Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (Georgia Department of Education) Twila McMullan East Cobb Middle School Summer 2010

I.D.E.A. “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates the school system’s responsibility to provide assistive technology (AT) devices and services to students with disabilities.” “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates the school system’s responsibility to provide assistive technology (AT) devices and services to students with disabilities.” Since the 2004 reauthorization, IDEA is now known as IDEIA (the second I stands for Improvement). Since the 2004 reauthorization, IDEA is now known as IDEIA (the second I stands for Improvement).

What is assistive technology (AT) (based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990) (based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990) “Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.” (includes hardware and software as well as stand-alone devices) “Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.” (includes hardware and software as well as stand-alone devices) The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.

Examples for WRITING: Pencil grip Pencil grip Paper stabilizer Paper stabilizer Larger font Larger font Personal dry erase board Personal dry erase board Non-slip writing surface Non-slip writing surface Tape recorder (for note taking) Tape recorder (for note taking) AlphaSmart AlphaSmart Laptop (with spell/grammar check) Laptop (with spell/grammar check) Software such as Inspiration Software such as Inspiration Speech(text to voice) software Speech(text to voice) software Scanner Scanner Touch screen keyboard Touch screen keyboard Trackball Trackball Speech Recognition software Speech Recognition software

Examples for Spelling Personal dry erase board (for practice) Personal dry erase board (for practice) Tape recorder Tape recorder Handheld spell checker with audio output Handheld spell checker with audio output Portable word- processor with built-in spell check feature Portable word- processor with built-in spell check feature

Examples for Reading Page “fluffers” to enlarge font size on computer screen Page “fluffers” to enlarge font size on computer screen Slant board Slant board Book holder Book holder Color overlays Color overlays Speaking dictionary Speaking dictionary Reading pen Reading pen Braille translation software Braille translation software Audio taped books (some available at local library) Audio taped books (some available at local library) E-books E-books Talking word- processing device Talking word- processing device Screen reading programs such as Natural Reader (text to voice)—free Screen reading programs such as Natural Reader (text to voice)—free

Examples for Math Modified paper (bold, larger lines, for ex) Modified paper (bold, larger lines, for ex) Talking calculator with large print display Talking calculator with large print display Adaptive measuring devices Adaptive measuring devices Electronic math worksheets (like MathPad) Electronic math worksheets (like MathPad)

Study Skills Examples: Print or picture schedule Print or picture schedule Color coding Color coding Appointment book Appointment book Tape recorder Tape recorder Electronic organizer Electronic organizer PDA PDA Speech prompt devices Speech prompt devices

Listening Examples Personal amplification system Personal amplification system Personal hearing aid Personal hearing aid Smart Board (for transferring teacher’s written notes to student computer for viewing and printing) Smart Board (for transferring teacher’s written notes to student computer for viewing and printing) Voice to text software Voice to text software Closed captioning Closed captioning Real time captioning for live lectures and class discussions Real time captioning for live lectures and class discussions Tape recorder Tape recorder

Examples for Oral Communication Speech enhancing device (amplifier, clarifier) Speech enhancing device (amplifier, clarifier) Picture communication board Picture communication board Talking switches Talking switches dedicated augmentative communication devices dedicated augmentative communication devices Sign language Sign language

Seating, Positioning, and Mobility Examples: Adaptive classroom equipment (ex: adaptive chair with seating modifications and supports) Adaptive classroom equipment (ex: adaptive chair with seating modifications and supports) Adaptive table and desk Adaptive table and desk Walker Walker Crutches/cane Crutches/cane Manual/power wheelchair Manual/power wheelchair laptray laptray

Purpose promoting independence and achievement of all students with disabilities promoting independence and achievement of all students with disabilities as needed (must be in IEP), provides AT devices and services as needed (must be in IEP), provides AT devices and services MAY be necessary to have certain assistive technology at the child’s house, as well as the school MAY be necessary to have certain assistive technology at the child’s house, as well as the school (no cost to the parents) (no cost to the parents)

Mission of GPAT to improve student achievement, productivity, independence and inclusion by enhancing educator knowledge of assistive technology and increasing student access to appropriate assistive technology devices and services. to improve student achievement, productivity, independence and inclusion by enhancing educator knowledge of assistive technology and increasing student access to appropriate assistive technology devices and services. Each school system must have process to evaluate all students with IEP’s (checklists and forms) for assistive technology—not only the students with severe disabilities Each school system must have process to evaluate all students with IEP’s (checklists and forms) for assistive technology—not only the students with severe disabilities (note: extra-curricular activities are also to be addressed) (note: extra-curricular activities are also to be addressed)

The process… During the IEP process, the student’s needs & goals are evaluated, and if needed, a device is selected (to remove the learning barrier)—a team decision (includes Cobb County’s AT team) During the IEP process, the student’s needs & goals are evaluated, and if needed, a device is selected (to remove the learning barrier)—a team decision (includes Cobb County’s AT team) Once the device is obtained (purchased, loaned, or made), it may need to be modified for the specific child, Once the device is obtained (purchased, loaned, or made), it may need to be modified for the specific child, then training begins----student, teachers, parents then training begins----student, teachers, parents the device is installed, customized, implemented, evaluated, modified, and maintained/replace as needed the device is installed, customized, implemented, evaluated, modified, and maintained/replace as needed

ALL IEP’s include “consideration” of assistive technology: Example: Example: Does the student require assistive technology devices and services? __X__Yes ____No If yes, describe: Susie uses an auditory trainer to amplifying the teacher’s or speaker’s voice in all classroom activities (example: lecture and class discussion) other than one on one instruction with the teacher or a paraprofessional. Does the student require assistive technology devices and services? __X__Yes ____No If yes, describe: Susie uses an auditory trainer to amplifying the teacher’s or speaker’s voice in all classroom activities (example: lecture and class discussion) other than one on one instruction with the teacher or a paraprofessional.

If assistive technology is required for the child to participate in district wide or Statewide testing, the need for technology should be documented in the appropriate section of the IEP and provided to the child. If assistive technology is required for the child to participate in district wide or Statewide testing, the need for technology should be documented in the appropriate section of the IEP and provided to the child. includes the PSAT for the magnet/IB testing, CRCT’s, the 8 th grade Writing Test, ITBS, Cogat, EOCT’s includes the PSAT for the magnet/IB testing, CRCT’s, the 8 th grade Writing Test, ITBS, Cogat, EOCT’s

Assistive Technology Consideration Checklist Form (click) Form (click) Form Note: there are many forms that can be used (Cobb County has others) Note: there are many forms that can be used (Cobb County has others)

Assistive Technology Consortium to support Georgia school systems in building and expanding local capacity to provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilities to support Georgia school systems in building and expanding local capacity to provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilities meet 5 times a year to discuss needs of the school, as well as hosting a summer institute meet 5 times a year to discuss needs of the school, as well as hosting a summer institute Georgia’s topic for last year was: Accessible Instructional Materials, Funding Assistive Technology, Team Building, and Transition & Assistive Technology. Georgia’s topic for last year was: Accessible Instructional Materials, Funding Assistive Technology, Team Building, and Transition & Assistive Technology.

Contact Information: Gina Gelinas Program Manager 1870 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA (404) (404) Gina Gelinas Program Manager 1870 Twin Towers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA (404) (404)