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Christine Wiley - Staying Current with AT

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Christine Wiley - Staying Current with AT

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1. This is my third year teaching special education. I have found that attending the Assistive Technology trainings provided through CCSD has kept me up to date with the ever changing field of assistive technology. You can find the trainings (for teachers and parents) at  https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home
2. Pinterest is always a great site when looking into what is relevant in the AT world. You are able to type in any keyword and are given endless options. https://www.pinterest.com/
3. Building and having good rapport with your Speech/Language Pathologist as well as your assistive technology staff member that is assigned to your school is vital for keeping up with the field of AT. They are extremely knowledgeable in this area and are always willing to help.

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1. The CCSD Assistive Technology Services website provides AT resources necessary for educationally needs. Disability related technology needs of students with IEPs in accordance with Federal Law, are also covered in this website. If you're going to be working for CCSD like I do, this website will help you keep up. Here are some of the things it includes:

Provides assessment of AT needs as considered by the IEP Team.

Provides training and follow up for IEP Team members and students.

Supports technology initiatives for self-contained classrooms.

Supports students with disabilities in the general education setting.

Supports adapted curriculum for students with Intellectual Disabilities.

http://ssd.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/

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Three ways I plan to continue with assistive technology are:

1. Pinterest- I love Pinterest for everything from dinner to things for my baby since I'll be a first time mom. Pinterest is a great resource and there are always new ideas and technology being posted every single day with assistive technology ideas for all subject areas.

2. https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/assistive-technologies-basics This is a website that really goes over the basics of assistive technology and is always a resource I will be going to back to as it is updated as new assistive technology is released and the website has a plethora of resources listed.

3. Apps- This goes along with Pinterest in a way because there's always articles and pins being posted about new Apps that come up on the market. I will continue to explore these apps to share in my classroom and with my students.

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Professional Development Keeping Current with AT by Kyta Johnson

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Professional Development Keeping Current with AT by Kyta Johnson

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1. Learn from the students who already use AT
Asking these students about what works well for their specific difficulties can help you remain in touch with the latest technology, as well as help you quickly identify products or software that really work.

2.Connect to AT Social Forums
A great way to keep up with the latest AT is to sign up to social AT forums and podcasts. There are plenty sources available within popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/assistive.technology.group/

3. Sign Up for e-newsletter's Regarding the Latest AT
Websites such as ADCET offer a FREE e-newsletter that focuses on inclusive technology and specific disability.

Check it out!

https://www.adcet.edu.au/newsletter/

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Information into inclusive technologies relevant to students with particular disabilities.

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1.   First of all, I believe it's important to know what the district I'm working for has to offer.  With that in mind, I will consistently check via their website:
https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home
2.  The Pinterest collection started in this class has been very helpful!  I will continue to add to it and browse other related pins!
3.  Finally, I think it's really important to know what is freely available.  Many of our families do not have resources to purchase AT.  With that in mind, I really  like checking Understood.org on a regular basis.
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology/finding-an-assistive-technology/free-assistive-technology-tools-on-the-web

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This is my 4th year SPED teacher at CCSD. I have utilized the support that our Assistive Technology Department has provided and I will continue to request support from my AT support at my school. I also enjoy the free classes that the Assistive Technology department offers to teachers. They are offered throughout the school year to keep up to date on the latest technology that is offered to the school district. I have been going and will continue to attend AT trainings offered.

I think that another great way to find the most current Assistive Technology information, software, and applications is as simple as  searching. The best one that I have found is Pinterest. This is a great resources on the internet for finding current information.

There are a ton of useful and beneficial was to keep current on the latest assistive technology and resources. The best thing that I have found is the AT tech that comes to the school and trainings. I love what AT offers our students.

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I found that INDATA has great ways to stay current on the latest assistive technology. They have podcasts you can follow, a YouTube channel, a Facebook page, blogs, and subscriptions as well as email notifications. They even regularly check in on other websites that you have subscribed to and consolidates them and emails you a summary. I really like how they have a Facebook page so that with a simple "click" of the "like button", you can see the latest information on assistive technology pop up on your news feed without having to go out of your way to search for it.

https://www.eastersealstech.com/2012/12/18/how-to-keep-up-with-us-without-really-trying/

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The first way I will stay current on Assistive technology is by looking at the CCSD website. They have a link for the AT they offer:
https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home

The second place I would look is Pinterest because teachers and other professionals are constantly posting new ideas. Plus you can save them directly to one board making them easier to access:
www.pinterest.com

The third place is with the school and other teachers. I currently work as a long term sub for an elementary school and other teachers and school professionals are always up to date as well.

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There are a few ways I expect to stay current with the changing field of AT.

