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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. 


SourcesVisual Supports for People with AutismJoy ZabalaGlenda's Assistive Technology BlogAssistive Technology Continuum of Low to High Tech

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 ToolsAlthough 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


While contemplating what articles or resources to feature this week, I felt it was important to take a step back to review the basics of what is assistive technology, the types/categories of technologies available, as well as some of the important steps to follow during the selection process. Whether you're new to the field of assistive technology or more seasoned, join me this week as we take a peek into each of these areas. Please feel free to comment below if you have any other information you feel should be included or would like to see more of. 



Looking for information to get started learning about assistive technology, visit some previous Where It'AT blog posts:

Monday, September 24, 2018

Motivational Monday



Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Webinar Wednesday: Assistive Technology Supports for Reading Disabilities



Since the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, the printed word has been the 
most fundamental method for conveying information. But what if reading is hard for you or your students? The reasons may be numerous (learning disability, vision disability, English language learner, not yet learned to read), but the result is the same: text, and the information contained in it, is inaccessible. Join Karen Sheehan, Director at AT Coalition, on September 26, 2018 from 12:00-1:00 pm PDT for her webinar, Assistive Technology Supports for Reading Disabilities, to learn about the variety of tools available to help people track, decode, and comprehend the printed word.

This presentation will cover assistive technology products and strategies to assist struggling readers in Tracking, Decoding and Comprehending text. It is appropriate for those interested in learning more about AT for people with reading disabilities of any age.



Monday, September 17, 2018

Motivational Monday

Thursday, September 13, 2018

CTD Answers Your Questions About AT!

Join the Center on Technology and Disability as they answer your questions about Assistive Technology (AT)! Send them your top three questions, and their team will host a live Q & A event on September 18, 2018 at 4pm EST to answer them.
Visit the CTD website to submit your questions and then RSVP using the button below...


Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Webinar Wednesday: AT: What Is It and How to Use It

If your summer had you on the go and you missed out on the webinars from CTD's summer series, you're now in luck. CTD, Center for Technology and Disabilities, has shared some of their summer webinars, including the webinar being featured below with Elizabeth Barry and Tina Hanson from the PACER's Simon Technology center. Elizabeth and Tina describe the fundamentals of AT, and how to incorporate them into your student's or child's life to enhance learning and creativity. The original post and full transcript can be found through this link. Watch the webinar below and click on the link for the PDF handout of their presentation.



Source: CTD

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Get your AT Key Rings from CTD!

Who doesn't love free resources? You can now order your free CTD AT key rings for training, peer support, parent workshops, personnel prep classes and other activities in which you’d like to share these handy, colorful examples of assistive technology. Examples range from low- to high-tech and span ages and types of support.  Interested in ordering 5?.... 25?..... 50?... or more?  Follow the link below and place your order!  

Monday, September 10, 2018

Motivational Monday



Friday, September 7, 2018

Become a Book Creator Ambassador

This past summer I was honored to be accepted as part of the latest class of Book Creator Ambassadors. Book Creator has become a staple in the edtech world and revered as a top educational app in many classrooms not only around the country, but around the world. It's easy to use interface, simple integration with curriculum and ability to be partnered with many other apps, including Flipgrid, make this a tech tool you'll keep coming back to. Looking to learn more about Book Creator? Visit their website or watch a brief video that provides an overview of all that Book Creator has to offer. 


If you're already fan of Book Creator and are interested in moving to the next level of use, or are a novice interested in learning more about the app, becoming a Book Creator Ambassador is the next best step. Click here or on the link below to submit your application. The process is easy and the benefits of becoming part of the ambassador program are vast. 



Thursday, September 6, 2018

Top 10 Back to School Proloquo2Go Tips




In schools around the globe, teachers have focused their efforts on preparing lesson plans, learning new curricular programs and keeping up on the latest in educational technology. All of this is with the intentions to enable students to be engaged and have a meaningful learning experience.

The amazing folks at Assistiveware have put together a top 10 list of tips to help you prepare for the new school year...Be sure to click here for the full article which contains links and more details about how you can better prepare for those students using Proloquo2Go!


1. Make a backup of your student's vocabulary
2. Update to the latest versions of Proloquo2Go and iOS
3. Check out our resources
4. Update your students' vocabulary and voice
5. Talk to the parents
6. Make sure home and school stay synched
7. Create a “How I Spent my Summer Vacation” story
8. Connect to other professionals
9. Make sure you stay up-to-date
10. Check out our iPad keyboards




SourceAssistiveware

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Webinar Wednesday: What Dyslexia Red Flags Look Like for Different Students in Different Grades

What Dyslexia Red Flags Look Like for Different Students in Different Grades

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT

Dyslexia Red Flags
Presented by Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D., Co-Founder, Dyslexia Training Institute; and Tracy Block-Zaretsky, Co-Founder, Dyslexia Training Institute
Sponsored by Learning Ally
edWeb members can download a personalized CE certificate from their edWebinar transcript the day after the presentation.  Join here!
Dyslexia occurs on a continuum and the red flags in one student might not be the same as the red flags for another student. When these warning signs go undetected, students develop an academic gap that grows as they move from elementary to middle to high school.
In this edWebinar, Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D and Tracy Block-Zaretsky, Co-Founders of the Dyslexia Training Institute, will use case studies to uncover the red flags across different grade levels to illustrate the many ways dyslexia can manifest in different students. By understanding the warning signs, teachers can begin to provide interventions and accommodations that help to close the gap between a student’s decoding capability and their ability to comprehend grade-level content.
This edWebinar is especially beneficial for K-12 administrators to be able to support staff in identifying students early, a crucial step to ensure the needs of dyslexic students are met. There will be time to get your questions answered after the presentation.
Kelli Sandman-HurleyAbout the Presenters
Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D. is an author and co-founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute. Dr. Kelli is a certified special education advocate assisting parents and children through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan process. She has studied Structured Word Inquiry, the Orton-Gillingham approach, Lindamood-Bell, RAVE-O and Read Naturally. Dr. Kelli is a past president of the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and is currently a writer-at-large for IDA. She is a dyslexia consultant working with schools to improve services offered to students with dyslexia and training teachers. She co-created and produced Dyslexia for a Day: A Simulation of Dyslexia, and she is a frequent speaker at conferences. She is also the author of the well-received book, Dyslexia Advocate! How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System and the upcoming Dyslexia and Spelling: Making Sense of it All. She received her doctorate in literacy with a specialization in reading and dyslexia from San Diego State University and the University of San Diego. She is currently completing an MA in linguistics.
Tracy Block-ZaretskyTracy Block-Zaretsky is a co-founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute. She has provided remediation for children and adults with dyslexia for the past 20 years and has developed and taught workplace and family literacy programs. She is a certified special education advocate assisting parents and children through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan process. She is a past president of the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Tracy has training in Structured Word Inquiry, the Orton-Gillingham approach, Lindamood-Bell programs, Read Naturally and a variety of reading and writing assessments. She co-created and produced, Dyslexia for a Day: A Simulation of Dyslexia, and has provided professional development for educators and training for parents at numerous conferences, private on-site trainings and online courses and webinars. Tracy is also a parent of a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD and Executive Function Disorder.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

ISTE's 2018 Back to School Technology Guide


As teachers around the country welcome new students through their classroom doors, there is no time better than the present to begin thinking of how you can enhance past practices to create a more engaging learning environment for all learners. 

ISTE's Back to School Technology Guide provides manageable ideas to get your students learning with technology. Whether you want to personalize learning, gamify your classroom or help your students become better digital citizens, there are lesson ideas and educator-tested resources to help you get started.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Motivational Monday