1. A CATS Story:Leveraging Local Resources for AT Services

2. Just for Fun 3. Our Presentation and Other Resoruceshttp://coordinatorsofatservices.wikispaces.com http://bit.ly/CATSatCTG 4. This PresentationWIFM? Gain an understanding of how the group has Developed regional policies and procedures Systematized procedures for sharing physicalresources across school systems and tracking suchdata Integrated AT into existing infrastructures Built capacity within school systems across theregion 5. Brian Wojcik, IllinoisState UniversityJodi JoyceNibbelin, IllinoisDachauer, TCSEAState University Dawn Ritter,Tri-Valley Schools CATS Nora Bardi, Unit 5SchoolsLisa Bova, Unit 5 Rose Smith, LCSSU Schools Ashley Schnittker, District 87 6. OURSTORY 7. HELP ME! IM DROWNING 8. Our Story Aloneoverwhelmedlost Working in isolationwithout many resources 9. What we learnedPeople who do AT wear many hatsAT cannot be donealoneit is too bigNo one knows it all 10. BRIDGING THE ISLANDS 11. Our Story A few of us started to connect Focus was informal and incidental Engaged in problem solving and informationsharing Jointly attended conferences and otherprofessional development activities 12. What we learnedConnecting with others whounderstand AT helps to engage inthe problem solving process Coordinated professional development allows us to leverage each others experiencesMisery needs company andsuccesses are better whencelebrated with others 13. DRAWING THE MAP 14. Our Story Engaged in purposeful group expansion Participated in TONS of trial and errorregarding AT processes and services Focused on supporting each other in ourindividual endeavors Started to collaborate on shared professionaldevelopment 15. What we learnedGroup membership needs to be strategicSounding boards areimportant Expertise needs to be freely shared, even when you are not in the same system 16. CHARTING THE COURSE 17. Our Story Realized we could work together acrosssystems Developed an identity, a mission, a vision, anda set of values (Link) Started to address issues across systems tobenefit individual systems We became credible 18. Resisting DysfunctionLencioni, P.The Five Dysfunctions ofa Team. San Francisco:Jossey Bass, 2002 19. What we learned Identity is important Our message was stronger asCATS than as individuals Discussion leads to good decisionsShared solutions addressindividual issues 20. ENGAGING IN TRADE 21. Our Story Developed regional professional developmentactivities Invited each others systems to our ownprofessional development Inventoried, maintained, and cross-loaned AT Consulted within each others systems 22. What we learnedIn providing resources, we gained resources. 23. FACING THE EBB AND FLOW OF THETIDES 24. Our Story Faced changes in priorities and fiscal resources CATS members came and went Efforts focused on strengthening what was inplace and expanding/tweaking whennecessary 25. What we learned Resilience is NOT futile; Persistence isimportantChange is inevitable Mentoring future members is essential Ongoing evaluation of needs, purposes, and activities is imperative 26. Questions