Appy Hour: Vooks is on Netflix!

 If you haven't heard of Vooks yet, you'll be glad you did after today! Vooks is an online streaming program that has an entire library of storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along text. As stated on their website "Vooks inspires a love of reading by making books accessible to children of all levels, and all learning abilities."

Vooks is a paid subscription for families ranging from $4.99 a month to $49.99 for the year. However, they do offer a free 30-day trial which allows for you to see if it is the right tool for you and your child. For educators, Vooks is FREE!!! It can be watched on singular device, such as an iPad, laptop, phone or TV, and is ad-free. Additionally, Vooks is now available on Netflix. 

Webinar Wednesday: Aided Language: From Research to Practice

For children and adults with complex needs, Aided Language Stimulation (ALS) is a communication strategy, where a communication partner teaches symbol meaning and models language by combining his or her own verbal input with selection of vocabulary on the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system. The resource featured below from AAC Language Lab helps to provide a visual overview of the definition, procedures, tips and resources. 

Additionally, the blog PrAACticalAAC offers a plethora of video, printable and other resources to support those new to Aided Language or those looking to further their knowledge. 

If you're interested in learning more about Aided Language, be sure to register for the webinar presented by AAC experts Kelly Fonner and Sharon Redmon. Information and a live link to register is listed below: 

DATE:

June 11, 2019, 01:00 pm CST - 60-minutes

TITLE:

Aided Language: from Research to Practice

DESCRIPTION:

“Aided language may be defined as the use of communication aides in face-to-face conversations.” (VonTetzchner, 2018). Various AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) vendors & presenters talk about the use of Aided Language Stimulation, Modeling, Aided Input and other methods of introducing a language system to an individual with CCN (Complex Communication Needs). In this webinar we will provide the research background on Aided language, explain aspects and skills related to utilizing it in your practice, and give usable examples of its implementation into real life in school, community and home. Learn how to model because it is not as easy as it sounds..

COST:

FREE

PRESENTER:

KELLY FONNER

 & 

SHARON REDMON

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

Webinar Wednesday: Apps, Extensions, and Tech Tools for ADHD Brains: A Learning Guide

In this hour-long-webinar-on-demand, learn the most popular and effective technology tools for students with ADHD, with Janet DeSenzo.

Students don’t learn material that fails to engage them. Kids, especially those with unreliable attention and focus, lose interest quickly if the curriculum feels inaccessible and intangible. Many schools today are responding by using technology tools and the Universal Design for Learning approach.

Here, learn about the most popular and effective technology tools for students with ADHD and learning disabilities. Geared for educators, parents, and clinical professionals, this webinar will explain how to maximize students’ learning through the use of apps and tools for Chromebooks, iPads, Windows, and Macs. Teachers will also pick up lesson plans and strategies for incorporating technology into their UDL classrooms, and learn why educators are shifting the focus from accommodating students with ADHD to creating a more accessible, engaging curriculum.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

• Great Chrome apps and extensions for helping differently wired students
• iPads apps designed to maximize your child’s learning, plus the many tools built into the iOS operating system
• Tools offered by Microsoft that can assist with organization and productivity
• How to set up a Universal Design for Learning classroom, and how it supports all types of learners

Play this free webinar and download the slide presentation of "Apps, Extensions, and Tech Tools for ADHD Brains: A Learning Guide," plus get more strategies from ADDitude via email.

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Janet DeSenzo has been working in the field of assistive technology for more than 15 years. She started working with college students at the university level, assisting students with disabilities as the coordinator of Disability Services at a state university in New Jersey. From there, she started her own educational consulting company, JanTech Educational Services, which she still owns and operates. Janet is currently an assistive technology specialist and technology integration specialist in the Vernon Township School District of NJ. There, she helps find technology solutions for students with special needs and assists teachers with integrating technology into their everyday lessons.

Webinar Wednesday: What’s in your Bag: AT/AAC tools and Teaching tips

Date: May 9, 2019

Time: 3:30-4:30

Description:

What is in your bag of tools when you walk into a classroom?  Literally.  In this hour-long webinar, we will look into my toolbox I have carried with me around the world when working with AT/AAC users in and out of the classroom.  We will also talk about those non-tangible tools, teaching tips and tricks to add to your toolbox to help students succeed whether in the therapy or the classroom.

 

Learning Objectives: In this webinar participants will be able to...

• List three tangible items to add to a toolbox
• Describe two teaching tips for student engagement
• Implement one teaching strategy to increase student engagement

Presenter:

Sharon Redmon is a SpEd and GenEd teacher with over 20 years of experience.  She holds a Masters of Science degree in Adaptive Education: Assistive Technology and an Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) license from RESNA. Sharon's passion for AT and especially AAC began with her first teaching job in WI where she became involved in WATI and continues today as a leader in the WI AAC Network created by an AAC Communicator.  Sharon has been an AT specialist for a WI and WA school district, ECSE teacher (low incidence population), SPED/ABA/Autism coordinator/teacher, high school and kindergarten teacher and now ATP in private practice. Her classroom experience in WI, WA and overseas schools, has given her a unique perspective on how UDL, AT, and AAC intertwine.  She is excited to be back in Washington State and working with individuals of all ages and abilities to access communication and their environment.

