Organize Don’t Agonize – Digital Media & Smart Technology

Ronnie SkibickiNina Wolfarth

Judy StewartJennifer Lawrence

AGENDA• Overview of Barber National Institute

• Planning for Technology – Process & Implementation

• Deployment Strategy for Children and Adults

• Apps and their use with various disciplines

GERTRUDE BARBER FOUNDER

CORPORATE OFFICE – ERIE, PA LOCATIONS IN PITTSBURGH & PHILADELPHIA

Service Line Measure VolumeAdult Units 3,453,200

Residential Units/Days 578,740

Children & Youth Days 32,025

Clinical Services Units 257,700

Elizabeth Lee Black School Students 360

Agency with Choice Units 757,500

SERVICES FY2013

• Identify three steps to incorporate technology in service delivery programs• Identify three polices/procedures used in

managing devices and apps• Identify three factors to consider in training

staff and individuals and implementation of technology in the program environment

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Assistive technology is 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 functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities*

*Federal Register, August 19, 1991

PLANNING FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• Incorporated into the Information Technology Plan to provide formalization

• Governance:Assistive Technology Device Committee: The Assistive Technology

Committee (ATC) has been established to facilitate prioritization of IT investment strategies for the use of Assistive Technology for individuals served, including children and adults.

• The ATC is comprised of:Executive Vice PresidentRepresentatives from Children, Youth and Adult ProgramsParent representatives

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PLAN

Role:• Review and approve final plan• Review and assist management in developing plan to

take advantage of existing and emerging assistive technologies• Receive periodic reports and proposals for uses of

and investment in technology.• Monitor performance to plan.• Funding to support further investments

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PLAN

Managing Technology

RATIONALE • Technology devices should be considered on

an individual basis. The use of Assistive Technology is an option if the technology device will increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of the individual. Technology is encouraged to assist individuals.

PLANNING PROCESS• Ongoing Assessment• Annual Survey• Decision Making• Funding• Committees• Training• Collaborations• Projects• Future plans

PROCEDURE IMPLEMENTATION

Inventory Control:

• Technology Support staff maintain device inventory on a daily basis

• Individually Owned vs. Agency Owned-Agreements

• Agency devices are logged and assigned numbers

• Accessories are logged• Annual Audits

Storage:

• iPads charged & synced nightly using power cart

Apps

Where Do Apps Come From?

• Websites

• Intermediate Unit/PaTTAN Assistive Tech staff

• Internal staff

• Technology Committees

• App Store

• Webinars

• Parent/Education Magazines

• Word of Mouth

• Families

• Reviews

• Recommendations by staff/therapists

• Trial and Error

• Evaluation Form

How Do We Choose the Right App?

Speech Apps

BLA BLA BLA APP• Rating 4+• Free App• Sound reactive app• Slightest sound makes image on

screen move• Most images are faces• Immediate feedback • Powerful reinforcement• Great visual• Develops voice volume• Encourages nonverbal persons to

vocalize

GO TALK NOW APP• Cost is $79.99• Simplicity of AAC devices

with an iPad• Adjustable page layouts• Customizable navigation• Pre-recorded and text to

speech capabilities• Three styles of

communication pages• Unique settings • Unlimited pages• Share via WiFi or Dropbox

to any Mac or PC• Blend video, music and

actions to pages

COMPASS SOFTWARE-DYNAVOS APP

• Free 30 day trial• Monthly subscription or

annual fee• AAC app that uses

Boardmaker symbols• Pre-programmed pages by

age and ability level• Works on core vocabulary • Supports a number of

access methods, including: direct touch, switch scanning, mouse, keyboard, and head tracking

• Planning guides

Occupational Therapy Apps

TOUCH & WRITE• 4+ Rating• Cost is $2.99• 16 different writing textures• Individualized word lists• Letter styles found in classrooms• High frequency words included• Positive reinforcement• Integrates visual, kinesthetic and

simulated tactile modalities to enhance learning

• Based on best teaching practices• Engaging & motivating• Effective & fun

LETTER QUIZ

• Rating 4+• Cost is $1.99• Flashcards, identification,

matching , reading & handwriting

• Letter identification• Uppercase & Lowercase• Practice handwriting• Adjustable settings• Added prompts• Stylus or finger flow• User friendly• Moving dot for demonstration

