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Assistive Technology Services
ATS TechTalk - Fall 2006
| Cheryl Temple |
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| Gail Holloman |
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| Featured Staff Member |
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Integrated Technology Services (ITS) Will Become Assistive Technology Services (ATS)
by Cheryl Temple
In order to better reflect the services and resources that Integrated Technology Services (ITS) provides to students and staff of FCPS, the office will be renamed Assistive Technology Services (ATS). This name change reflects the mission of our office to maximize the potential of FCPS students with disabilities through the use of assistive technology such as specialized computer programs, augmentative communication devices, and adaptive technology peripherals.
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School Based AT Teams
by Gail Holloman
In order to enable more students to benefit from assistive technology, ATS has worked closely with staff at 15 schools (elementary, middle and high) to establish school-based AT teams. 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 discontinued use of AT will not be so prevalent;
- to improve student achievement and high-stakes testing scores.
This Winter, ATS will work with 10 additional schools to establish AT teams. This program will continue to expand so that eventually every 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), other appropriate school-based staff and appropriate administrators.
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Featured Staff Member
Santina Montagna Brown |
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Santina is elated to be working at ATS this year. She has been a special education teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools for the past six years splitting her time in the county between Franklin Middle School and Thoreau Middle School. Santina has taught US History, Civics, Life Science and basic skills to students with emotional disabilities and learning disabilities. Making the curriculum accessible to diverse learners through hands-on activities and adapted materials was her passion in the classroom. Santina believes technology is the key to supporting, engaging, and assessing all students, but especially those with disabilities. With the support of technology she was able to see students meet success and feel a sense of accomplishment they would not have experienced without it. While working as a classroom teacher she was also a TOPS teacher and a PLC leader. Santina is excited to be working with elementary level teachers and students this year.
Santina grew up all over the United States. She attended high school in Manassas, Virginia and then moved on to James Madison University (GO DUKES!) where she majored in Psychology while pursuing an education licensure in LD, ED, and MR grades K-12. Currently, she is working on her Master's Degree in Special Education at the University of Virginia in Falls Church.
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