ATS TechTalk - Fall 2007

ATS Collaboration Plans

by Cheryl Temple

It has been a busy time at Assistive Technology Services.  All of the AT resource teachers have been working to provide the assistive technology devices and support that students need as they adjust to a new school year.  Now is the time that new referrals are beginning for students who may require assistive technology support.  AT resource teachers have also been meeting with school teams to establish an AT Collaboration Plan.  The goal of these plans is to build or expand knowledge of AT to support the educational needs of students. The AT Collaboration Plan supports the following school-based goals:

Our staff looks forward to working with school-based staff to maximize the potential of FCPS students with disabilities.  Check our website often for updated information regarding assistive technology, curriculum resources, AT and the SOLs, and lots more.
http://fcpsnet.fcps.k12.va.us/ssse/its/index.htm

Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE) Conference

by Cheryl Temple

This state-wide conference will be held in Roanoke, Virginia from February 24 – February 26, 2008.  This year there will be an assistive technology strand with lots of sessions related to providing assistive technology support to improve instruction for students with disabilities.  Over 125 concurrent sessions are offered and the exhibit hall will accommodate over 100 booths. For more information visit the website at:  http://www.vste.org/conference.html

Free Trainings

by Cheryl Temple

There are several upcoming free Moving Forward with Technology webinars that are sponsored by the Center for Implementing Technology in Education (CITEd) and Don Johnston, Inc. 

To register for any of the following webinars, go to:  http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=140&#upcoming

The following topics are available for registration:
Technology Decision Makers Hold the Keys to Successful Implementation
January 4th at 11:00 am ET & January 14th at 3:00 pm ET
Are you in a position to request or recommend technology purchases? Learn how to be an informed consumer, with an understanding of the leverage points in district administrations as well as with vendors. Based on interviews with over 50 administrators, this webinar provides you strategic information on how administrators are making decisions related to technology.

The Role of Technology in Response to Intervention (RTI)
February 11th at 11:00 am ET & February 28th at 3:00 pm ET
RTI is fast becoming a household term, but what does it mean for you in your school and classroom? How can technology help you manage the process and serve students? Discuss the implications with the experts at the new National Center for Response to Intervention about research to practice efforts.

Finding the Technology that Supports Your Reading, Math, and Writing Instruction
March 18th at 11:00 am ET, 2007 & March 24th at 3:00 pm ET
How do you find the technology solutions that best address your students’ needs? Join us to celebrate the launch of the TechMatrix 2.0, a database of technology tools reviewed on accessibility and instructional features. The TechMatrix 2.0 supports user-generated searches and customizable returns that can be shared with colleagues. Come see what tech tools will work for you!

The Assistive Technology Planner: A Guide for Implementing AT
April 14th at 11:00 am ET & April 29th at 3:00 pm ET
Beyond mere consideration, how do you fully implement AT for students on IEPs? Explore the innovative AT Planner, a comprehensive set of guides for administrators, teachers, and families full of checklists, resources, and recommendations. Based on the research of the National Assistive Technology Research Institute, the Planner will guide implementation according to evidence-based practices.

Evaluating Your Technology Implementation Program
May 2nd at 11:00 am ET & May 12th at 3:00 pm ET
Documenting the effectiveness of your technology implementation initiative is critical to improving and growing the initiative. Data is also critical to gaining support in the community. Learn to use the resources in the EdTech Locator, an online toolkit from CITEd to help you assess your efforts and plan for improvement and growth.

TOPS Program by Lisa Givens

What is the TOPS Program?
The TOPS (Technology Outreach Program Support) program was developed to provide extra training and support for school-based staff who have an interest in integrating technology with students who have disabilities.
What do TOPS members do?
TOPS members work closely with their ATS case managers to provide assistive technology support and training in their buildings. They serve as a resource to special and general education teachers working with students who have disabilities. This may include: working with teachers individually, providing school-based in-services, or sharing at faculty meetings. In addition, they attend two full day or four half day training sessions and a final TOPS meeting at the end of the year. They are required to submit one or more activities related to their topic that can be posted on the ATS Intranet site.
How many TOPS members are there?
This year there are over 300 TOPS members.
What is the selection process?
To become a TOPS member, you must be nominated by your ATS case manager. You need to be a staff member who is working with students who have disabilities and integrating technology with these students to improve their academic achievement.
When are they selected?
TOPS members are identified each Spring for the following school year. All new TOPS must take an Assistive Technology Overview class in the summer or join the Assistive Technology Overview TOPS group during the school year.

