Assistive Technology Services

ATS TechTalk - Winter 2007

Assistive Technology Can Make a Difference!

by Cheryl Temple

We are collecting evidence that demonstrates that AT can make a difference for students with disabilities in the classroom and on SOL tests. We have focused on the area of writing and collected data on our 5 th and 8 th grade students on ATS caseload who took the writing SOL test during the Spring of 2006. The data shows that 63% of 5 th and 8 th grade students on ATS caseload who used AT passed the writing SOL while only 38% of 5 th and 8 th grade students on AT caseload who did not use AT on the writing SOL test passed. A variety of AT was used on the writing SOL such as graphic organizers, word prediction, auditory word processors, and portable technology. It appears that AT is one of the factors that contributes to an increased pass rate for students with disabilities. For a complete list of all AT that can be used on the SOL tests, go to: http://fcpsnet.fcps.k12.va.us/ssse/its/atguide/at_sol/at_sol.htm

In addition, we are collecting data to answer the question, "How does using AT effect the mechanics of writing for fourth grade students on the ATS caseload for writing?" In November, ATS resource teachers asked students to write to a prompt for 10 minutes not using AT and then a week later asked the same students to write to a prompt for 10 minutes using AT. In this first sample, AT made the most difference in decreasing spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors. Writing samples will be taken again in February and in April.

Average Number of Errors by 4 th Grade Students Not Using AT and Using AT

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ATS Staff News

by Cheryl Temple

We are welcoming Alexis Georgelakos to ATS as our newest Assistive Technology Resource Teacher. Alexis has been a TOPS teacher for a number of years at Bailey's Elementary School and will be supporting an elementary caseload. She will be based at our Dunn Loring Center office.

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Chatterbox Fun Fair by Lisa Givens

Assistive Technology Services is proud to announce that the Chatterbox Fun Fair will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2007, from 10:00 to 1:00 at Kings Glen Elementary .

The Chatterbox Fun Fair is a one day fun fair event for students, preschool through sixth grade, who are currently on the ATS caseload and are using picture boards and/or speech output devices to help them with communication. Games, food, entertainment, and prizes will be provided.

This free event provides an opportunity for children to meet and interact with other children who use devices and/or picture boards, a chance for parents to meet and talk with other parents, and an opportunity to see communication devices used in the school system.

Entertainment this year will feature a student-driven performance of the musical Aesop's Fables Deluxe. Performers will include students who use alternative communication devices as well as their peers.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fcps.edu/ss/its/Chatterbox/

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School Based AT Teams

by Gail Holloman

One year ago, the first school-based AT Team was started at Marshall Road ES. Since that first AT Team meeting over 24 schools have joined the initiative to enable more students to benefit from assistive technology. This spring, ATS plans to more than double the number of established school-based AT Teams. This program will continue to expand with the goal that by the end of the 2007/2008 school year every available school will have a school-based AT team. Various school-based staff may be members of an AT team such as: Technology Outreach Program Support (TOPS) members, School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS), appropriate related services staff, Inclusive Schools Resource Teacher (ISRT), Program Resource Specialist (PRS), other appropriate school-based staff and appropriate administrators.

Assistive Technology is one of the tools that teachers can use in providing differentiated instruction for all students.  One of the greatest potentials for the use of technology is in the education of students with disabilities. Assistive technology (AT) is often required to help students access the curriculum, compensate for their disabilities, and provide independence in various settings. The majority of students with disabilities are capable of being educated in general education classrooms with their peers who do not have disabilities. AT devices and services can often reduce the barriers that prevent many of these students from actively participating in general education settings with their peers.

The AT Team web site is a dynamic resource designed to be an easy-to-use tool to help AT school-based teams identify technology that may be useful for individual or groups of struggling students.  Any questions regarding information in this web site should be directed to the school's ATS case manager.  You can access the AT Team web site by clicking on the AT Team button from the main ATS Intranet site: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/its/ or directly by clicking on the following link: http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/its/atteam .

The purpose of a school-based AT team is:

• to empower school-based staff to make initial decisions related to the AT needs of students;
• to use school resources to meet AT needs when all that is needed is equipment;
• to utilize the expertise of Assistive Technology Services (ATS) staff when AT support is needed;
• to involve more school-based staff so that continued use of AT will be encouraged;
• to improve student achievement and high-stakes testing scores.

