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AT is physically available, but has no content to facilitate participation.
Symptom: AT is physically available, but has no content to facilitate participation.
Symptom Group: AT is present but not used
Reason: Teacher does not "buy into" need for AT.
Reason Group: Non-supportive environment
Action: Meet with classroom team and administrator to discuss the student’s need for AT, use identified in IEP, and the need for assistance
Resource: Teaching Every Student blog
This blog by Karen Janowski has a wealth of tips about using AT. www.teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com
Type: website
Cost: 0
Resource: Creating a Climate for Learning: AT and Classroom Management
Bowser, G., & Chenail, C., (2006). Creating a Climate
for Learning: Assistive Technology and Classroom Management, Arlington, VA: Technology and Media Division of CEC. www.tamcec.org
Type: publication
Cost: ?
Reason: Teacher may not have addressed levels of participation.
Reason Group: Lack of knowledge
Action: Meet with teacher and discuss how he/she plans to help the student be a competitive participant, an active participant, or an involved participant rather than a non participant.
Resource: Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs, Third Edition
Beukelman, D. & Mirenda, P. (1998). Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs, Third Edition
Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
This textbook provides a complete overview of Augmentative and Communication. Specific chapters address all aspects of AAC assessment, implementation and evaluation of effectiveness. In this text, Beukelman and Mirenda discuss levels of participation. This concept helps teachers to develop a vision of the ways that a student who uses AAC can more fully participate.
Type: publication
Cost: $75.00
Reason: Classroom staff may not be comfortable designing and creating new options.
- Lack of knowledge
- 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: 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
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: Staff does not buy into the importance of AT use.
Reason Group: Lack of common goal
Action: Meet with classroom team and administrator to discuss the student’s need for AT, use identified in IEP, how AT will be provided, need for compliance with law, etc.
Resource: Activities/Goals matrix
This simple form helps to organize and document how AT is used in the classroom. Available to download for free from The Regional Program for Students with Orthopedic Impairments, Douglas ESD, Roseburg, Oregon
http://www.rsoi.org/Documents/Activities%20Scheduling%20Matrix.pdf
Type: form
Cost: 0
Reason: Staff have not figured out how to integrate the use of AT during routine activities.
Reason Group: Lack of planning
Action: Meet with classroom team to identify critical times during each day that the student will use the AT.
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
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 feel that AT is their responsibility.
Reason Group: Lack of common goal
Action: Share video or case study about another student with similar needs who is making greater progress because of AT use. Discuss the actions of people in the environment that make it an effective program.
Resource: Including Samuel
Dan Habib’s 58-minute documentary film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film is built on the efforts of Habib and his family to include Samuel, 7, in all facets of their lives. Including Samuel also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents and disability rights experts.
Type: website
Cost: $180
Reason: Teacher does not believe the student needs or can use AT.
Reason Group: Lack of common goal
Action: Meet with teacher to share research on effectiveness of AT and reasons it was provided. Show work samples from last year.
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: Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice
Edyburn, D., Higgins, K., & Boon, R. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of Special Education Technology Research and Practice. Whitefish Bay, WI: Knowledge by Design, Inc. Order from www.knowledge-by-design.com
Type: publication
Cost: $119
Resource: Journal of Special Educational Technology
This peer reviewed journal publishes nearly 40% of the AT research that is published each year. Subscribe at www.tamcec.org
Type: publication
Cost: $68 per year
Resource: What have we learned lately
Dave Edyburn periodically reviews AT research and posts information on his website. www.uwm.edu/~edyburn/what.html
Type: website
Cost: 0
Reason: Teacher does not know how to adapt lessons to accommodate the specific technology
- Lack of knowledge
- Inadequate resources
No action info found
Reason: Teacher does not understand the need for daily use in meaningful activities.
Reason Group: Lack of information
Action: Arrange meeting with classroom team to discuss roles and responsibilities, explain critical need for daily use in meaningful activities
Resource: ATOMS Project Technical Report
Factors in Assistive Technology Device Abandonment: Replacing "Abandonment" with "Discontinuance"
http://www.r2d2.uwm.edu/atoms/archive/technicalreports/tr-discontinuance.html
Type: website
Reason: Teacher may not understand possible uses of the AT.
Reason Group: Lack of information
Action: Arrange observation or meeting with another teacher who is effectively using AT with a student whose needs are similar.
Resource: No specific resource is needed for this action.
Reason: Teacher or other staff may not have identified goals for the AT use.
Reason Group: Lack of common goal
Action: Use Collaborative Consultation Model to determine next steps
No resource info found
Reason: Teacher or other staff member may not "buy into" need for AT.
Reason Group: Lack of information
Action: Review IEP together, discuss what district has committed to and which goals AT is to be used to meet.
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
Resource: IDEA 2004
Refer to IDEA 2004 (http://idea.ed.gov or http://www.wrightslaw.com) or to state law and district policy and procedures
Type: website