Registration Information:
Create an online registration

Contact: e-mail Sue Wright at the SETC office to register, wrightsu@cwu.edu

Friday Appy Hour: Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month with Assistiveware

Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month

April is Autism Acceptance Month and the folks at Assistiveware are looking forward to celebrating.  They will amplify autistic voices by sharing resources and blogs written by the autistic community. With this celebration is the return of the 4-day discount of their apps including Proloquo2Go, Proloquo4Text,  Pictello, Keeble and Gateway. Each will be discounted at 50% off.

Save the date!

The 50% discount will be in effect worldwide from Tuesday, April 2 to Friday, April 5. No need to fill in a discount code - you’ll see the discounted amount in the App Store.

Discount also available for volume purchase discount

The discount also applies to Apple’s Educational Volume Purchase Program. When your school or educational organization purchases 20 copies or more, you get an additional 50% off. That’s 75% off!

Friday "Appy" Hour: Daily Calm App

Children and teachers today are under great pressures due to unique academic, social and emotional challenges. Kids are experiencing greater pressures earlier in life, and feel more stress and anxiety than ever before. These demands have led many school districts to begin shifting their focuses onto incorporating mindfulness in the classrooms. This can be done through the addition of peaceful music, movement breaks, yoga, deep breathing, and so on. Given this movement in schools nationwide, it seemed fitting to dedicate a Friday Appy Hour to an app that supports mindfulness. 

This week we are taking a peek at Calm. At Calm, their mission is to make the world a happier and healthier place. The app, created 4 years ago, was initially created to provide mindfulness tools and resources for adults. However, in more recent months the focus has shifted towards the opportunity to bring mindfulness to teachers and children all over the world. 

Calm's goal is to, 

"Empower kids to thrive, not just survive."

As stated on Calm's website, "Numerous studies have shown the many benefits of teaching mindfulness to children. Through mindfulness education, kids can develop a lifelong capacity for greater self-awareness, concentration, patience, and resilience.

Meanwhile, educators face pressures of their own. Many teachers understand the benefits of mindfulness, but they face time and budget constraints, making it challenging to bring mindfulness education to the classroom.

That’s why we’re launching The Calm Schools Initiative. We are offering every teacher in the world free access to Calm, the mindfulness app that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world use everyday. Our aim is to empower teachers with mindfulness tools and resources they can use to help kids learn this new skill."

The Calm Schools Initiative allows for any teacher with a K-12 classroom,  to gain free access to the application's paid subscription service. Teachers can access the subscription on Android, iOS and the web. Through the subscription, teachers will have unlimited access to an expansive library of guided meditations and mindfulness exercises, including Calm Kids, which is a mindfulness and meditation program tailored for age groups from pre-K through high school.

Sound interesting? If so, you may be asking how to begin.

Teachers fill out a simple form (link here). Once you submit the form, the Calm Schools Initiative contacts you within a few days with your approval  and some resources and suggestions to get your started.

If you’re a parent or student, forward this page to your teacher and let them know how important mindfulness education is to you.

Either way, have fun discovering the power of meditation! 

Webinar Wednesday: CTD Answers Your Questions About AT!

This webinar is a Q & A session with Center on Technology and Disability (CTD) director Jackie Hess. In this session, Jackie answers both AT questions previously submitted as well as those asked during the live presentation. Topics include relevant laws, classroom practice, AT for libraries, recommended apps, and much more. (Click here to download a copy of the PowerPoint).

CTD's Assistive Technology Module

New to the field of assistive technology or looking to gain more insight? Then look no further. The incredible folks at CTD have done it again, this time providing the ultimate resource in Assistive Technology. Their training module includes guides, reference charts, vidoes and webinars. Be sure to read below and click on the hyperlinks to explore each module and resource further. 

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MODULE LINK

CTD created an Assistive Technology Module for Personnel Preparation Programs in participating colleges and universities. Now they are making it available to all educators and trainers interested in a “ resource package”. The resources can be downloaded and copied or distributed electronically through the link for the module at: http://ctd4teachers.com/ or read below and click on the individual links!

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MODULE
FOR PERSONNEL PREPARATION PROGRAMS

THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

There are more than 6.7 million students ages 3–21 who receive special education services. That represents 13 percent of all public school students. That number does not include the additional millions with undiagnosed disabilities and/or those with diagnoses who do not receive formal special education services. It also does not include students in private schools. A small percentage of these students currently have access to assistive technology (AT). A far greater number would benefit from AT if it were made available to them.

