Access Ability: A Blog with Great Information, and other news...

A Positive Accessibilty Blog:

I love it when I get comments and make new friends and discover new resources. Yesterday, Ron Graham left a comment on my No Limits to Life Blog post concerning Colleges and Universities having their Presidents use wheelchairs to get around in and see how accessible their campus is. It is a revelation for them.

I went to Ron's Blog, Access Ability ( great name) and found someone who has a strong belief in having a positive outlook on life to achieve great things. He obviously knows what he is talking about because after being blinded in an auto accident in 1993, Ron went on to earn an AAS (Criminal Justice), BS (Behavior Science), and MA (Clinical Psychology). He has done a lot of work at the University and Community College level in disability support services.

He has some great posts on assistive technology and education as well. Please check him out. I am putting his link on my list on the sidebar.

Our first blog talk radio show went fine:

On another note, We had our Blog Talk Radio Braodcast yesterday and it was a lot of fun. The speech pathologist, Carol, and the student, Taylor, called in on the switchboard and we we had another caller from our OT/PT department call in too. We chatted for awhile and Taylor got to share with his device. When time was up we kept going on the recording even though we thought it was over..so there is a little spontaneous at the end but that is OK. I wish their sound quality was a little higher, but, it sounds like talk radio!

The Tango! Company, Blink Twice, asked for the link and I guess quite a few folks listened in and are excited about the up-coming interview with Richard Ellenson the CEO and Tango Creator. Although it is not official yet, it is looking like we will be doing a 30 minute show with him next Wednesday, April 9th at 10:30 am Pacific Time. The company is as excited about doing this interview with Taylor as we are. I will schedule the segment on the No Limits to Learning Live site as soon as I have a final word that it is a go.

Conferences Coming Up in My Area Next Week:

I have three workshops/ conferences coming up where I am going to squeeze in some recorded interviews for future podcats. I haven't done one for awhile. The guest speakers coming are:

Patricia Sublette Ph.D who is teaching a workshop on Supporting Students with Traumatic Brain Injury. Pat was excited to do an interview this week, but her schedule got jammed up and we couldn't fit it in. One way or another I want you to hear her share and we will have an interview.

Another is Shar Burgoyne, who is here next week to present a day workshop on Electronic Books as Tools for Struggling Readers. Shar is the state-wide trainer of assistive technology for the Oregon Technology Access Program. I am wanting to have her share on Ebooks as well as some ideas for parents and AT users for literacy and access.

Ami Muillenberg and Angela Binning are teaching in the Early Care and Education Conference for the communities in our region. They are presenting strategies and tools for early learners success. Ami and Angela are specialists in Early Childhood Learning and have worked with Head Start and Positive Behavior Support.

So there is the news of what is going on. I am usually the "blur" passing by but it is always nice to sit and visit with you.

All the best to you!

Lon

Cartoon from: http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/images/the-computer-demands-a-blog.gif

Assistive Technology is Worth the Effort: Funding Issues; Part 3 of 3 in a Series

Funding and Resource Issues - another part of the puzzle:

I have a problem with allowing money issues to dictate what we will or won't do for children when it comes to assistive technology. I have the belief that if we are mandated to provide services to all children to access their education equally, then the standard we need to meet is pretty high and it needs to be funded no matter what.

What is that standard?
Equal access, period. This means that Johnny in the wheelchair, needs to access the computer to do the same tasks as the student that can walk in, sit down and go to work. I used to be a professional development trainer for education technology. I would take a teacher and class of children into the school computer lab and model how to effectively use technology in a lesson on a topic using research and study skills, write and produce an interactive PowerPoint Presentation, etc. In those sessions I had regular students that used 30% of their potential in producing a product. I would have a disabled student doing the same project and because of their challenges, they were putting out 110% effort to produce.
My point is that there is so much extra energy having to be spent by these special needs students just in doing the tasks, that we should be bending over backwards to provide them with every possible solution needed to make access as easy for them as possible so we are accomplishing the goal of equal access.
I have been in many meetings with different dynamics when it comes to the team discussing what assistive technology is needed for a student. Some administrators on these teams are poised and ready to do whatever it takes - and that means pulling favors with the local Rotary or Kiwanis Clubs for fund-raising support if it comes to that. I see other administrators and even parents that say "We can't afford that." They see the obstacles ahead and go the path of least resistance.

