Assistive Tech Team (ATT)
Beth Lepper
Beth Lepper
Assistive Technology Team Coordinator
847-986-2421
blepper@sedol.us
SEDOL Administrative Office
18160 Gages Lake Rd.
Gages Lake, IL 60030
Secretary:
Crissy Bloom, cbloom@sedol.us, 847-986-2379
The SEDOL Assistive Technology Team was created in 1992 through a grant funded by the Illinois Assistive Technology Project. The original program still holds true for SEDOL’s current needs:
- Determine appropriate assistive technology through equipment trials to meet student needs based on the IEP
- Provide and maintain an available Lending Library of AT equipment for student trials
- Provide training for the student, family and educational team for AT implementation
- To provide continuity of programming and use of technology as students move from preschool up through high school.
- What is Assistive Technology?
- Which students receive Assistive Technology?
- How do you request Assistive Technology services?
- Assistive Technology Lending Library
- How is an AT evaluation conducted?
- Training: When and how do you use Assistive Technology?
- AT Resources
- Assistive Technology Lending Library
What is Assistive Technology?
The Federal Law known as public law 108-446, entitled the ‘Improvement Act of 2004′ or the ‘Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’ (IDEA) defines an assistive technology device as:
…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 a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of that device.
IDEA also defines assistive technology services as:
…any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
What is the Assistive Technology Continuum?
Assistive Technology is a continuum of choices and supports. For example, a student may need a simple device such as a pencil grip or may need a more complex software solution to meet his needs. Assistive Technology reviews all of the options for tasks and considers a variety of tools. The following link will provide a diagram of expanded Low to High Tech options.
www.onionmountaintech.com/files/banner.pdf
Which students receive Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology services are available to all special education students. During the IEP meeting, Assistive Technology Consideration will be raised. At this time, the student’s teacher, team member, parent or student may request assistance to use AT to meet a student’s IEP goals. The following questions can guide this discussion.
What task is it that the student needs to do that she/he is unable to do at a level that reflects his/her abilities and skills?
Would the use of assistive technology help the student perform this skill more easily or efficiently in the least restrictive environment, or perform successfully with less personal assistance?
The “Request for Referral for Assistive Technology Evaluation” with accompany packet need to be completed and sent to the Assistive Technology Department at SEDOL.
The answers to these questions will guide the Assistive Technology team towards determination of the appropriate AT equipment to meet the student’s needs.
How do you request Assistive Technology services?
Assistive Technology services are requested for special education students through the school team. The school team meets to discuss the student’s current IEP goals to determine if AT intervention may provide access to the curriculum. A “Request for Referral for Assistive Technology Evaluation” packet is completed by the school team, signed by an administrator and sent to the AT team along with a copy of the current IEP goals and most recent case study.
How is an AT evaluation conducted?
SEDOL’s AT Team follows the evaluation process as designated by the Quality Indicators of Assistive Technology (SETT process) Student Environment Tasks and Technology.
Upon receipt of the referral packet, An AT Case Manager is assigned to the student case. The AT Case Manager will contact the Educational Team Case Manager to set a time for the evaluation (student observation and team meeting utilizing the SETT process) to be conducted in the child’s educational environment.
The SETT process involves a student observation followed by a discussion of the Student learning, Environments, education Tasks and Technology options.
The district’s educational team and parents meet to review the information at an IEP meeting to review the AT report.
Assistive technology selection and integration of equipment are ongoing processes that evolve as the student’s needs and technology change.
Training: When and how do you use Assistive Technology?
To ensure the ongoing use of the assistive device(s) by the student, emphasis is placed upon training the educational team members, the student and the parents.
The Assistive Technology Team is responsible for providing on-going consultation to classroom staff/related service personnel on student designated AT equipment (both high and low tech) within the student’s IEP to be used throughout the day. Also, assistance is provided on collecting data about the when and how the student is using the designated AT equipment.
The department offers training on the use of devices and software with SEDOL staff, families, and member districts.
AT Resources
INFINITEC Assistive Technology
Infinitec means “infinite potential through technology.” Infinitec, Inc. is the assistive technology program of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago.
The mission of Infinitec is to advance independence and promote inclusive opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through technology. Services provided through Infinitec include information services, access to assistive technology equipment, training and education programs, as well as access to specialists.
In order to increase access to assistive technology services for children and adults with disabilities, the staff of Infinitec is committed to creating partnerships that maximize available resources to advance the mission of Infinitec.
Center for Implementing Technology in Education
The Center for Implementing Technology in Education identifies evidence-based practices for integrating instructional technology to support the achievement of all students.
Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology QIAT
QIAT includes quality indicators, intent statements, and common errors for eight areas important to the development and delivery of assistive technology services. It is the intent of the QIAT Consortium that each area be fully explored because the areas are complementary in nature.
When reviewing or using the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology, it is important to be aware of some basic assumptions that pertain to all areas of QIAT.
- First, it is essential that ALL AT services developed and delivered by states or districts are legally correct according to the mandates and expectations of federal and state laws and are aligned to district policies.
- Second, AT efforts, at all stages, involves on-going collaborative work by teams which include families and caregivers, school personnel, and other needed individuals and service agencies.
- Third, team members involved in AT processes are responsible for following the code of ethics for their specific profession.
Areas important to the development and delivery of assistive technology services:
- Consideration of AT Needs
- Assessment of AT Needs
- AT in the IEP
- AT Implementation
- Evaluation of Effectiveness of AT
- AT in Transition
- Administrative Support for AT
- AT Professional Development
The QIAT website offers a Listserv Feature to research and network with others about Assistive Technology concerns.
Who is on the QIAT List?
- Current subscribers include: individuals with disabilities; family members; professional service providers such as teachers, administrators, speech, occupational, and physical therapists, counselors, and advocates; policy makers; university personnel; and developers and suppliers of assistive technology tools.
- Every message that is sent through the QIAT List is distributed to over 1000 subscribers. Although QIAT is most closely related to schools, everyone interested in assistive technology is welcome to participate.
Assistive Technology Lending Library
The department has maintained for nearly 20 years, a resource library and an inventory of AT hardware, software, and communication devices for student trials during the assistive technology evaluation process.