assistive technology faqs - ttac day 3

The Practical and Fun Guide to A i ti T h l i P bli Assistive Technology in Public

Schools

Christopher R. Bugaj

Free Powerpoint Templates Free Powerpoint TemplatesSally Norton-Darr

Think about this….

• Does everyone in your district know howDoes everyone in your district know how to consider AT at IEP meetings?

• How does your district make decisions• How does your district make decisions when a student needs an accommodation that costs money?that costs money?

• How can you promote:“AT Team = Saving $$$”?

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Today Designed By You!y g y

• We might not get to everything covered inWe might not get to everything covered in the book because today is designed around your questions as outlined in thearound your questions as outlined in the KWL chart.

Let’s take a lookLet s take a look at your questions!


How to balance being an AT person with a full-time SLP position? (A theme of many questions)SLP position? (A theme of many questions)

• As an educator, you’re used to being overworked!• It ain’t easy it takes time!• It ain t easy – it takes time! • Be like Professor Moody – “Constant Vigilance!”

Sha shank Approach Keep at it ntil o get• Shawshank Approach – Keep at it until you get what you want.

• Hook them with what is important to them• Hook them with what is important to them (ex. Improve AYP while saving money)


How to get more funding?g g• Better question…how to stretch the

f di l d h ?funding you already have?• Use the data you collect (service data &

student performance data) to show others the benefit of what you are doing.


How can I convince my superiors how b fi i l hit b d ill b f llbeneficial a whiteboard will be for all students (not just SPED students)?

• Share data/research• Share what neighbors are doingShare what neighbors are doing• Share articles, videos, podcasts on the topic

G t PTO• Go to PTOs


How do we fit in the time for consultation and PD?

• The time you put in will save you time in the long runy p y g• Use resources already available (online tutorials,

podcasts, videos, etc)– www.lcps.org/at (LCPS AT)– bit.ly/mctechg (Montgomery County HIAT)

C t “b k ” f hi h t d• Create “banks” from which to draw


True or False. AT id ti i l f h hildAT consideration is only for when a child

is NOT meeting educational i trequirements.

• False AT MUST be considered at• False. AT MUST be considered at EVERY IEP MEETING.


Many students are using AT, but not all d AT l t d i t???need AT as a related service, correct???

BINGO! IEP teams become the people• BINGO! IEP teams become the people who make decisions about AT every day! Th l AT S i i “AT E l i ”• The only AT Service is an “AT Evaluation”.


How to get the info from teachers in ti l /ti t lt?a timely manner/time to consult?

• Keep the information you are requestingKeep the information you are requesting streamlined.

No form (or short form)– No form (or short form)


Parent notification NOT required for consultations?

• Nope. Just colleagues brainstorming.


What should I do if I get a new student h IEP h ifi AT li t d th twhose IEP has specific AT listed that our

school does not have?

A AT l i• An AT evaluation


How to conduct an AT evaluation?

SETT Framework• Consider the needs of the studentstudent.• Consider the environmentenvironment in which the student in

learning.• Consider the tasktask the student needs to complete.• Consider the toolstools the student needs to complete

the task.

www.joyzabala.com


Is there a specific AT evaluation (report) d t? D d t k ?document? Do we need to make one up?

• Yes• The components are as follows:

–Background Information–Background Information–Technology already in place

Observation (Facts)–Observation (Facts)»Student Interviews

Ed cator Inter ie s»Educator Interviews–Recommendations (Opinions)

Additi l RFree Powerpoint Templates

–Additional Resources–Appendices

Are there sample forms?

• They are in the book.


How to make an AT report more accessible & user friendly?

• In general, the more pictures you can include, g , p y ,the better (in different sections of the report).

• Include an appendix of tutorials, resources, and pp , ,images to help explain.


Does the AT team need to consider the lack of manpower in a classroom

before recommending AT?

• Least Restrictive Environment is always your friend Think in these terms firstyour friend. Think in these terms first. What tools are already available?


How do you determine which AT device is the best, socially

acceptable?• Consider the needs of the student first. If

socially acceptable is a need then you needsocially acceptable is a need then you need to consider it.A i id h i l i i fi• Again, consider what is least restrictive first.


