Georgia Project for Assistive Georgia Project for Assistive TechnologyTechnology

(Georgia Department of (Georgia Department of Education)Education)

www.gpat.orgwww.gpat.org

Twila McMullanTwila McMullan

East Cobb Middle SchoolEast Cobb Middle School

Summer 2010Summer 2010

I.D.E.A.I.D.E.A.

• ““The Individuals with Disabilities The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates the Education Act (IDEA) mandates the school system’s responsibility to school system’s responsibility to provide assistive technology (AT) provide assistive technology (AT) devices and services to students with devices and services to students with disabilities.”disabilities.”

• Since the 2004 reauthorization, IDEA is now known Since the 2004 reauthorization, IDEA is now known as IDEIA (the second I stands for Improvement).as IDEIA (the second I stands for Improvement).

What is assistive technology What is assistive technology (AT)(AT)

• (based on the Individuals with Disabilities (based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990)Education Act of 1990)

• ““Any item, piece of equipment or product Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with functional capabilities of children with disabilities.” (includes hardware and disabilities.” (includes hardware and software as well as stand-alone devices)software as well as stand-alone devices)

• The term does not include a medical device that is surgically The term does not include a medical device that is surgically

implanted, or the replacement of such device.implanted, or the replacement of such device.

Examples for WRITING:Examples for WRITING:

• Pencil gripPencil grip

• Paper stabilizerPaper stabilizer

• Larger fontLarger font

• Personal dry erase Personal dry erase boardboard

• Non-slip writing Non-slip writing surfacesurface

• Tape recorder (for Tape recorder (for note taking)note taking)

• AlphaSmartAlphaSmart

• Laptop (with Laptop (with spell/grammar spell/grammar check)check)

• Software such as Software such as InspirationInspiration

• Speech(text to Speech(text to voice) softwarevoice) software

• ScannerScanner• Touch screen Touch screen

keyboardkeyboard• TrackballTrackball• Speech Recognition Speech Recognition

softwaresoftware

Examples for SpellingExamples for Spelling

• Personal dry erase Personal dry erase board (for practice)board (for practice)

• Tape recorderTape recorder

• Handheld spell Handheld spell checker with audio checker with audio outputoutput

• Portable word-Portable word-processor with built-processor with built-in spell check featurein spell check feature

Examples for ReadingExamples for Reading

• Page “fluffers” to Page “fluffers” to enlarge font size on enlarge font size on computer screencomputer screen

• Slant boardSlant board• Book holderBook holder• Color overlaysColor overlays• Speaking dictionarySpeaking dictionary• Reading penReading pen• Braille translation Braille translation

softwaresoftware

• Audio taped books Audio taped books (some available at (some available at local library)local library)

• E-booksE-books• Talking word-Talking word-

processing deviceprocessing device• Screen reading Screen reading

programs such as programs such as Natural Reader Natural Reader (text to voice)—free(text to voice)—free

Examples for MathExamples for Math

• Modified paper Modified paper (bold, larger lines, (bold, larger lines, for ex)for ex)

• Talking calculator Talking calculator with large print with large print displaydisplay

• Adaptive Adaptive measuring devicesmeasuring devices

• Electronic math Electronic math worksheets (like worksheets (like MathPad)MathPad)

Study Skills Examples:Study Skills Examples:

• Print or picture Print or picture scheduleschedule

• Color codingColor coding

• Appointment bookAppointment book

• Tape recorderTape recorder

• Electronic Electronic organizerorganizer

• PDAPDA

• Speech prompt Speech prompt devicesdevices

Listening ExamplesListening Examples

• Personal amplification Personal amplification systemsystem

• Personal hearing aidPersonal hearing aid

• Smart Board (for Smart Board (for transferring teacher’s transferring teacher’s written notes to written notes to student computer for student computer for viewing and printing)viewing and printing)

• Voice to text Voice to text softwaresoftware

• Closed captioningClosed captioning

• Real time Real time captioning for live captioning for live lectures and class lectures and class discussionsdiscussions

• Tape recorderTape recorder

Examples for Oral Examples for Oral CommunicationCommunication

• Speech enhancing Speech enhancing device (amplifier, device (amplifier, clarifier) clarifier)

• Picture Picture communication communication boardboard

• Talking switchesTalking switches

• dedicated dedicated augmentative augmentative communication communication devicesdevices

• Sign language Sign language

Seating, Positioning, and Seating, Positioning, and Mobility Examples:Mobility Examples:

