Beyond Assistive Technology: Essentials for the college student.

Joan Shindel – OVR, YorkMichael Fiore – The Sierra Group

How is college different?

• From high school• From 5 years ago• From 20 years ago

(Hint: A lot has to do with the competitive changes in the labor market – See The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman)

The 5 things that most students think will work out without a hitch

• I will be able to keep up with my assignments – look at all the free time between classes.

• Managing my unstructured time will allow me to blossom like a flower in the warm summer sun.

• I write killer papers (see my essay: What I did last winter break)

• I’ll read a good 15-20 minutes per day - honest• I can handle any math work they throw at me –

psst, what’s an integer again?

What to look for if you’re afraid your kid will struggle to succeed in college

• Workload• Independence• Reading skills• Writing skills• Critical thinking and listening skills• Organizational skills

The line between innovation and accommodation is blurring

• Electronic texts• Self directed work teams• Facebook, blogs, and Wiki’s• iGoogle and phone apps• APA, MLA and Word• Live Scribe in Target &

COSTCO

The Big 4: Reading Speed/Comprehension, Creating

a paper, Note taking, and Organized studying

• Joan: How to qualify and quantify the need.

– What students think– What parents think

• Michael: How to accommodate to achieve mastery.– What students do– What parents do

Michael Fiore, BSE, MBA The Sierra Group, Inc. (c)2009

Michael Fiore, BSE, MBA The Sierra Group, Inc. (c)2009

Michael Fiore, BSE, MBA The Sierra Group, Inc. (c)2009

Sample Paper Topic: How is climate change impacting food costs?

What is one way?

Give an example that supports this way Example 1

Example 2

What is the opposite of this example Example 1

Michael Fiore, BSE, MBA The Sierra Group, Inc. (c)2009

Michael Fiore, BSE, MBA The Sierra Group, Inc. (c)2009

Basic Assistive Technology

• Speech input: Naturally Speaking www.nuance.com

• Speech output: ZoomText www.aisuqared.com or Natural Reader www.naturalreaders.com

• Macros: X-Keys www.xkeys.com

What can you do

If your child is still in high school

• Joan:– IEP’s– Homework– Tracking and monitoring

If your child is already in college

• Michael:– Resources– Strategies– Tracking and monitoring

Your presenters

Joan Shindel• PA Office of Vocational

Rehabilitation, York, PA• 717-771-4407

Michael Fiore• The Sierra Group, King of

Prussia, PA• 610-992-0288