Would more trials or devices be worthwhile (even with kids with severe disabilities)?(even with kids with severe disabilities)?

• Do a classroom evaluation.


How many recommendations are too many?

• It depends – Each evaluation is a little different.• Classroom Evaluation Options -

A. Give them everything you canB. Group them by categoryC G th i d f t ti l i l t tiC. Group them in order of potential implementationD. Only give them a small number of recommendations

based on what you think they can handle at the timebased on what you think they can handle at the time. You can always give them more later.

Individual EvaluationsIndividual Evaluations –Write everything you think will “benefit” the student (not “need”, that’s the IEP Team’s


job) but let the teacher review the report before it goes public.

How to make recommendations happen?• Make them accommodations• If you are using least restrictive tools, then the learning curve

might be less (Ex: Dragon Dictate vs. Record Voice in Word)• Repetition (saying it once doesn’t necessarily mean it will

happen immediately – so say it again and again and again)happen immediately – so, say it again and again and again)• Multi-modal learning – Provide training with videos, audio,

images – not necessarily just a list or recommendations• Show the paraprofessionals. They often make things happen!

• Do a model lesson with students• Forgive yourself – You will always feel

like you could do more


What is the disadvantage of reasonable trials?D fi “ bl t i l”?• Define “reasonable trial”?

• How do you determine the following:– Length of the trial?– Length of the trial?– Needs have changed in the middle of a trial?– Are you trialing every possible device? – Do you trial EVERY recommendation? ie. How do you

determine which recommendations need trials & which do not?– How do you know when your trials are completed that the nextHow do you know when your trials are completed that the next

thing you would have tried wouldn’t have been better?

A Better Way? – Make a decision about what you think will work best and go

ith it Wh thi bFree Powerpoint Templates

with it. When something becomes an accommodation, the trial begins.

Is it appropriate to mix a Believer & a Skeptic (or does it depend)?

• It depends, but start with being a Believer.• Occasionally, when you’re not sure whichOccasionally, when you re not sure which

direction to go, let your inner skeptic come out.out.


How do we delegate responsibility for d t ll ti ?data collection?

• What data are you collecting?What data are you collecting? – It should be on the goals, not on the device use.– If that is the case, then the data collection ,

process does not change – the teacher is still collecting data on the goals, just like they were b f d i t i lbefore a device was put in place.


How do we initiate the process of doing more consultations and less evaluations?consultations and less evaluations?

• It happens over time• It happens over time.• Meet with every school every year to hit

thi i t h dthis point hard.• We’re still working on it!• We still get ambushed

every so oftenevery so often.


How does an IEP Team’s request for an AT Evaluation get to the team?

• The process should be the same in your district for• The process should be the same in your district for any educational evaluations requested during an IEP.IEP. – How does an OT know an OT eval is requested?– How does an SLP know an SL eval is requested?


Is consultation for all teachers or just special educators?

• ALL TEACHERS!• Child Study?Child Study?


Playing the French Horn is Not an IEP G l i it?Goal, is it?

• Take situations in the order they come, not some perceived order of “importance”.

• If a team needs help with something that is not a goal, g g ,you’re still going to help them.


Best way for IT to communicate with AT Teams?

• The “best” way is for AT and IT teams to ycommunicate with each other!☺

• Another reason for an AT Team to exist is to have someone to communicate with IT when making district level technology decisions.– Interactive Whiteboard example– Read & Write Gold district implementation example.


How to keep up with new available technologies?technologies?

• QIAT Listserv (htt // t i k d / j t / i t)(http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat)

• RSS readers (Blogs, Podcasts, etc)• Conferences (TechKnowledgy)• Share at meetings!Share at meetings!• Social media


What will an AT Team look like for Charlottesville City Schools?

We can’t answer this for you but we’ll give• We can t answer this for you, but we ll give you time to get started right now!

• Take the next 30 minutes to discuss how to discuss the next steps in your district!


References

• Bugaj, C.R. & Norton-Darr, S. (2010). The practical and fun guide to assistive technology in publics schools: building or improving your district’s AT team. Washington, D.C.: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).


assistive technology faqs - ttac day 3

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