Assistive Technology for General and Special Needs Classrooms

Assistive Technology for General and Special Needs Classrooms

Brought to you by Illinois Learning Technology Centers 2 & 4 (

www.ltcillinois.org

)

Presenters provided by Infinitec (www.myinfinitec.org/) through a grant from ISBE.

Date & Time

Wednesday, September 30, 2015 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Location

Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center 1801 Eastland Drive

Bloomington, IL

Description

This mini-conference will provide you with tools to assist a wide range of students with special needs. Many of the sessions are hands-on; bring your iPad and/or laptop with you to fully experience these interactive sessions (devices will not be provided at the training).

Target audience

K-12 special education teachers, regular education teachers, paraprofessionals and technology coordinators. Schools are encouraged to bring teams to take full advantage of the variety of sessions.

Cost

$80, includes continental breakfast and lunch

PDCs

6.5

Registration or assistance

To register: www.kidsroe.org/Registration/WorkshopDetail.php?id=6203

For assistance, contact Lori Whitman: [email protected] or Tim McIlvain: [email protected].

Lodging

Rooms are available at a special $70 + tax state rate at the Eastland Suites Hotel through September 11. Call 309.662.0000 and ask for the Learning Technology Center block.

Conference Schedule

8:30-9:30 – Keynote – Overview of Assistive Technology 9:45-12:15 – Breakouts

1. Aurasma in the Classroom

2. Expanding the Teacher’s Toolbox for Students with Significant Disabilities 3. Let’s Get Visual!

4. Video Modeling and iTechnologies 12:15-1:00 – Lunch

1:00-3:30 – Breakouts

1. Expanding the Teacher’s Toolbox for Students with Significant Disabilities 2. Getting to the Core of Literacy for K-5 Students

3. Have it Your Way with Google Chrome

4. Let’s Get Visual!

Session Descriptions

(Presenter bios)

Aurasma in the Classroom

Jennifer Skalitzky

Aurasma is an exciting free app that can be used by teachers or students to bring engagement and excitement to the classroom! Aurasma allows a picture or object to activate audio, video or websites. In this training you will learn how to use Aurasma in the classroom to support your lessons and learning. Hands-on: bring your own device with Aurasma already downloaded. Download for free at www.aurasma.com.

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Expanding the Teacher’s Toolbox for Students with Significant Disabilities

Mary Bettlach

This presentation will introduce participants to FREE web-based and downloadable

activities. Participants will increase their knowledge of web-based tools for teaching and learning for students with significant needs. Tools for creating lesson supports will be shared, for example Book Builder, PowerTalk, etc. Resources such as websites, web-based tools and models of instruction will be presented. Participants will experiment with visual support tools and strategies to create social stories and behavioral supports. Hands-on: bring your own device.

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Getting to the Core of Literacy for K-5 Students

Deb Truskey

Students love using iPods and iPads. However, educators face the challenge of choosing the correct apps to reach curriculum goals. This presentation will focus on using these technologies to support reading instruction for struggling elementary students. The features on the iPad/iPod that support the principles of Universal Design for Learning will be demonstrated.

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Have it Your Way with Google Chrome

Jennifer Skalitzky

As noted in the 2012 Pew Internet and American Life Project Study, “How Teens do Research in a Digital World,” 94% of the teachers surveyed say their students know the powerful ways that Google’s web browser, Chrome, can be customized to “have it your way.” This hands-on session will explore extensions that facilitate accessibility with a single click. Learn how to remove ads, have text spoken aloud, add visual contrast, and search with voice and more! Soon your students will be saying, “Got Chrome?” Hands-on: bring your own device.

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Let’s Get Visual!

Grace Greenberg

Visual supports are defined as an evidence based practice in improving communication, understanding, and social skills for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants of this session will learn why and how visual systems are implemented in multiple facets of the classroom. Low tech examples will be shared to demonstrate how visual supports can practically be integrated in classroom activities.

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Overview of Assistive Technology

Under IDEA 2004, there are five areas that must be considered for students with disabilities. While most are related to a specific disability (e.g., visual impairment or behavior), only one of the five must be considered for all students, regardless of the type or severity of disability: Assistive Technology. This presentation will introduce participants to a range of assistive technologies. Whether it is communication, access to the computer and curriculum, writing, reading, mobility, or activities of daily living, this presentation will highlight how and when technologies become assistive technology. We’ll provide an overview of the legal requirements related to assistive technology, as well as define assistive technology device and assistive technology service. In addition, the new Illinois Assistive Technology Guidance Manual and technical support website will be shared.

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Video Modeling and iTechnologies

Deb Truskey

The body of research is growing in support of video modeling as an effective practice to address a multitude of skills for students having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Given the built in camera and apps to capture/edit video, the iPad gives users a simple means to develop video modules. This session will discuss practical considerations in developing video modules, specific apps to edit video, and apps a student can access to view video modules.

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Presenter Biographies

Mary is an occupational therapist with a degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master in Public Health from St. Louis University. She has 12 years’ experience as an assistive technology consultant in public schools in southern IL and St. Louis County. She has taught AT courses at collegiate level and provided numerous trainings and presentations in IL, MO and MN. She recently moved to Peoria after serving as the AT and UDL Specialist for the MN Department of Education. Grace Greenberg

Grace Greenberg received her B.S. in Communication Disorders from Saint Louis University, and then received her M.S. in Speech Pathology from Southern Illinois University. She has additional training in sign language and feeding therapy as well as in reading intervention. Grace also has an MBA in

Business/M.I.S. from Dominican University. She currently works as an Education Consultant. Her previous experiences were as a Speech Language Pathologist in suburban Chicago for 34 years

providing therapy services to students in both self-contained and inclusive settings in K-12 public and private schools and alternative Jr. High/High School environments. Her passion and area of expertise is in supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has worked diligently collaborating with colleagues in Student Services Teams and in developing communication supports to facilitate increased student participation and performance.

Jennifer Skalitzky

Jennifer works for UCP-Infinitec as an Assistive Technology Facilitator. She coordinates webinars, performs collaborations, and provides trainings. Jennifer received a Bachelor's degree in

Communication Disorders from Eastern Illinois University and received a M.S. in Disability and Human Development from the University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC). Her area of specialization was Rehabilitation/Assistive Technology, and she completed a Graduate Assistantship with UIC's Assistive Technology Unit (ATU). After graduation she worked for UIC's ATU where she supported students and adults using AAC devices. In addition, she has worked at Northwest Suburban Special Education

Organization (NSSEO) as an Assistive Technology Facilitator. While there she supported the assistive technology needs of students with severe physical disabilities, students with Autism and students with learning disabilities. She also supported staff through trainings and the implementation of assistive technology. In the past, Jennifer has been an adjunct teacher at Lewis University and taught the undergraduate and graduate class on Assistive Technology for the Special Education

Department. Deb Truskey

Deb Truskey is a Speech Language Pathologist. She received her B.A. in Speech Pathology from the University of St. Francis and her M.A. in Communication Disorders from Governor’s State University. During her last few years of her tenure with Downers Grove District 58, she served on the Assistive Technology committee for her district as well as being a district liaison for Infinitec. For many years Deb was a podcaster for EdCeptional, part of the EdReach network. EdCeptional podcasts focused on looking at the needs of students with different ability levels through the lens of technology. She has presented at Assistive Technology Industry Association as well as Illinois Computing Educators conferences.