• Adaptive classroom Adaptive classroom equipment (ex: equipment (ex: adaptive chair with adaptive chair with seating seating modifications and modifications and supports)supports)

• Adaptive table and Adaptive table and deskdesk

• WalkerWalker

• Crutches/caneCrutches/cane

• Manual/power Manual/power wheelchairwheelchair

• laptraylaptray

PurposePurpose

• promoting independence and promoting independence and achievement of achievement of allall students with students with disabilitiesdisabilities

• as needed (must be in IEP), provides AT as needed (must be in IEP), provides AT devices devices andand services services

• MAY be necessary to have certain MAY be necessary to have certain assistive technology at the child’s house, assistive technology at the child’s house, as well as the schoolas well as the school

• (no cost to the parents)(no cost to the parents)

Mission of GPATMission of GPAT

• to improve student achievement, productivity, to improve student achievement, productivity, independence and inclusion by enhancing independence and inclusion by enhancing educator knowledge of assistive technology educator knowledge of assistive technology and increasing student access to appropriate and increasing student access to appropriate assistive technology devices and services. assistive technology devices and services.

• Each school system must have process to Each school system must have process to evaluate all students with IEP’s (checklists and evaluate all students with IEP’s (checklists and forms) for assistive technology—not only the forms) for assistive technology—not only the students with severe disabilitiesstudents with severe disabilities

• (note: extra-curricular activities are also to be (note: extra-curricular activities are also to be addressed)addressed)

The process…The process…• During the IEP process, the student’s needs During the IEP process, the student’s needs

& goals are evaluated, and if needed, a & goals are evaluated, and if needed, a device is selected (to remove the learning device is selected (to remove the learning barrier)—a team decision (includes Cobb barrier)—a team decision (includes Cobb County’s AT team)County’s AT team)

• Once the device is obtained (purchased, Once the device is obtained (purchased, loaned, or made), it may need to be loaned, or made), it may need to be modified for the specific child,modified for the specific child,

• then training begins----student, teachers, then training begins----student, teachers, parentsparents

• the device is installed, customized, the device is installed, customized, implemented, evaluated, modified, and implemented, evaluated, modified, and maintained/replace as neededmaintained/replace as needed

ALLALL IEP’s include IEP’s include “consideration” of assistive “consideration” of assistive technology:technology:• Example: Example:

• Does the student require assistive Does the student require assistive technology devices and services? technology devices and services? ____XX__Yes ____No If yes, describe: __Yes ____No If yes, describe: Susie uses an auditory trainer to Susie uses an auditory trainer to amplifying the teacher’s or speaker’s amplifying the teacher’s or speaker’s voice in all classroom activities voice in all classroom activities (example: lecture and class (example: lecture and class discussion) other than one on one discussion) other than one on one instruction with the teacher or a instruction with the teacher or a paraprofessional.paraprofessional.

• If assistive technology is required for the If assistive technology is required for the child to participate in district wide or child to participate in district wide or Statewide testing, the need for technology Statewide testing, the need for technology should be documented in the appropriate should be documented in the appropriate section of the IEP and provided to the section of the IEP and provided to the child. child.

• includes the PSAT for the magnet/IB includes the PSAT for the magnet/IB testing, CRCT’s, the 8testing, CRCT’s, the 8thth grade Writing Test, grade Writing Test, ITBS, Cogat, EOCT’sITBS, Cogat, EOCT’s

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Consideration ChecklistConsideration Checklist

• FormForm (click) (click)

• Note: there are many forms that can Note: there are many forms that can be used (Cobb County has others)be used (Cobb County has others)

Assistive Technology Assistive Technology ConsortiumConsortium

• to support Georgia school systems in to support Georgia school systems in building and expanding local capacity to building and expanding local capacity to provide assistive technology devices and provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilitiesservices to students with disabilities

• meet 5 times a year to discuss needs of the meet 5 times a year to discuss needs of the school, as well as hosting a summer instituteschool, as well as hosting a summer institute

• Georgia’s topic for last year was: Accessible Georgia’s topic for last year was: Accessible Instructional Materials, Funding Assistive Instructional Materials, Funding Assistive Technology, Team Building, and Transition & Technology, Team Building, and Transition & Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology.

Contact Information:Contact Information:

• Gina GelinasGina GelinasProgram ManagerProgram Manager 1870 Twin Towers East1870 Twin Towers East205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SEAtlanta, GA 30334Atlanta, GA 30334  (404) 463-5288  (404) 463-5288  (404) 651-6457  (404) 651-6457    ggelinas@doe.k12.ga.usggelinas@doe.k12.ga.us