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Supporting Assistive Technology: Making the Most of Limited Resources
2019 ACCESSU
PRESENTERS:
CECILIA ROBINSON, TSBVI OUTREACH
DANIEL WHEELER, TSBVI INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Presentation Link: https://tinyurl.com/supportingAT2019
Topics• Introductions
• Students We Serve
• Collaboration With School Districts
• Resources for You
• Technology Loan, Training and Support
• Successes and Lessons Learned
• What You Can Do
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Who Are You?❏ Technology Coordinator/Specialist
❏ School Administrator
❏ Educator
❏ University Personnel
❏ Accessibility Coordinator
❏ State or Federal Government Personnel
❏ Other
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TSBVI• Special public school for students ages 6 to 21 who are blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind
• Provides professional development, technical assistance and resources for school districts and families
• Supports professional mentorship to new teachers
• Manages Annual Registration of Students with Visual Impairments & Texas Deafblind Child Count
• Implements statewide technology loan program
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Assistive Technology • Included in the Expanded Core Curriculum
for Texas
• Required by IDEA 2004
• Provides access to information
• Encourages participation in activities
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IDEA 2004Assistive Technology Device (ATD)
Any item, piece of equipment or product
system (whether acquired commercially off
the shelf, modified, or customized) that is
used to increase, maintain or improve
functional capabilities of children with
disabilities (300.5)
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IDEA 2004Assistive Technology Service
Any service that directly assists a child with a
disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of
an ATD (300.6)◦ Evaluation in student’s customary environment◦ Select, customize, maintain, repair, replace
ATD ◦ Obtain training
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Collaboration with Districts• Identify needs in AT
• Keep up with technology changes in public schools and charter campuses
• Share information and expertise
• Build local capacity
• Improve services based on feedback and needs assessment
• Ensure state standards are being followed
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Collaboration with Districts• Ensure use of APH materials
• Improve efficiency and economy
• Allow for flexibility
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AT Challenges for Educators
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● Limited coordination between Technology, Special Ed, and Curriculum departments
● AT keeping up with emerging digital curriculum and content that is likely not designed with accessibility in mind
● Limited personnel and funding for AT in districts
● What Other Challenges Come to Mind?
Resources to Consider …
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General Accessibility
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● Android TalkBackhttps://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6283677?hl=en
● Apple accessibility www.apple.com/accessibility/
● Google accessibility www.google.com/accessibility/
● Chromebook accessibilityhttps://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177893?hl=en
● Microsoft accessibility www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/
● Seeing AI https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/seeing-ai
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Low Vision• JAWS® – ZoomText® – MAGic® Suite
• MATT Connect™ (video magnifier)
• ENVISION I and II Kits (optical devices)
• AnimalWatch Vi Suite (for iPad)
• Talking Typer for Windows; Talking Typer app (iOS devices)
• APHont™ www.aph.org/products/aphont/
• Guidelines for Print Document Design www.aph.org/research/design-guidelines/
• Draw2Measure Protractor app (iOS device)
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Blindness• JAWS® – ZoomText® – MAGic® Suite
• Braille Trail Reader (refreshable braille display)
• Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator
• Apps: Seeing AI, Nearby Explorer, Slapstack Math, Talking Typer (iOS devices)
• BrailleBuzz (toy for young braille learners)
• Hark the Sound http://harkthesound.org/
• Blindfold Games https://blindfoldgames.org/
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Sources for Acquiring AT
• Technology Access Program in different states Example: http://aztap.org/
• Resources from the Department of Education Example: https://sde.ok.gov/assistive-technology
• Computers for the Blind www.computersfortheblind.org
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More AT Resources…• Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning,
Scotland https://www.callscotland.org.uk/home/
• Resources from Washington State School for the Blind www.wssb.wa.gov/wp/welcome-to-wssb/services/statewide-technology-services/
• Webinars that are free or low cost: ATIA and Perkins
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Resources on CVI / Vision
• Strategy to See: DIY Projects https://strategytosee.com/
• CVI Scotland https://cviscotland.org/
• CVI from APH https://cvi.aphtech.org/
• Sight Savers America https://sightsaversamerica.org/They have a Low Vision Program in 12 states: AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, HI, IL, LA, MS, OH, TN and TX.