To view the list of current TOPS staff, go to: http://fcpsnet.fcps.k12.va.us/ssse/its/tops/schools .htm

2007 RATE Conference

by Ellie Stack

On November 10, 2007, Assistive Technology Services (ATS) hosted the Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (R.A.T.E.) conference at Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon, Virginia.  Over 220 people were in attendance for this conference, including approximately 50 parents and out-of-county guests.  Thirty-two sessions were offered on a variety of topics related to assistive technology.  Twelve of our TOPS teachers presented displays of some of the technology they use in their classroom during TOPS Hall.   Dr. Yoosun Chung, a professor at George Mason who is also an Augmentation and Alternative Communication (AAC) user, delivered the inspirational keynote address. Thank you to everyone who participated and to all of our presenters! 

AAC Integration Series

by Ellie Stack

AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, devices are used by a number of students in Fairfax County Public Schools.  Learning to program a device is not the hard part; learning to integrate the device and help our students use them is more of a challenge.  This series was created to assist with this challenge. 
 
The series is made up of 5 different topics.  Each topic will be offered 3 times in a month, twice in the afternoon and once in the evening.  Dates and times will be added to the list below as the event approaches. 
The second topic in the series is:  
Integrating AAC into Your Day
Discover how augmentative and alternative communication devices can be assimilated across the curriculum.   A variety of communication systems will be demonstrated with suggestions on how to include the AAC user in classroom activities and how to make the communication system a meaningful part of their day (and life).    
All sessions are open to FCPS staff and parents.

FCPS staff should register via MyPLT, search for AAC. 
Parents should call Ellen Lohr at 703-204-3939 if interested in attending. 
12/5/07 - 2:30 to 4:15 at West Potomac High School, ATS Lab (behind the main office)
12/10/07 - 2:30-4:15 at Dunn Loring Center, room 11
12/11/07 - 6:30-8:15 at Dunn Loring Center, room 11

Future AAC Integration Series topics include (specific training times, descriptions, and registration information will be sent out one month ahead of time):
            January:  Visuals to Foster Communication
            February:  AAC Templates
            March:  AAC and Literacy

AAC Web Resources

by Ellie Stack

Do you have a student in your class who uses an AAC device to communicate?  If so, check out these links: 

http://www.aacintervention.com/
http://www.aacintervention.com/aacdevice%20use.pdf - Tips and ideas for augmentative communication-books from Dr. Caroline Musselwhite are featured

http://aac.unl.edu:16080/yaack/b2.html - Does AAC impede natural speech?—and other fears

http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2004/040921/f040921b.htm - Ideas for integrating AAC into the classroom

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/default.htm - American Speech – Language and Hearing Association links to typical speech and language development

http://www.darlenehanson.com/communication-dictionary.pdf - Communication Dictionary

http://www.dotolearn.com/index.htm - A web site providing learning activities to promote independence in children and adults with special learning needs and it includes some excellent examples of using symbols to help students learn and develop learning and communication. 

http://www.dotolearn.com/picturecards/printcards/index.htmhttp://www.d.umn.edu/%7Emmizuko/5230/aided.htm - Aided language stimulation information

http://www.lindaburkhart.com/ - Resources and ideas for elementary and middle school and students with special needs including Partner Assisted Communication strategies

http://www.mayer-johnson.com - Boardmaker and a variety of visual resource books for example, I Can Cook, Art for Me Too, and Rockin Robyn.  Visit thedownloads page, Boardmaker Content for resources such as “50 ways to use Boardmaker”.  Also visit the “Sharing” section for ideas and downloads.

http://www.speakingofspeech.com -This website has lots of tips, already-made materials, and lessons; all of which are related to communication and/or technology. To access the materials, visit the site and select “activity exchange” from the menu on the left hand side of the screen.

http://www.vantatenhove.com/materials.php
http://www.vantatenhove.com/files/NLDAAC.pdf - Free AAC materials from Gail Van Tatenhove including a link to her article:  Normal Language Development, Generative Language & AAC which includes a couple vocabulary lists including children’s first 10 words

Featured ATS Staff Member: Mollie Kropp

Mollie Kropp joined ATS this year and is having a great time learning more about all of the assistive technology there is for students with special needs.  In her eight years of teaching deaf and hard of hearing students, she used a variety of instructional and assistive technology to make instruction visually accessible.  Smart Boards, Inspiration software, and blogs were among her favorites.  In her words, “I think that technology integration is an essential part of teaching.  It allows teachers to make information accessible to students in a way that was not possible in the past, so that students can learn about things they never could before.  It’s truly amazing the level of support that is available to students with all sorts of needs, and I am really enjoying sharing that with teachers in FCPS and elsewhere.”  

A native of Northeastern PA, Mollie attended the University of Pittsburgh and received a Master’s Degree in Deaf Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with emphasis on Children’s and Adolescent Literature and American Sign Language. Before joining ATS, she taught English in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Woodson HS and Junior High Language Arts at the Scranton State School for the Deaf in Scranton, PA. She is fluent in American Sign Language and is learning to use Cued Speech.

Mollie is married and in her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, shopping (especially for shoes), and training and playing with her two Boston Terriers, Tank and Albert.