In the past, the term “assistive technology” referred to a limited range of specialized, often expensive items that were designed to help students with relatively severe disabilities perform tasks that they could not otherwise do. In recent years, developments in technology have changed all that. Assistive technology now refers to a wide range of devices, software, apps, and services that are widely available at lower cost. Many items that you might not think of as AT, are. They can be as basic as a magnifying glass or as complex as a robot. They range from no-tech, do-it-yourself items to programmable software programs that can be readily customized by a teacher, therapist, or parent.

If an item allows a student with disabilities to perform a task that he or she could not do otherwise, it can be considered assistive technology. That makes it subject to the laws governing public education, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Whether you choose to teach in a public or private school, in a general or special education classroom, you will almost certainly have students in your class with a range of abilities and disabilities. Some of those students will have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), some will not. Both groups, however, will benefit greatly from your knowledge of assistive technology devices and services.

The materials in this module, will help you:

• Understand the basic concepts underlying the use of assistive technology
• Become familiar with the words and terms associated with AT
• Understand your role as a teacher in helping to identify and integrate the use of appropriate AT in your classroom
• Learn about the laws governing AT in public schools
• Participate as a knowledgeable professional in the IEP teams to which you will be assigned
• Become a role model, peer mentor, and school leader in the use of AT
• Change the lives of students with physical, sensory, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral disabilities

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY 101
AT makes it possible for children with disabilities to take part in life’s activities. It can strengthen developmental, functional, and learning skills. Get started on your AT journey by learning the basics.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF

VIDEOS FROM THE TEACHER PERSPECTIVE
CTD has created a series of videos that we believe will help strengthen your understanding of assistive technology. Each video focuses on AT use in the classroom and reflects the perspectives of teachers.
WATCH THE VIDEOS

AT & THE IEP TIPS FOR TEACHERS
As a teacher, your input is invaluable to the IEP process. These tips will help ensure that your observations about the performance, strengths, & challenges of the student are documented to help them succeed.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF

KEYRING OF ILLUSTRATED AT DEVICES
These keyrings can be used for training & peer support to begin exploring a wide range of AT tools. Examples range from low- to high-tech and span ages and types of support.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF

CTD WEBINARS FOR EDUCATORS
CTD webinars provide an excellent way to hear from AT experts who present at major conferences, who advise state and local education agencies, and who conduct in-service teacher training.
WATCH THE WEBINARS

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY
It is important to understand the “language” of AT to be an informed advocate for a child’s technology needs. Learn about the kinds of AT that are available and how they can be used.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF

Friday Appy Hour: iPad Apps for Learners with Complex Additional Support Needs

This is the latest poster in Call Scotland's popular 'App Wheel' series created in response to ongoing inquiries regarding useful iPad apps for complex learning difficulties. The 'Wheel of Apps' is not comprehensive, but attempts to identify relevant, useful apps and to categorize them into the areas an iPad can be a useful tool for learning and teaching. Note that some apps address a range of difficulties. The wheel features a mix of apps, some of which will be useful for using with Primary aged learners, some with Secondary aged learners and some with both.

Please note that the links on the electronic version are 'clickable' and will take you to the iTunes UK App Store, where you can find out more about the individual apps and download them onto your iPad. Note that links in the poster are to the UK iTunes site (GB), to go to the US store, simply change "GB" to "US" in the URL.

Go to https://www.callscotland.org.uk/downloads/posters-and-leaflets/ for a complete listing of the CALL Posters.

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. 

During the month of November, Seesaw has provided the following webinars based on your level of use and familiarity with . Click on the link to see times, dates, and register.

Brand New to Seesaw? Watch this: http://bit.ly/readyforwebinar 

Watch recorded webinars anytime on our YouTube channel!

	If you work with students in PreK-2nd Grades: NEW Get Ready for Conferences!⬅️ Watch now! NEW Awesome Hallway Displays with Seesaw NEW Reinvent Reading Logs with Seesaw Easy Seesaw Ideas and Tech Tips Family Communication, PreK-2⬅️ Watch now! Brand New to Seesaw (Grades PreK-2)⬅️ Watch now! Brand New to Seesaw, Part 2⬅️ Watch now!
	If you work with students in 3rd-5th Grades: NEW Get Ready for Conferences!⬅️ Watch now! NEW Awesome Hallway Displays with Seesaw NEW Reinvent Reading Logs with Seesaw Easy Seesaw Ideas and Tech Tips Family Communication, 3-5 Brand New to Seesaw (Grades 3-5) Brand New to Seesaw, Part 2⬅️ Watch now!
	If you work with students in 6th-12th Grades: NEW Awesome Hallway Displays with Seesaw Easy Seesaw Ideas and Tech Tips   Brand New to Seesaw (Grades 6-12) Brand New to Seesaw, Part 2⬅️ Watch now!