webinar on stimulus bill and assistive technology

1. Assistive Technology & Professional Development
Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D.

2. Goals of ARRA 2009
 Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs.
 Improve student achievement through school
improvement and reform.
 Ensure transparency, reporting and
accountability.
 Invest in one-time ARRA fund thoughtfully to
minimize the “funding cliff.”

3. IDEA Recovery Funds
 $11.3 billion under Part B Grants to States
 $400 million under Part B Preschool Grants
 $500 million under Part C Grants for Infants & Families
 Early intervention for infants & familes

4. Uses of IDEA, Part B Recovery Funds
 Obtain state-of-the art assistive technology devices and provide training
in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students
with disabilities.
 Provide intensive district-wide professional development for special
education and regular education teachers that focuses on scaling-up,
through replication, proven and innovative evidence-based school-wide
strategies in reading, math, writing and science, and positive behavioral
supports to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
 Develop or expand the capacity to collect and use data to improve
teaching and learning.

5. Uses of IDEA, Part B Recovery Funds
 Expand the availability and range of inclusive
placement options for preschoolers with disabilities
by developing the capacity of public and private
preschool programs to serve these children.
 Hire transition coordinators to work with employers
in the community to develop job placements for
youths with disabilities.

6. Implications for AT
 State of the art assistive technology devices
 Provide professional development in the use of the
assistive technology devices
 Opportunities to refresh inventory of equipment
 Focus on enhancing access to the general education
curriculum
 Provide intensive district-wide professional
development for special education and regular
education teachers

7. Things to Consider??
 Moving towards a Universal Design for Learning Model
 Goals for your program(s)
 Needs of the students
 Population(s) to serve
 Tasks you are hoping your students will perform
 Classroom settings for your programs
 Assistive Technology Toolkit
 Current inventory of assistive technology
 Professional development

8. Looking at the big picture
Opportunities to systematically phase in
Universal Design for Learning
 Multiple Means of Representation
 Multiple Means of Expression
 Multiple Means of Engagement

9. Curriculum
Professional Accessibility
Development
Teacher
UDL AT Toolkit

10. What is in your AT Toolkit?
Reading Tools
• Text to Speech
• Audio Supports
• MP3 Players
Writing Tools
• Text to Speech
• Word prediction
• Spelling tools
Math Tools
• Calculators
• On Screen applications
• Virtual applets

11. Things to Consider??
 Standardizing on an AT Toolkit
 Looking at Web 2.0 Tools
 Looking at online AT services
 Combination of commercial and freeware tools
 Timeline for purchase and training
 Delivery of training
 Will your district be able to support the initiative after
the grant period?

12. Traditional
Training
Building
Professional
In Class
Learning
Models
Capacity
Communities
Virtual
Training

13. It is an exciting time!
 Plan with a purpose
 Envision the future with technology
 Work with experts in the field who share your vision
 Plan your professional development wisely
 Collect data and watch your students soar!

14. Things to Consider
 Engage your Technology Director early on in the
process
 Think in terms of two years out
 Build the capacity of your staff
 Plan with your terminal goals in mind
 Understand your school culture and plan wisely

15. Resources
Available online at
www.innovativespeech.com
Available from NPR, Inc.

16. Resources
 Center for Applied Special Technology
 Closing the Gap
 AssistiveTek Blog
 AssistiveTech Ning Group

17. Questions & Discussion

18. Assistivetek.blogspot.com
Brian@assistivetek.com
908.852.3460