FIRST: I always have this bookmarked on my computer. The CCSD Assistive Technology Department.
https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home

SECOND: Pinterest is a great way to find new and fresh activities and ideas for AT in the classroom as well as ideas for at home. https://pin.it/2x2sgj7x4rqc5d

THIRD: I am great friends with the AT coordinator for my side of town, so I am constantly in communication with her to see what types of AT we can utilize and try out with different students.

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Since I am a CCSD employee, the first place that I would go to stay current in AT would be the CCSD Assistive Technology Department.
https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home

I would also look for free webinars. The Accessible Technology Coalition provides a list of free Assistive Technology webinars.
https://atcoalition.org/training/free-webinars/

I would also look for professional development opportunities that would go towards license renewal and CU's. The Assistive Technology Industry Association has some good PD webinars and is currently offering 20% off a bundle of 15+ webinars of your choice.
https://www.atia.org/webinars/

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Pinterest is a great way to stay current with Asssistive technology. It is very easy to find things and keep your pins organized.  Being able to build a board this semester has been very helpful in finding AT's.
www.pinterest.com

Youtube is great way to see tutorials and reviews on Assistive Technology.  It is important for educators to know how the AT's work and who they will benefit the most.
https://www.youtube.com

The CCSD website is very informative on Assistive Technology. It seems to be updated a lot and would be very beneficial to check frequently. There are so many links to resources and information regarding different types of ATs.
http://ssd.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/

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Assistive technology is evolving every day and new devices and apps will become available addressing different needs. As a CCSD teacher, my first option to keep informed in the technologies available in my district will be CCSD Assistive Technology Department.

http://ssd.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/

The sky is the limit for the use of assistive technology. New products and devices will become available every year. In order to be informed and keep track of the new technology, I will be following different blogs available on different websites. During our course, I signed up on a few newsletters that keep me informed on what’s new and what is going on in the AAC world.

https://praacticalaac.org/

http://www.atechnews.com/

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The first link that I chose was called "RehabTool.com", I really like this link because it provides different newsletters on different assistive technology that is being released. It is very user friendly and it contains a lot of useful information.
The second website that I chose was the "Student Services Division " website within our CCSD website.  This is an important link to have saved and refer to often as it is updated frequently. It also contains various links that can be helpful to students, parents, and specialists to help the accommodations of their students. Another great aspect of this website is that they provide the Assistive Technology Services Department Overview for download!
I would also use and refer to the website "Tecla" which is a website for global access to assistive technology for people with disabilities. This website allows visitors to get some inside knowledge on the data and statistics on assistive technology. The website also included a list of 50 types of assistive technology that should be prioritized for increase global access!

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The first link is to CCSD’s assistive technology site.  I like that they have a calendar with assistive tech trainings listed.  These trainings are roundtables for the program Unique Learning System in which the presenters share how they have implemented the curriculum, as well as review how to use different assistive technology with the different types of activities. I went to the last one available for the year, and wish I went to more throughout the year.

https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home

I will also be using understood.org which was referred to me by a trainer for CCSD who was showing me different reading curriculum.  I like that it provides recommendations for tech, along with videos and tutorials, and general information.  I also like that it is a resource for parents.

https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/assistive-technology

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I had never used Pinterest prior to enrolling in NSC courses, but now I find myself using it for a variety of topics. I have used a lot of information, tips, and creative ideas from my searches. I will continue to have https://www.pinterest.com/ bookmarked on my computer. I will also continue to use https://www.assistiveware.com/ as a resource. I have gone to it a lot this year for help with Proloquo2Go and still have a lot to learn. CCSD's Assistive Technology has been so useful to me over the last three years. I will continue to check the trainings listed on their calendar at https://sites.google.com/nv.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/home

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https://www.pinterest.com/theminimalishmom/assistive-technology/

This class has made me realize how beneficial Pinterest would be as a teacher. I think Pinterest will help me stay current with assistive technology by giving me ideas of new things and also help me organize the different assistive technologies I find. I also have found so many new Assistive Technology ideas on Pinterest!

http://www.understood.org/

This gives a lot of great information on Assistive Technology. It's very organized and has the ability to put in all of the criteria for your student and then it gives you apps and AT device ideas based on the information you provided.

https://www.youtube.com

Youtube actually has a lot of beneficial information for the education field in general. But I also have found it is resourceful for Assistive Technology devices and even has videos of them being used to help you better understand them.

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As a third year SPED teacher here at CCSD, I have utilized the support that our Assistive Technology Department has provided.  I will continue to request support from my AT liaison, as well as take the free classes that the AT department offers teachers throughout the school year to keep up to date on the latest technology that is offered through our school district.

Another way to find the most current AT information, software, and applications is by searching!  YouTube, Pinterest, and even the App Store are fantastic resources on the internet for finding current information.

