The QIAT Top 10

This week I wanted to focus on some of the important information I gained while attending the ATIA 2017. The conference sessions were overflowing with incredible resources and tools that I couldn't wait to immediately implement (some will be shared in future posts). In addition to those sessions, several sessions focused on QIAT (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology). For those less familiar, QIAT is a free resource available to those in the assistive technology field. As described on the QIAT website:

The QIAT Community is a nationwide grassroots group that includes hundreds of individuals who provide input into the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating and implementing a set of widely-applicable Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in school settings that can be used as a tool to support: 

• school districts as they strive to develop and provide quality assistive technology services aligned to federal, state and local mandates 

• assistive technology service providers as they evaluate and constantly improve their services 

• consumers of assistive technology services as they seek adequate assistive technology services which meet their needs 

• universities and professional developers as they conduct research and deliver programs that promote the development of the competencies needed to provide quality assistive technology services 

• policy makers as they attempt to develop judicious and equitable policies related to assistive technology services.

Top 10 Things to know about QIAT

(Spoiler Alert...I saved my favorite for last!)

• 1. Within the QIAT website there is an abundance of free resources available to guide the improvement of AT services and to increase the educational participation and results of students. Through the use of the QIAT resources, there can be an improved quality and consistency of services provided

• 2. QIAT supports the implementation of IDEA and other legal mandates. 

• 3. QIAT resources were designed and developed for
• school districts
• AT service providers
• consumers of AT services
• universities and professional developers
• policy makers

• 4. QIAT resources include 
• Indicators
• Intent Statements
• Matrices
• Matrices Summary Sheet
• Matrices Worksheets

• 5. There are 8 Indicator areas. I have created links to the QIAT Indicators informational pages to provide insight into what each area entails. 
• Consideration for AT Needs
• Assessment
• AT in the IEP
• Implementation
• Evaluation of Effectiveness of AT
• AT in Transition
• Administrative Support of AT Services
• Professional Development and Training in AT

• 6. Within the QIAT website you can locate a Resource Bank. As described on the QIAT website, the"bank" is the place to share resources by contributing to the QIAT Resource Bank and follow links to some other web sites for people interested in assistive technology in general. Here you can find helpful websites and usable documents created by AT professionals. Then bank has the option to search if you are looking for something specific and is organized to streamline the searching process. 

• 7. QIAT Webinar Series: The free webinars were created by the members of the QIAT Leadership team. This series of webinars will provide a foundational background to the work of QIAT and QIAT tools & resources to support integration of AT in schools & other settings. 

Remember to locate them at Ablenet University then search for QIAT (or click on the hyperlink). The sessions are listed below...

QIAT Session 1: Overview of QIAT

QIAT Session 2: Consideration of AT Needs

QIAT Session 3: Assessment of AT Needs

QIAT Session 4: Including Assistive Technology in the IEP

QIAT Session 5: AT Implementation

QIAT Session 6: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of AT

QIAT Session 7: AT Transition

QIAT Session 8: Professional Development and Training in AT

QIAT Session 9: Administrative Support of AT Services

QIAT Session 10: Using QIAT Resources

• 8. QIAT Useful Links...The links on the page were suggested by individuals on the QIAT List who have found them to be of value in supporting, in some way, the development and provision of quality assistive technology services in school settings.

• 9. The book!!! Yes, there's a book! Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology: A Comprehensive Guide to Assistive Technology Services is published by CAST (also worth exploring) and written by Joy Zabala and the Quality Indicators Leadership Team, with whom I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and at ATIA 2017.

Within the book readers will be provided with valuable and credible resources for evaluating, choosing, deploying, and supporting assistive technology services in K-12 and postsecondary educational environments. The book costs $49.99 (discounts applied when purchased in bulk). 

• 10. As I said, I saved my favorite for last....The QIAT listserv! The QIAT listserv provides a platform to partake in important discussions or post questions regarding AT tools and services with other professionals in the field. Often times conversations move into educational technology tools as they often utilized during AT implementation. Whether you post, provide insight and information to others or just observe, it is a valuable tool that allows you to receive up-to-date advances in AT service delivery.

Source: QIAT; Ablenet

Getting Connected

 Social media is the social interaction amongst people in which they create, share or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. For professionals, or even parents, entering into the world of Assistive Technology, I can wholeheartedly share that social media is your greatest ally. I want to share some of my personal experiences in regard to social media.

AT is broad in what it can offer and in an ever evolving field, there are endless new resources available, making it seem impossible to always have your finger on the pulse.  I have always been an active participant on social media, but only for personal interactions. When I decided to grow my PLN and join the Twitter-sphere, I made a conscious decision to create a separate Twitter handle only used for professional purposes. In the short time I have been a part of Twitter, I have gained professional relationships that have helped me to build my knowledge regarding the latest in assistive technology resources available to support my students and information that I share with my colleagues and the families I work with.

I would  consider the weekly "chats" on Twitter to have lent itself as one of the greatest areas of support in my professional growth in the AT field. Every Wednesday at 8pm I participate, whether through just following or being an active contributor, on #atchat lead by Karen Janowski and Mike Marotta. It serves as a platform for professionals in the AT field to share their experiences and resources based upon several questions posed by the aforementioned moderators. Twitter "chats" are everywhere, particularly in the education field. In addition to the #atchat, there's #satchat, #edchat, #spedchat.....and the list goes on and on!

Additionally, Facebook groups, such as Assistive Technology, or the QIAT (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology) listserv again are platforms to promote an open environment amongst professionals within the same field to ask for insight or feedback and share knowledge and experience.


This article, Use Social Media to Keep Up with Assistive Technology written by Jamie Martin, originally posted on Noodle's website, reiterates much of my own sentiments regarding social media and offers links to other valuable resources within the AT and SPED community.