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Additional Resources
• ATIA: AT Resources Funding Guide https://www.atia.org/at-resources/what-is-at/resources-funding-guide/
• Active Learning Space www.activelearningspace.org/index.php
• TSBVI: Online Learning www.tsbvi.edu/online-learning-home
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Additional Resources• Paths to Technology
www.perkinselearning.org/technology
• CA School for the Blind: Assistive Technology www.csb-cde.ca.gov/instruction/assistivetech/index.aspx
• What’s Available in Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments bit.ly/whatsavailableAT
• TechSoup www.techsoup.org
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Additional Resources
• TSBVI Self-determination Lesson Plans – Unit 5 Assistive Technology www.tsbvi.edu/self-determination-units-lesson-plans
• Apps for orientation and mobility www.tsbvi.edu/577-tx-senseabilities/fall-winter-2018/5940-there-s-an-app-for-that
• AppleVis https://www.applevis.com/
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Technology Loan ProgramTSBVI’s program www.tsbvi.edu/technology-loan-program
• Created based on districts’ needs
• Provides AT devices and services to school districts and charter campuses
• Focuses on professional development and technical assistance
• Supports districts’ initiatives
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Technology Loan Program • TSBVI application includes:
o Plan for trainingo Plan for procuremento Signatures: administrator and TVI
• Offers opportunities for trial of equipment
• Includes equipment to support Active Learning
• Overall, it is a limited program
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TSBVI Training and Support• Scheduled training
• Just-in-time training
• Focuses on features to support student and staff needs
• Builds capacity and improves work performance
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Our Targeted Supports• Onsite
• Telephone
• Remotely (e.g. Zoom)
• Preview of devices, when requested
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Fluctuation Points • Funding
• Number of students
• Equipment requests
• Technology used in public schools
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TSBVI Tech Loan Successes • Supports access to curricula material
• Provides resources to support instruction
• Facilitates learning of the Expanded Core Curriculum
• Financial and resource benefits o Supplements districts’ equipment needs
o Provides replacement equipment
o Repairs damaged equipment
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TSBVI Tech Loan Successes
• Facilitates equipment preview and trial
• Builds expertise at district and campus level
• Encourages pooling of resources and continuous learning
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Lessons Learned• Plan for unexpected events
• Must have administrator support
• Create and maintain meaningful partnerships
• Follow guidelines and procedures consistently:
o Document evidence of needs
o Equipment check-out / check in
o Reporting stolen or damaged equipment
o Maintain accurate equipment inventory
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Lessons Learned
• Long term costs: repair, maintenance, and storage of equipment
• Help teachers to select equipment based on current educational needs
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What You Can Do• Identify AT needs at the local or regional level
• Use needs assessment data to drive planning
• Involve administrators throughout the planning process
• Write guidelines and procedures based on federal and state requirements, and specific needs in your district or region
• Consider creating partnerships: other school districts, educational co-op’s, vendors, etc.
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What You Can Do • Document current needs for equipment
• Create database for equipment inventory
• Include professional development and technical assistance in your plan
• Use funds thoughtfully and ensure equity
• Keep up with the law https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tcase.org/resource/resmgr/Current_Legal_Issues_Involvi.pdf
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Show Me the Money!
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● State Funds● Local Funds
○ Most flexible in regards to allowable use
● Outside Sources○ Federal Grants
■ Grants.gov■ Office of Education Technology, Funding Page:
https://tech.ed.gov/funding/○ Micro-funding
■ Donors-Choose, Class Wish, Adopt-a-Classroom
Remember …• Students’ needs are your first priority• Use data to drive your AT program• Make changes to accommodate your needs
• If possible, provide training and technical assistance
• Build capacity at the campus, district, regional and statewide level
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Success Depends On …• Partnerships with parents, professionals
and stakeholders
• Continuous learning and building capacity
• Using resources efficiently
• Making your AT program work for you
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Questions? Comments?
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Contact UsTexas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Cecilia Robinson, Technology Consultant Outreach Programs 512.206.9464 or [email protected]
Daniel Wheeler, Instructional Technology Coordinator Comprehensive Programs 512.206.9175 or [email protected]
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