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Assistive technology is the best tool a teacher can stay abreast on being a special education educator. Understanding the different resources that are available is imperative to helping your students succeed. There are a few sites and videos that have made an impact on my teaching and they are too great not to share!
1. TED Talks
These have become a part of my morning routine. As I am getting ready in the morning, I ask my GoogleHome to find me different TED talks to help me throughout my day. One that I found very useful and interesting was one about Hype, Hope and Assistive Technology. It was explaining about what and how we can look at and use assistive tech devices. You can watch it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXj5o-qhyWM

2.  Another interesting site I LOVE is the next step for Proloquo2Go users. It is Proloquo4Text. This can be used as a type to speech tool. The video of the non-verbal stand-up comedian is so inspiring and I hope to help all of my non-verbal students get to this level of independence.
Link: https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo4text

3. Lastly, during an assistive technology course, I was making a Pinterest page on many different AT postings that were very useful. Here is a link to my Pinterest page so you can see if anything I found can be of use to you!
Link: https://www.pinterest.com/bbrownsellslv/assistive-technology/

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Today teachers can benefit from different resources to stay updated with the latest piece of assistive technology. This technology serves to allow students with a disability to successfully participate in a lesson and become more independent overall.
One of the websites that I found to be useful for teachers is:
http://aem.cast.org/navigating/assistive-technology-resources.html#.XM87dZNKi1s
Another website that obtains a lot of information about assistive technology is:
https://dreamscapefoundation.org/

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A site I've started reading it The Autism Helper. They also have a podcast.  There's a team that keeps it updated, covering academics, behavior, communication as well as classroom set-up.
I also like one of the sites we were introduced to, Understood.org  - all the information and the tech tool finder will be an invaluable resource.
There is also a blog with a focus on assistive technology that has current topics on AT.

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https://www.pinterest.com/ A go-to for ideas on where to find the most recent assistive technology applications.

https://www.nasponline.org/ This site is the National Association of School Psychologists and has research-based tools in the Resource tab.

https://www.thetechedvocate.org/assistive-technology-students-disabilities/ I find it imperative to see how assistive technology fits into the law and follows IDEA.

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https://www.pinterest.com/

Pinterest is a great app to stay current on AT technology. Many are able to post new findings through pins and share with the rest about the abundance of new technology being created each day.

http://www.perkinselearning.org/technology/blog/five-government-resources-assistive-technology

This website provides 5 additional links to government resources. I like it because it also gives specific assistive technology products and video demonstrations.

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/03/assistive-technology-finding-the-right-resources-for-all-students/

This site has many different links to the technology used for students with different disabilities. It gives tools and resources for those who need additional help reading, writing, focusing, etc.

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As a new teacher on of the things I was so grateful to learn about was the CCSD Assitive Technology Services Website. This site not only gives information about class that are offered, forms to fill out, resources but most importantly it gives you the information of whom to contact for assistance. As a new teacher I need all the help I can get and don't always know who can help me.
http://ssd.ccsd.net/assistive-technology-services/

I also love the latest version of picture exchange system, Proloquo2Go. This is the next step for your PECS users that is easily modified for the users needs. This site gives you the in's and out's of Proloquo2Go including troubleshooting and tutorials.
https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo2go

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I love to find out new and fresh ideas with Technology and ideas that can help my students more. I will be using the following sites to keep me updated on new technology and ideas.

http://www.pinterest.com

I love how I can just easily search for what I need and save it forever as a reference.

http://ccsd.net/departments/assistive-technology-services
The CCSD website is full of information and they also offer training that can give you more insight and training. It is easy to navigate and updated all of the time.

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As rapidly as this world is evolving, it is essential that we keep up with the latest technology available for our students use. I plan to do this by utilizing the following sites to keep in the know.

https://www.understood.org/en/tools/tech-finder
On Understood you select your issue, grade, and the technology type. Once that's complete the system will provide you apps available to aid in those areas of need.

readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overview

This site breaks down AT technology in subject areas: reading, math, listening, writing, memory, organization, etc. It also provides the tools available such as: expanders, alternative keyboards, audiobooks, electronic math worksheets, database software, graphic organizers, data managers, and more.

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I enjoy finding websites or blogs that I can follow or join an email list to received updated information. One site that has some cool technology resources is http://www.noodlenook.net/using-aac-classroom/

Another great resource, if you work in Clark County School District, is the District’s Assistive Technology Department. They offer frequent trainings and have provided me with numerous items to try in my classroom. It's super easy to checkout equipment or request for support. Information about the department can be found at http://ccsd.net/departments/assistive-technology-services

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So everything is evolving at a rapid pace especially when it comes to technology in general. Whats the best way to stay up to date with AT? Social media, there is a website that's called Edutopia, this is the link https://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/assistive-technology                        and its always updating the new trends and uses of AT for special needs and they are on different social medias like tweeter, facebook etc.
Another way is to get on LinkedIn because there are several groups that focus on AT like :

Assistive Technology Professionals

K12 Assistive Technology Professionals

Dyslexic Advantage

dysTalk

LD Online

Learning Ally

This are some of the ways I stay up to date.