Document Actions
There is a school wide lack of interest in and willingness to use AT.
Symptom: There is a school wide lack of interest in and willingness to use AT.
Symptom Group: AT use is not systemically supported
Reason: AT use is not a priority.
Reason Group: Non-supportive environment
Action: Identify built in reinforcers in the environment for using AT with student.
Resource: No specific resource is needed for this action.
Action: Invite others to a meeting who might provide support or reinforcement for AT implementation.
Resource: No specific resource is needed for this action.
Reason: Administrator has not demonstrated expectation that AT use must be implemented and supported.
Reason Group: Non-supportive environment
Action: Meet with supervisor to determine why he or she does not understand administrator's role.
Resource: A School Administrator's Desktop Guide to AT
For role of administrator, read: Bowser, G., & Reed, P. (2004). A School Administrator’s Desktop Guide to Assistive Technology. Arlington, VA: Technology and Media Division of CEC. www.tamcec.org
Type: publication
Cost: $20
Reason: Classroom staff my not have identified their own roles in AT use.
Reason Group: Lack of planning
Action: Meet with them to brainstorm the problems and potential solutions.
Resource: Using a five step decision making process
Page 48 & 49 of Assessing Student’s Need for Assistive Technology (Reed & Lahm, 2004) explains how to lead a group through a five step decision making process. Download from Supports section (free downloads) at www.wati.org
Type: publication
Cost: 0
Reason: No connection has been made between AT use and curriculum or school goals
- Lack of knowledge
- Lack of planning
- Need for adminstrative support
Action: Participate in meetings about general education initiatives such as Response To Intervention, Positive Behavioral Supports, textbook adoptions etc.
Resource: NATE Network AT Research Overview and Wiki
The National Assistive Technology in Education (NATE) has a section on their website devoted to AT research. Linked from it is a wiki about research that includes several summaries of AT research studies. www.nate.network.org/research
Type: website
Cost: 0
Resource: Project Access: Accessing Curriculum Content for Special Education Students
Project Access: Accessing Curriculum Content for Special Education Students Information about this project is available online at http://web.utk.edu/~access/whyAT.html.
Project Access was designed to help describe the ways that students with disabilities can gain access to their curriculum through the use of AT. It provides many models and examples.
Type: website
Cost: Online
Reason: Principal does not hold staff accountable to implement the use of AT.
Reason Group: Need for adminstrative support
No action info found
Reason: Staff members do not understand their own roles and responsibilities in AT implementation.
Reason Group: Lack of planning
Action: Develop an action plan in writing with assigned staff responsibilities for the development of new activities related to IEP goals.
Resource: Implementation Plan form
Implementation Plan form: This form helps teams to identify the roles and responsibilities of each team member in the implementation of a plan for a student's assistive technology use.
Type: form
Resource: Charting My Course to Successful Transition
Type: form
Cost: free
Action: Discuss with teacher and aide the reasons for the AT and the expected outcomes for the student. Refer to IEP
Resource: AT as Positive Behavior Support
This example of a way to think about using assistive technology as part of the support strategies in a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program.
Type: form
Cost: free
Action: Provide training.
Resource: AT Vendors
A very readable, alphabetized list of AT vendors http://www.lburkhart.com/sr.htm ;
Type: website
Cost: 0
Resource: Online tutorial-commercial
Check Atomic Learning or other commercial sites to see if they have a tutorial on the tool: http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/assistivetechnology_tutorials
Type: website
Cost: 0
Resource: Online tutorial-free
Look for free tutorials such as the Tech Quick Guides at Montgomery County Public Schools
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/techquick_guides
Type: website
Cost: 0
Resource: Assistive Technology Training Online
http://www.atto.buffalo.eduThis website offers many training modules and resources for a wide variety of technology applications from adapted uses of Microsoft Word to instructions on how to complete an assistive technolgy assessment.
Type: website
Cost: $0
Action: Review AT Implementation Plan or develop a plan in writing with assigned staff responsibilities
Resource: Implementation Plan form
Implementation Plan form: This form helps teams to identify the roles and responsibilities of each team member in the implementation of a plan for a student's assistive technology use.
Type: form
Resource: Routines/Tools and Strategies form
Routine/Tools and Strategies Form: This form helps the team idenfiy the tools and strategies that will be needed for each part of a child's day.
Type: form
Cost: AT Help Desk
Action: Suggest that the staff meet to develop an action plan. If they cannot do that without help, meet with them and guide them through the development of an action plan.
No resource info found
Reason: Staff may not have a process for appropriately considering and documenting need for AT.
Reason Group: Lack of planning
Action: Check with special education administrator to determine what training has been provided. If acceptable, provide training on consideration and documentation
Resource: AT Consideration Resource Guide
The AT Consideration Resource Guide from the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT) can help provide an overview of the many types of tools that can be considered for students with disabilities. It is arranged by difficulty e.g. reading, writing, etc.
Choose AT Resources, then under Downloads, choose Assistive Technology Resource Guide. www.gpat.org
Type: publication
Cost: 0
Resource: AT Consideration module
The Texas AT network has developed a Module on AT Consideration that includes powerpoint slides, presenters's notes and handouts. http://www.texasat.net/default.aspx?name=trainmod.consideration
Type: publication
Cost: 0
Reason: Support staff are not required to implement AT use in their work with student.
Reason Group: Non-supportive environment
Action: Meet with supervisor to determine why he or she does not understand administrator's role.
Resource: A School Administrator's Desktop Guide to AT
For role of administrator, read: Bowser, G., & Reed, P. (2004). A School Administrator’s Desktop Guide to Assistive Technology. Arlington, VA: Technology and Media Division of CEC. www.tamcec.org
Type: publication
Cost: $20
Reason: The agency has not provided guidance about AT use to staff members.
Reason Group: Inadequate resources
Action: Provide Assistive Technology Guidelines to all staff members to develop a clearer understanding of each person’s role.
Resource: Assistive Technology Model Operating Guidelines
Assistive Technology Model Operating Guidelines: A manual developed by the advisory committee of the Oregon Technology Access Program. It offers suggestions for ways that district-level procedures and operating guidelines might be developed for a school district. It includes wording for inclusion in a district's special education procedures as well as sample forms and processes for use by individual IEP teams.
This manual is in the public domain and copies may be made. Click on the title to download the PDF file
Type: publication
Cost: $0