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Assistive Writing Interventions for Secondary Students

by Meaghan Tracy

Do your students moan and groan when you bring up the steps of the writing process? Have you ever heard the question "Why do I have to do all this if I am just going to rewrite it anyway?" Do your students use spell check but replace misspelled words with terms completely out of context with the sentence? If so, check out some of the assistive technology writing tools that middle and high school teachers and students are using to improve writing.

The first and probably the least favorite step of the writing process for many students is pre-writing. Using pre-writing software such as Inspiration or Draft: Builder can motivate students to begin the writing process. Many students enjoy using the rapid fire feature of the Inspiration program to quickly brainstorm ideas and then they create "notes" to complete their thoughts. Students can then easily transfer their work into Microsoft Word to pull together a concise writing without having to retype their thoughts and ideas. Draft: Builder provides the same options in a more linear format and allows students the opportunity to just "drag and drop" their complete thoughts to create a draft which can easily be edited and revised for a final piece.

Once the pre-writing step is complete and a draft has been developed, many teachers introduce a talking word processor, such as Write: OutLoud for editing and revising. This software, created by Don Johnston, not only allows students to listen to their work for appropriate word choice and sentence fluency, but it also provides a talking spell checker. The ability to hear the correct word before selecting it to be sure it is the right word is very beneficial to students with reading difficulties.

Struggling writers at the secondary level are also using Co: Writer to support their writing. This word prediction software predicts the word the student is trying to write and then adds it into the document when selected. This assistive technology tool also allows for increased details, better coherence, and provides assistance for phonetic or inventive spellers. Levels of support can be adjusted in Co: Writer for secondary students in order to give the writer more independence. Don Johnston, also the creator of this software title, has developed SOLO which combines Draft: Builder, Write: OutLoud, and Co: Writer to assist students in the complete writing process from start to finish.

Another option for assistive technology at the secondary level is the portable word processing device. Many schools now have class sets of Neos (by Alpha Smart) and teachers are finding creative ways to use them in their classes. The beaming feature of the Neo is nice for sending quizzes or warm up activities and can be used for sharing between students in group work situations. The Neo seems to be the popular option for secondary students due to its capacity to hold many files and, unlike the Dana (another Alpha Smart product used in middle and high schools), it runs on AA batteries and does not need to be recharged on a nightly basis. Co: Writer can also be used on the Neo and documents can be sent directly to the printer for time saving purposes.

Using assistive technology in the secondary classroom to enhance student writing can help to break down barriers for many students who struggle with written expression. Several teachers have found that introducing students to this software and equipment in whole group instruction exposes them to the different options available to support writing. Students can then become individual users and hopefully self-advocate in order to use these tools across the curriculum where writing is required. You may be surprised at how using assistive technology for writing can pleasantly decrease the whining and moaning about the writing process.

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The Benefits of Dragon Naturally Speaking

by Kelly Deegan

Our son George has difficulty with fine and gross motor skills. It makes it very difficult to use the keyboard, which has become a necessity with education today. The process of writing on paper is acceptable but slow and not very motivating for him. Although he has always been an avid reader, an activity in which he isn't hampered by his motor skills, his writing skills have been severely lacking.

This summer he attended classes to use Dragon Naturally Speaking v9.0, a voice activated software program and the difference it has made in his writing is amazing. He often uses the program to complete assignments that are not required to be typed so he can put more of his ideas down rather than the "give the shortest answer possible" method he usually uses when writing assignments on paper. In the past, any type of assignment that required typing was a family assignment, with someone taking over the typing for him and inadvertently adding corrections, ideas, and suggestions. Now George enthusiastically tackles these papers with a new sense of independence and confidence that had never before been evident with schoolwork.

His time management skills have also been improved because of this program. In the past, the dreaded writing assignment was postponed until the last possible minute because it was such a difficult task for him. This year he has finished writing assignments well ahead of their due date because he enjoys using the program and because he is able to complete them on his own.

The quality of the writing was rough at first without the family's corrections and input, but through the use of Dragon Naturally Speaking and working on his own, the improvements are coming rapidly. Dragon Naturally Speaking has had a major impact on George's confidence, self worth, and time management as well as the significant improvements with his writing abilities.

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Featured ATS Staff Member Heather Thompson

Heather Thompson is extremely happy to be working for ATS this year. Heather has been a special education teacher in Fairfax County for the past three years. She worked at Holmes Middle School and Mount Vernon High School . Heather has taught math, science, and life skills to students with mental retardation, learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Heather feels technology is a necessary and integral piece in creating an environment and a curriculum that is accessible to every student. She was a TOPS teacher for two years at Holmes and Mount Vernon working primarily with ATS caseload manager, Jenn Regardie.

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