Final Thoughts

I would like to thank whoever has taken the time out to read my blog. It was quite an interesting journey I must say starting out from learning about UDL and it's practice all the way to here which is AT, the IEP process, and transitioning into college. I first began learning about UDL and why it was necessary. I was introduced to some great websites and I have used many of the basic principles of UDL in my own practice. I also have become more familiar with many low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech options available to students with disabilities. Before this blog and this class, I would not have felt comfortable exploring AT devices for my students. Now I feel that although I may not readily know how to use a device or what needs to be done to get that device, I now have a wealth of knowledge to help me from that first IEP meeting up until the implementation of AT as well as the steps to walk me through everything

Overall, the biggest lesson I will take away from this class and this blog is the need for students with disabilities to feel independent. It should be as teachers our ultimate goal for students to have the tools necessary to lead healthy lives independent of our assistance. This is what we must keep in mind at that first IEP meeting. We must envision this for ALL of our students regardless of their disability.

Transitioning from High School with Assistive Technology

Implications For Transitioning Planning.....

It is important for students with disabilities to have access and use technology efficiently when they get to college. However, they must be able to make that transition as smoothly and effectively as possible. This is why it is very important for students to be prepared in high school. IDEA mandates transitioning planning at 16. This is meant so that students with disabilities can have 2 to 3 years to prepare and be successful in college. Transitioning planning should include assistive technology skills for independence and self-advocacy skills. Additionally, protection for students in K-12 is different for those in college. Therefore, students must adequately prepare for the next step in their lives. Independence is very important. Functional skills, operational skills, as well as social skills must be fostered early on for guaranteed success later on.

Assistive Technology as a Reasonable Accommodation

In our assistive technology class we had a guest speaker come and speak to us about assistive technology at Cabrini College. I know that students with disabilities are covered under the ADA and can receive 504 accommodations. However, what I didn't know was that there is an office dedicated to assisting students with disabilities. We talk about transitioning into college in the IEP process but we don't really discuss what that looks like. I found the speaker who came to our classroom to be very helpful. She put a face to what we are actually learning in class. What accommodations and AT options are available for college students such as myself?

Assistive technology can be used to help college students during classes and in testing scenarios. Completing assignments can be done using many of the computer modifications I discussed about earlier on in my journey, such as keyboard and mouse adaptations. Additionally, the guest speaker gave us a handout of resources for software she recommends to the students here at Cabrini. Many of these resources I have discussed in much earlier blogs such as the Live Scribe Pen and voice recognition software. Just remember to keep in mind that assistive technology has to be the choice of the student. Also, it should be age appropriate as well as easy to use and customize.

UK Assistive Technology Toolkit

The University of Kentucky has assembled an assistive technology toolkit online. How awesome is that! This is very similar to the website I previously blogged about in that it offers worksheets to use to help implementation of AT. These include a pre-assessment profile, assessment planning and data collection, and report outline. What makes this particular site different from the one below is that it offers mostly worksheets to follow and implement AT. There's also a Toolkit Overview with a slide show presentation that defines assistive technology and discusses the uses for the worksheets. I found the worksheets to be most helpful in explaining the implementation process.

Making it Work: Effective Implementation of Assistive Technology

/www.setbc.org/setbc/topics/effective_implementation_of_assistive_technology.html

This particular resource I found to be most helpful simply because it focuses on the steps involved in the AT implementation process rather than focusing on the specific technology being chosen. I think this site is great for teachers who may not feel comfortable and confident introducing an AT device. I know for me as a teacher, the implementation process would be the most difficult. This website breaks down the process into seven sections each in PDF format. Topics range from Gather Relevant Information, Conduct Assistive Technology Trials, and Develop AT Implementation Plan. There are also related resources as well as detailed explanations and examples. I would recommend this resource to an IEP team that has already chosen or is in the process of finding an AT device.

Augmentative Device Design

Using an augmentative communication device at school is one thing. But what about when that student goes to their local library or grocery store? The community may not be ready to accept this particular form of communication. They also may not be aware of its use or purpose. This can present a challenge for the user who may feel intimidated to use their augmentative device in an unfamiliar setting. Some strategies for anticipated barriers are field trips into the community. The devices can be programmed to ask certain questions and community workers or helpers can also participate by answering questions. This will enable students to familiarize themselves with unfamiliar people but also to introduce the device ahead of time so future interactions will be more comfortable.