Behavior Apps

BOOK CREATOR• Rating 4 +• Free App• Multiple book sizes• Import video, music & record

speech within the app• Draw & write within your books• Easy editing features for all ages• Read book via iBooks• Share books• Print books• Publish books (Adapted

Bicycling)

iMOVIE

• Rating 4+• Cost is $4.99• Easily share clip or portion of

clips• Trailer templates with graphics

available• Add videos or photos right from

your Library• Slow motion, fast forward,

picture-in-picture, and split-screen effects

• Audio controls including trim, split, duplicate, and fade

• Share with friends• Easy to use

Moving Into The Adult World

• Desktop Computers• iPads• Projector• Cameras• Laptop/Netbooks

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION/LITERACY

SUPPORT STUDENT ACADEMIC GOALS

RESEARCH TOPICS

LEISURE

GENERALIZING SKILLS

Money skills Grocery ShoppingMoney Skills

BOOK CREATOR

SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION

LARGE GROUP INSTRUCTION

VIDEO MODELING SOCIAL STORIES

Moving Into the Community

• Transitional Work Services (TWS) Soft Skills Apps- Social Skills Sampler, Life

Sampler Math Apps- Cash Register, Calculator Pro Safety Awareness- Work Sampler

CAREER SERVICES

SOCIAL SKILLS SAMPLER• 4+ Rating• Free App• 7 categories with 62 videos• How to teaching series• Make assignments on

individual needs• Narrated with human

quality• Companion to the

Functional Skills System

LIFE SKILLS SAMPLER & WORK SKILLS SAMPLER

• 4+ Rating • Free App• Contains 80 videos• Takes learning into the

community• Part of the Signs and

Words Series for teaching sign and word meanings

• User based needs

CASH REGISTER ULTIMATE EDITION

• 4+ Rating• $4.99• Enter cash amounts• View receipts• Use of real money

CALCULATOR PRO• 4+ Rating• Free App• Basic calculation or

Scientific mode• Access and check recent

entries• Memory buttons• Swipe to edit numbers• Fast performance• Smoother user

experience• Free support

• Online research employment opportunities• Video modeling for interviews• Online application submission

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

ONLINE APPLICATION

VIDEO MODELING

INTERVIEWING SKILLS

Learning begins today.“We can’t change a student’s

yesterday. But together, we can know where learning begins today and chart the best course toward the

brightest possible tomorrow.”-Renaissance Learning

Outcome Data

• Enhances independence• Making choices• Increase interest• Encourages Active Involvement• Social Awareness• Promoting Wellness activities• Independent Living• Increases Community Awareness• Interaction with Others-email, FB, social networking, Best

Buddies

Why is Technology Important ?

• Photography• Social Networking• Internet Research• Current Events• Videography• Job Explorations

TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION

OUTCOMES• University of Buffalo Study: Digital Media• How do teachers with students of the

most severe disabilities utilize digital tools for instruction?• What are the challenges in planning and

concerns for classroom implementation by their teachers?

OUTCOMES

Pilot Project Letter Quiz App:

• Provided Multi-Sensory teaching

• Technology as a reinforcement

• Increased the rate of learning

Pilot Project Social Stories/ Video Modeling:

• 6/7 stories showed a positive therapeutic effect

• Promoted independent tasks through video modeling

• Replacement behavior

OUTCOMESPilot Engagement Study:

• Preschool Autistic Support Classroom- engagement increased from an average of 25 seconds up to 6 minutes using the iPad

• Preschool Multi-handicapped classroom engagement increased from an average of 17 seconds up to 14 minutes on the TAPit

• Adult Programs: Access computer programs and iPad apps independently.

Plan:• Input from all constituents• Collaboration with service providers

Operationalize the plan:• Policies/ Procedures• Research & Evaluation• Train and Implement• Measure Outcomes

SUMMARY

RESOURCES & LINKS• http://www.barberinstitute.org• http://ericsailers.com/iresources.html• http://teacherswithapps.com/• http://a4cwsn.com/• http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps• http://www.bestkidsapps.com/

Q & A