Tag Archive: AT
September 26, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
What role can augmented reality and/or virtual reality technologies play in the lives of people with assistive technology needs? Today, we hear from Jaclyn Wickham, an educational technology specialist, discuss some ways that these new technologies can support learners with disabilities. Many thanks to Ms. Wickham for this helpful video and for the Center for Technology and Disability (CTD) for hosting it and making it available. You can download the handout for this presentation here or directly from the CTD webinar page. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyO8qcmTiwU
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: assistive technology, AT, virtual reality
April 4, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
If you work in school settings and serve students with AAC needs, or if you have a school-aged child who uses AAC, today’s featured video is an important one for you. Lisa Lightner, parent, disability rights leader, and author of the popular blog A Day In Our Shoes, shares useful information of interest to families and professionals alike. The webinar was sponsored by the Center on Technology and Disability (CTD). Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5spq37ooWRk&feature=push-u&attr_tag=ayID2iP5sKPBsTQX-6 Interested in this topic? Check out some of the other work by the CTD on AT in the IEP here. Kudos to the CTD and Lisa Lightner for creating this presentation and making it available to all.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AT, education, IEP, school
November 13, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for information about how to incorporate AT into a student’s IEP? Today, we share a helpful guide, Assistive Technology and the IEP. Originally produced by the Family Center on Technology and Disability, this booklet has been republished by the Center on Technology and Disability. It provides a good overview of some of the important issues and is a great resource to share with families of students who use AAC. Click on the image below to review this guidebook.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AT, IEP, schools
April 17, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
We’ve been writing about the Makers Movement for awhile, and couldn’t be happier with the way that the AT community has embraced it. When we posted a video about one of their DIY switch mount projects a few months ago, we were impressed by the number of you who asked for more. In today’s post, we dig deeper into this area by highlighting the AT Makers site. The AT Makers site aims to be a meeting place for AT specialists, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) and Robotics Clubs/Teams, and engineers. Here are the highlights: Glossary: DIY AT projects sometimes involve people from various backgrounds working together to solve problems. This handy glossary helps us speak the same language. Tutorials: The site currently has project plans, supply lists, videos, and directions for AT-related projects that it offers to the global community. For now, there are just a handful of projects... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AT, DIY
December 12, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Professionals who are involved in the selection of AAC and other AT are quite familiar with the concept of determining what features are needed and then selecting tools that have those features to sample. The feature matching process has been the gold standard for AAC device selection , though many practictioners report that its implementation may not be robust. Determining exactly which features an individual might need in their AAC or other AT is a critical part of this process, and one with which many teams struggle. In today’s post, we highlight an online resource designed to make this process easier for school-based teams. The Student Inventory for Technology Supports (SIFTS) is a free, web-based survey tool that helps teams match the needs and abilities of a student to specific AT features. It is not a comprehensive assessment tool but provides guidance to help teams in the process of AAC... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assessment, AT, feature match, schools
January 7, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Gianna’s teacher uses a visual schedule app successfully in the classroom to support comprehension and reduce problem behaviors. Although she’s shared the strategy and the app with the SLP and OT, neither one consistently use the visual schedule app in their sessions with this student. Jordan’s SLP does her best to use aided language input to provide a competent model of linguistic expression using his SGD when she pushes in to provide services in the classroom. Once she’s gone, classroom staff rarely implement that strategy or create opportunities for Jordan to use the SGD at other times during the school day. Evan’s parents have made an enormous investment in learning about AAC and modeling core words at home to help their son develop stronger skills with his AAC app. They do their best to follow along with the Year of Core Vocabulary Words approach, and are understandably dismayed when the... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AT, schools
January 14, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Everyone knows that when it comes to skill development for students with significant disabilities, it’s important to provide a great deal of practice. Making that happen, however, can be challenging, particularly as students get older. Take a look at these ideas shared by the Provisional Inclusion Outreach Program of British Columbia Minstry of Education. Quick Time Required: http://www.pisp.ca/video/videos/High%20School%20Participation.mov
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AT, British Columbia, classroom, inclusion, older learners, older students, significant disabilities
September 25, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Lost your stylus? Have a kid who’s really tough on them? Need to customize one for a client with motor concerns? Theresa Willkomm and the team at the New Hamphire AT project has a great video that gives us a few different options.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assistive technology, AT, DIY, stylus, Theresa Willkomm
August 10, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Allyson Robinson, SLP at the Oklahoma ABLE Tech Project, shares some thoughts on working as a team to conduct AT assessments that draw on the Quality Indicators for AT. Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=s3r8M-lFQfs
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Allyson Robinson, assessment, assistive technology, AT, Oklahoma, QIAT, quality indicators
June 1, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
This video by occupational therapist Paul Andres is as endearing as it is informative. Check out Franz as he gets ready to read a book. This is a great video to share with families and other team members who may be unfamiliar with alternative ways of book reading. Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfu8sQH6428
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AT, literacy, reading, Tarheel Reader