General Assistive Technology Information:
Region 13 Education Service Center:
- Website is a great resource for information about providing quality AT services in your district
- Join the QIAT List to be a part of the international AT community and participate in discussions about all aspects of AT
- Statewide network of AT representatives that offers webinars, training modules and links to other resources to support district AT staff
- Speech-Language Pathologist, member of the Loudoun County Public Schools' Assistive Technology Team, author, public speaker and all-around AT expert
- The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools - This book is a must-read for anyone developing their role as an AT lead
- The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Accessible for All
- A.T. TIPSCAST - podcast and blog
- YouTube Channel
- Free publications, including a comprehensive assessment package
- SET-BC is a Ministry of Education Provincial Outreach Program in British Columbia, Canada
- Website offers strategies for implementing technology, UDL principals and assistive technology to support students' diverse needs
- Instruction on a variety of topics related to AT through case studies, videos, pre- and post-assessments, and a glossary
- Webinars and up-to-date information about AT ($140 membership fee)
- Webinars (paid), free research articles, and annual conference
- Region 13 has provided free access to ATIA webinars in the past
- Free lunch-and-learn webinars for members ($49 annually to join)
- Trainings, conferences and special interest groups
- Great resource for Google for Education
- Join the iPads in the Classroom group to get daily notifications of free apps and ebooks
- Subscribe for free to get access to an abundance of great ideas for using Google tools in the classroom and for professional development
- Blogs, podcast, books, courses, webinars, certification training, product recommendations, Google cheat sheets
Research on Assistive Technology
Innovations in Special Education Technology:
- Research articles related to technology in special education (not free)
Providing Training on Technology
The Assistive Technology Trainer’s Handbook, by Penny Reed, Marsye Kaplan, Gayl Bowser (free publication)
Universal Design for Learning:
Accessible instructional materials and digital text:
- Includes interactive tools that can be used by teams to help with decisions about accessible instructional materials, including 1) identification of student need, 2) selection of specialized formats, 3) acquisition of specialized formats, and 4) determination of supports for use of AIM (technology, strategies, etc.) for participation and achievement.
- 1-minute snapshot of student’s writing
- Helpful for collecting data about student need for AT for writing
- Good tool for collecting data on AT for reading
- Comprehensive (except for iPad use)
- Free download from website
- Looking at student in natural environments
- Based on collaboration, data gathering and data analysis
- Focus is on student needs, environment where student performs tasks, and tasks to be completed
Speech Recognition (voice typing):
- For students with significant disabilities
- Helps identify communication system and other AT
- For students functioning at early stages of communication/complex communication needs
- Parent can log in and complete form, then email it to therapist
- Data can be used to complete a REED
- Use in conjunction with Every Move Counts -- can you use consistent body movement(s) for communication?
- Typically, you will start a new matrix each time you assess the student even with a re-evaluation
- Free, online
- Collects data anonymously to contribute to research
- Oregon Health & Science University - Dr. Charity Rowland
- Informal diagnostic tool that is intended to assist with identifying skill areas that relate specifically to the language representation methods commonly found on AAC systems
- An assessment tool that measures subjective, functional skills for developing communicative competence using AAC systems; re-evaluates skill level; and monitors progress.
- Developed by Gail M. VanTatenhove
- Focuses on use of core vocabulary
Seating/Powered Mobility/Switch Use
Switch Use and Switch Site Assessments:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- AAC use tips, with an emphasis on literacy
- Blog - AAC Girls
- An abundance of AAC resources, including assessment, data collection, AAC in the classroom, communication partner skills and vocabulary checklists
- YouTube channel
- Posts and videos with strategies for teaching and supporting AAC, with an emphasis on literacy
- This site is a compilation of vocabulary lists, evidence based research articles, questionnaires, communication grids, visual supports, video clips and general information from a variety of educators and therapists
My Favorite Free, Online Resources for Differentiation:
Google Docs built-in tools: Spelling and grammar checks, voice typing, dictionary, accessibility features
Rewordify: Free website that simplifies complex language; teaches the pronunciation and meaning of words to build student’s vocabulary
Grammarly: Grammar and spell-checker for composing online
SparkNotes, No Fear Shakespeare: Study guides for classical literature and modern text for Shakespearean works
Wikipedia Simple English: Language option that provides a simplified and very abbreviated version of the text
Tween Tribune: Free current events articles with several different lexile versions for each article; includes quizzes, lesson plans, and additional resources and ideas
Epic! Digital library targeting students 12 and younger; free to teachers
Storyline Online: Website that streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside illustrations
Tar Heel Reader: A collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics; read-aloud feature and switch-accessible
Khan Academy: Website offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard for students; focus on math, science, computer programming, history, art history, and economics, as well as additional subjects
PBS Learning Media: Free, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans on a variety of educational topics
YouTube: Channels on a wide variety of topics, from history to physics to technology to art
Google Translate: More than 90 languages
OpenDyslexic font: Free Chrome extension that changes online fonts to OpenDyslexic; may assist students with dyslexia in reading online
- This is a list of vendors offering assistive technology products. It is not an exhaustive list.