Jill Rivers
Speech/Language and Assistive Technology Specialist

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Question:

My district wants to create an assistive technology team; can you help?

 

Answer:

An exemplary program to support school-wide assistive technology teams is the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative directed by Penny Reed. WATI is funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and provides technical assistance and training to schools statewide. Their web site has many resources that will be helpful as you plan for your district’s assistive technology needs. You can download and print the assistive technology process and forms (English and Spanish) that WATI uses to consider every student’s need for assistive technology. Other materials can be ordered for cost of production. For example, Assessing Students' Needs for Assistive Technology, 3rd Edition (2000), is an excellent manual to guide assistive technology teams as they implement the requirements of IDEA, 1997. The WATI web site can be found at http://www.wati.org/atresourceguidetableofcontents.htm

Another model for assistive technology teams is the Assistive Technology Project of the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association, directed by Madalaine Pugliese. This project was initially funded, with a federal technology literacy challenge grant, to create School-Wide Assistive Technology teams also known as SWAT teams. You can go to http://www.mespa.org/AT/swat.html for a description of the Massachusetts SWAT team members and an outline of the training program. The SWAT teams would not be useful without some "tools" and the AT Resource Kit used in Massachusetts is listed with prices and sources at http://www.mespa.org/AT/mfgref.html.

Web Links for AT Team Development

http://www.pai-ca.org/pubs/401801.htm
California Protection & Advocacy’s Accessing Assistive Technology Manual . The eligibility requirements and assistive technology responsibilities are described for each of the public agencies that serve people with disabilities. Chapters can be downloaded or ordered by mail. They are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Tagalog .

http://www.ataccess.org
Alliance for Technology Access web site, publisher of Computer and Web Resources for People with Disabilities: A Guide to Exploring Today’s Assistive Technology (2000) a handy reference for assistive technology teams.

http://www.closingthegap.com
An electronic newletter about all of the latest and greatest in assistive technology. Check out the Essential Bookmark Collection for AT Coordinators.

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