Webinar Wednesday: Turn Struggling Readers Into Leaders Using Assistive Technology

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

Presented by Dana Blackaby, Dyslexia Specialist, Nolan Dunn Academy, Burleson, TX

Sponsored by Learning Ally

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JOIN THE LIVE SESSION

In this edWebinar, join Dana Blackaby as members of her student-led “tech crew” demonstrate forms of assistive technology and share personal anecdotes describing how it helps them overcome some of their most daunting academic challenges. These students all have IEPs or 504 plans, but there are times when only the use of assistive technology allows them to overcome barriers.

Sometimes the biggest barrier to effectively utilizing assistive technology in the classroom is the teacher, as many feel they need to be experts themselves before allowing students to utilize it. When students are given the chance to showcase their expertise, however, teachers are often convinced to embrace the technology. Many teachers make students the tech experts in their classrooms. The result is that they regularly demonstrate marked improvements in their reading skills, social behavior, confidence, and public speaking, elevating them to leaders in their classrooms and schools.

The forms of assistive technology this group utilizes are Snap & Read, Co-Writer, Google Tools, and Learning Ally. Each allows students to access and master grade-level curricula even though they each have dyslexia. When these students present to their own teachers and administrators, the adults pay attention and immediately recognize just how life-changing these tools are for students.

This edWebinar will be of interest to elementary through middle school teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

About the Presenter

Dana Blackaby is a dyslexia specialist at Nolan Dunn Academy in Texas whose goal is to empower students by instilling confidence, skills, and hope in students with learning differences Dana’s students have finished in the top 10 in two nationwide reading competitions and have been featured in multiple news outlets via newspapers, Twitter, Facebook, and the Dallas–Fort Worth ABC affiliate, WFAA. In addition, several of her students are a part of a student-led tech crew that travels from school to school providing training on assistive technology for teachers and administrators in their district. Dana holds a master’s degree in teaching.

 

REGISTER HEREJOIN THE LIVE SESSION

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.

Webinar Wednesday: How to Move Your Entire District to Support Struggling Readers

This week's "Webinar Wednesday" brings to you a free (hooray!) upcoming webinar from Learning Ally and edweb, which discusses strategies developed by the Denver Public Schools and Learning Ally to help narrow the gap struggling readers face through the use of technology. How to Move Your Entire District to Support Struggling Readers webinar takes place on Monday, September 26, 2016 from 3pm-4pm EDT. The description below provides a more in-depth overview of what can be expected when joining the webinar. You can register at the bottom of the article.

Do you have strategies to deliver content to struggling readers in your district? A significant percent of students are at great risk of failing to meet standards, with dire consequences.

If not identified and addressed, consequences of dyslexia alone include students dropping out of school and being less able to support themselves or their families. The Knowledge and Practice Standards of the International Dyslexia Association states “reading disabilities are the most common cause of academic failure and underachievement.”

In response, Denver Public Schools and Learning Ally joined forces to find solutions to bridge this content and education gap. In this webinar, Rob Frantum-Allen (Director of Integrated Services) and Jackie Bott (Assistive Technology Coordinator) will explain how the organizations created a strategically designed model program where assistive technology (AT) is being integrated into educational efforts. They’ll discuss:

•  How ongoing tailored training of teachers and school staff helps ensure the full activation of ear reading through audiobooks
• Designing effective strategies to address needs of eligible students through Universal Design for Learning methodology
• Techniques to encourage eligible students to proactively and consistently use AT to access grade level content and achieve grade level learning

Robert Frantum-Allen currently serves as the Director of Integrated Services at Adams County School District 14 in Colorado. Robert was instrumental in Denver schools when he served as a Program Manager for many years. He also serves as adjunct professor at the University of Denver. Rob has expertise in Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning. He also has studied metacognition pertaining to student achievement. Rob is a champion for students and leads cross-functional teams to produce better outcomes.

Jackie Bott is the Assistive Technology Coordinator for Denver Public Schools. She has taught many populations of students, including elementary general education students, students with mild or moderate disabilities of all kinds, kids with severe developmental disabilities of all ages, and kids with severe social and/or emotional disabilities at the secondary level. She has a master’s degree in Research & Evaluation and is committed to research-based applications of technology in the classroom. Jackie is always looking for innovative ways to combine new technologies and strong professional development for teachers to close the achievement gap and increase positive student outcomes across all areas affecting child development and learning.

Join the Empowering Struggling Readers community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming webinars, view past webinars, take a quiz to receive a CE certificate for a past webinar, and access free resources.

REGISTER HERE JOIN THE LIVE SESSION

 Learning Ally empowers students who read and learn differently so that they may thrive. We help them to overcome obstacles and discover strengths, as we guide them along a path that ensures success.

Assistive Technology for Struggling Learners Webinar

Assistive Technology for Struggling Readers Webinar

 Thursday, August 18, 2016 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT 

 

Presented by Mike Marotta, Assistive Technology Consultant
Sponsored by Learning Ally

REGISTER HERE

JOIN THE LIVE SESSION

*If you attend the live session, you’ll be emailed a CE certificate within 24 hours of the webinar. If you view the recording and would like a CE certificate, join the Empowering Struggling Readers community and go to the Webinar Archives folder to take the CE quiz.*

What to expect...
From apps to software to cloud-based cross-platform supports, this webinar will explore tools that can aid struggling readers in the following areas:

• phonemic awareness
• vocabulary
• comprehension
• fluency

Mike Marotta, Assistive Technology Consultant and president of Inclusive Technology Solutions, LLC will show attendees a broad range of low- and high-tech applications — including free solutions — to support students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Participants will increase their general awareness of assistive technology and walk away with a wide variety of accommodations to foster academic success for their students.
This webinar will benefit educators of struggling readers at all grade levels, and administrators.
About the Presenter...
Mike Marotta is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional and president of Inclusive Technology Solutions, LLC. He is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter providing practical and in-depth training to professionals interested in specializing in assistive technology. Mike is also an adjunct professor at several universities, where he teaches pre-service teachers and Masters courses on Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology, and is a member of the CAST Accessible Educational Materials Advisory Board.