Wrap Up

I can't believe this semester is ending. I feel like it was just yesterday I started this blogging process. When I first started this class, I knew very little about assistive technology. Over the duration of the semester, I learned how important it is for students to have their own voice and a lot of times they get that voice through their assistive technology tool(s) it allows them to feel "normal" and be an active member of their classroom. It also makes their life easier.

I also learned how important it is to put the UDL model to work in all of my lesson plans. My blog demonstrates my ability to include various techniques such as pictures, words, and even audio/visual to appeal to the different types of learners there are in the world.

I'm forever grateful for this opportunity to learn along side both veteran teachers and novice teachers especially in my group because everyone was able to learn something from each other. We all brought a unique perspective to the table.

Until next time, keep learning and making a difference. 

AT and Social stories

Social stories are a great way for students to express themselves. If a student has an iPad at their disposal a social story can and will help them improve and understand various social situations and how to interact with others (behavior) through visual strategies. The best feature is the social stories can be customized for each individualized child and their own unique needs and it can also be customized to the child's level of understanding (words, pictures, etc). In order for the child to be successful, he or she needs to continually reread their social story. This is a great tool for students with autism.

Here is an example of some of the social stories for ideas specially targeted towards educators and students. 

http://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/

Accommodations at Cabrini

Currently, I am getting certified to teach special education at Cabrini University. Cabrini offers numerous academic accommodations for students with various special needs. Cabrini encourages collaboration between not only the student and their professor, but also the Disability Resource Center.

Here are some of the accommodations they offer:

• classroom and testing accommodations
• assistance with course selection
• individual academic support 

Cabrini also offers tools for students to check out. We had the pleasure of hearing Freshmen undergrad student share her experiences with the LiveScribe and how it has helped her though her first semester at Cabrini. 

https://www.cabrini.edu/about/departments/disability-resource-center/academic-accommodations

iPhones/iPods/iPads providing visual support

With each year that passes technology is becoming more and more popular. Almost everyone has an iPhone, iPad, or iPod and many apps roll out each year some specifically targeting children and/or people with disabilities.  These devices with show visual representations of a day in the life of a student starting with brushing their teeth to putting their PJs on.

Here is a list of reasons why apple products can be used for students to provide visual support:

• It supports picture schedules and activity sequence.
• Helps cue the student.
• Reduces anxiety and confusion.
• Helps students gain more independence.
• Helps students stay on task.
• Helps students transition between activities.

Assistive Technology in the Classroom Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities 

Assistive technology in college

Assistive technology can be a reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities in college because it helps students during testing situations and with handing in their assignments on time.

Here are some ways to make AT easier for college students:

• The assistive technology tools must be easy to use and easy to customize because the whole goal is to make the task easier for the student to complete. 
• The tool must be age appropriate.
• The technology should be the student's own choice. This option is important because the student knows what his or her weaknesses and strengths are and what works and what doesn't for them.
• The tool must match the specific task it's need for. Example: If a student has a problem with taking notes a LiveScribe would be a good idea for him or her.
• Students must be able to access their tool easily.
• Training and ongoing technical support for students and staff are vital to the success of their AT device.

Assistive Technology in the Classroom Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities 

Assistive Technology Model Operating Guidelines

The Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) is run by the Douglas Education Service District and sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education. The websites main purpose is to provide training, information, technical assistance, and resources to help disabled children with technology. OTAP's services are good for students from birth until twenty-one years old. The website also offers a parents, teachers, and services tab. They also have business services and video streaming.

This website looks really helpful for both educators and non educators like. It has a lot of awesome information available such as weekly professional development and you don't even have to live in Oregon to participate. I was especially interested in the writing workshop. It helps teachers find the best plan of action for their students to become better writers. Some of the suggested writing for secondary levels is "Show the drinking age be lowered from 21?" This is recommended to 11th graders and I think this would be a wonderful research paper topic. I remember being in 11th grade and writing a research paper on this very topic. It's something relevant to many high schoolers. 




http://www.douglasesd.k12.or.us/otap/

University of Kentucky Assistive Technology (UKAT) Project

The University of Kentucky's special education department has a website dedicated to AT and the tools associated with it. The main goal of the website is to help educators thought the AT delivery process. Beginning with consideration and going all the way up to assessment and monitoring. This tool kit took 6 years to research and the college evaluated the locate public schools in Kentucky. 

The UKAT Toolkit includes seven tools:

1. Consideration: preliminary tool used to see if AT meets a student's needs.
   
2. Pre-Assessment Profile: tool to help gather information about the student. Helps assessors know where students are having difficulty. 
   
3. Assessment Data Collection: helps with planning AT assessments. 
   
4. Assessment Report Outline: helps condense assessment data for other team members.
   
5. Trial Implementation: data reporting tool for AT trials. Also helps weed out what is helpful and what isn't helpful. 
   
6. AT Implementation: planning future AT implementation. Also good to have at an IEP.
   
7. Knowledge & Skills Survey: self rating scale.
   

The above listed tools are a great way to monitor students and evaluate their goals, objectives, and AT needs.



http://edsrc.coe.uky.edu/www/ukatii/toolkit/index.html