more, you get an additional 50% off - that’s a total of 75% off!
Read more about the discount

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Webinar Wednesday: Let's Talk About Dyslexia

Join Dr. Helen Ross (Twitter: @drhelenrossand Jim Bowen (Twitter: @SP_JimBas) as they have open conversations regarding dyslexia in this "Let's Talk About Dyslexia" webinar sponsored by Scanning Pens. Dr. Ross will be sharing her story on dyslexia and her research on different technologies to help in the classroom. Her research explores stakeholder experiences of SEND provision within the mainstream education sector, focusing on the empowerment of young people to take ownership of their own learning journeys.

Presenter

Mr Jim Bowen

Jim is Dyslexic, but never let it stop him from succeeding in his career. Jim completed a BTEC National in marketing and business and then went onto Chester University to complete a degree in Business Studies. He began by working in retail, and then after 4 years joined Scanning Pens. Jim loves to help and encourage people to become better readers and succeed in their academic work. After working for Scanning Pens for 3 years, Jim is now the Secondary Schools Business Development Manager, as well as being involved in other UK and Ireland projects.
Presenter

Dr. Helen Ross

Dr. Helen Ross is a fully qualified special education teacher and former SENCO, currently working in a mainstream school in England. She also provides expert advice and research consultancy, as well as specialist tuition and CPD, through her own enterprise ‘Helen’s Place’, is an advisor to the British Dyslexia Association and is Chair of the Wiltshire Dyslexia Association. She has consulted for the British Dyslexia Association, The Committee for Science and Technology, and Wiltshire Local Authority.

Helen is also an independent researcher. Her research explores stakeholder experiences of SEND provision within the mainstream education sector, focusing on the empowerment of young people to take ownership of their own learning journeys. She is a qualitative researcher, using methods grounded within Bourdieu’s sociological project to explore barriers to participation in learning and engagement with institutions.
Helen tweets as @drhelenross and regularly speaks on dyslexia and special educational needs.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Webinar Wednesday: Your Dyslexia/Dysgraphia Toolkit

 


Your Dyslexia Dysgraphia Toolkit

Live Webinar: March 10, 2021

Building a Dyslexia/Dysgraphia Toolkit That Works

Dyslexia and dysgraphia were in focus even before eLearning. But, now more than ever, districts are looking for stable and effective ways to help students access and complete assignments independently—wherever they learn. 

Students with dyslexia or dysgraphia, often have difficulties with:

  • Decoding and comprehension
  • Handwriting
  • Spelling & Grammar
  • Organization
  • Written expression and writing speed (thinking faster than they can write)
  • Independence (they rely on adults for reading and writing tasks)
  • Writing math symbols; aligning numbers and word problems
  • Phonics and Phonemic Awareness
  • Finishing research, reading, and writing assignments on time


You're going to need the BEST combination of technology and measurement tools to help your students rise above these issues, recover from the COVID slide, and build confidence to work independently.

 Register for the Webinar 

In this webinar, Diana Petschauer, M.Ed., ATP, Laurie McIntosh, M.S., (from AT for Education - ATforED.com), and Kati McIlroy, OT, will show you a powerful toolkit to support students with dyslexia and dysgraphia including:

  • Tools/ Tech/ demos and strategies; realistic implementation for the iPad and Chromebook/laptop to support literacy, math and multi-sensory instruction
  • Co:Writer® (Word Prediction and Voice Typing for written expression) 
  • Snap&Read™ (Text-to-Speech, PDF Annotation, Text Leveling, Study Tools/Highlighter to fully access reading materials)
  • Annotation tools that make PDFs quizzes and worksheets accessible 
  • The uPAR process to help staff choose appropriate reading accommodations with data
  • The DeCoste Writing Protocol—a process to evaluate writing issues


Come see what makes a real difference for students living and learning with dyslexia and dysgraphia.
 
Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance, Word Prediction Screening Tool, and Participant Resource Folder with extensive resources on apps, extensions, tools and technologies to add to your Dyslexia Toolkit!

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Eastern
(New York)

Central
(Chicago)

Mountain
(Denver)

Pacific
(Los Angeles)

1:00 PM12:00 PM11:00 AM10:00 AM

This FREE webinar is 90 minutes.

 Register for the Webinar 

About the Presenter(s)

Diana Petschauer

Diana Petschauer, M.Ed, ATP  is the Managing Director of Assistive Technology for Education & Access4Employment; and a nationally certified Assistive Technology expert for over 20 years. She worked in public Special Education for over 15 years, as well as for a University for AT & Disability Services prior to her business. She manages her team of consultants at ATforED who provide AT evaluations, training, consultation, PD workshops & webinars. Diana has experienced working with a significant number of students & adults with Dyslexia & Dysgraphia, including using Assisive Technology to access curriculum & instruction, build confidence & independence, support executive functioning, increase literacy skills, as well as use AT to support the individual & student in the workplace and community. She has also provided training to SLP's and reading specialists to use AT as part of their OG lessons and instruction. Diana presents many workshops & webinars on AT and Literacy Intervention combined to provide the most efficient multi-sensory support for individuals with Dyslexia, including at the most recent International Dyslexia Association conference.

Laurie McIntosh

Laurie McIntosh, MS, OTR/ L, ATP is a consultant at Assistive Technology for Education & Access4Employment after working as an OT (occupational therapist) in public schools and private practice for 38 years.  Her primary experience has been to work with school teams to provide accessible educational materials, specially designed instruction, and technology access to students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities/ Dyslexia, and autism. She has worked with students from preschool to high school, and adults across the lifespan.  Laurie is skilled at providing training to students, paraprofessionals, teachers, administrators and parents in order to create an environment in which assistive technology is part of typical daily learning.

Kati McIlroy

Kati McIlroy, Assistive Technology Specialist and an Occupational Therapist who has worked in school districts for over 15 years in Southern California and currently works with Don Johnston Incorporated as an Educational Support Specialist. She collaborates with district professionals, educators, and therapists to integrate technologies that help students access the curriculum. By conducting presentations and trainings at schools and conferences, she helps spread the word about how Universal Design for Learning opens the world to students and creates lifelong learners.