There are so many resources out there to fund AT if you have the following things in hand:
1. Documented Support of the Effectiveness of the Device or Software:
There is a process for evaluating the effectiveness of AT. There are trials, like we mentioned in the last installment of this series, that are run to collect specific data on how effective the trialed equipment works to support the task or goal. This process has been outlined by various groups in various models, but the fundamentals are the same. The model we use is SETT. It can be found at the WATI website. The pioneers of this model have been mentors to me and I have felt so honored to sit under their training.
SETT basically means knowing the Student, the Environment, the Task and the Tools. These are all components in the assessment, trial, data collection, decision making and implementation. There is a lot more to it, but at least this gives you a general idea.
Thinking through these things as a team and having solid documentation, gives a donor the data needed to make a decision on granting funds. They can see the proof that the requested item will work.

2. Connections to Therapists and County/statewide Programs:
I don't know how it works in your state, but with me, there a a lot of avenues for funding that come through state health care systems for children with orthopedic disabilities, mental and learning disabilities and vision, speech and hearing disabilities. These funds can run out by spring and there are various criteria like the AT has to be for home use, or the AT has to be something used at school that can be duplicated for to and from school integration.
These types of funds are managed by directors of programs that oversee therapists that work with children at a regional level. As referrals come in, needs are assessed and necessary supports can be funded. I would pursue the trail of finding out who the director is of the therapists that work with your child and find out what funding sources are available and what specific types of support the funds can provide. If there are funds available, you will most likely need the data from above, several quotes for prices on the item or items and a letter from the sped teacher/case manager, an assistive technology specialist and the therapists involved endorsing the item as an effective and necessary support. In order to get the letter and the data, you will have to do the third piece in the puzzle listed next.

3. Local Support Through Your School Administrator and the IEP Team:
Working as a team is probably one of the most effective ways to see results. If you are NOT a team player, I would suggest that you get that skill developed. You will see incredible results when you can work together with others. I wrote a series a month or so ago on parent advocacy and then expanded on it with articles that were published through Ezine Articles. The articles are available on my sidebar. The principle in the series that applies here is the ability to work in a positive and supportive manner with the school team rather than being defensive and confrontational. Being willing to do research and assist with fund raising or data collecting as a volunteer are ways to be a part of the team in a supportive way. Many times educational assistants are doing actual trials with students on software and devices. Having you there to learn about the equipment or software and volunteer some time to sit in and help record times a switch is accessed with a clicker counter, etc. can be a real support. Integrating that data collection with a device at home and counting clicks and hits to send back to school can help to.
I have learned a real lesson in the extent of parental involvement from a great couple with a child who has CP. The dad's company pays an hourly rate for time spent volunteering by their employees. He volunteers during the week when he can, clocks the hours and gets a check from
work to give to the classroom. They are planning to buy software for integrating curriculum supports for their child in the room each year as the child progresses through school. The teachers that get to have this child will receive benefits in many ways. Good for them!

The three areas above are some solid beginning steps I recommend to follow. This content is a sneak peek at some of the material I am developing for release in a bundle of AT resources and activities this spring. I will be releasing some content here and there for you to read as it is developed. I would love your feedback so I am giving you what you want. If you have questions or would like more specifics please comment or email me and I will try and address those issues.

Don't forget the interview on blog talk radio live coming up later today.

All the best to you!

Lon

A Boy Finds His Voice: Blog Talk Radio Interview Live Tomorrow

Helping a Boy Find His Voice: Live Wednesday, April 2, 12:30 Pacific time

When Carol Reese, speech pathologist, discovered the Tango! speech device, she had to try it with one of her students in the fourth grade. Taylor took to it instantly. The next challenge was how to afford it. A $7000 speech device with a built in digital camera, recording for assignable messages to images and a whole lot of bells and whistles was great, but where would the money come from?
Listen in as Carol shares the miracle that put the device under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning and even involved a call from the company CEO in New York City! Taylor will use his device to share also in this very special premeire blog talk radio segment.
Airing April 2 at 12:30, Pacific time. The archive of the show will be on my sidebar to listen to or download tomorrow by 1 PM Pacific time. Callers can call in during the show with the caller number posted on the Live site linked below.

You can link to the show details at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nolimits2learninglive

The next interview is being scheduled with Richard Ellenson, the CEO of Blink Twice and Taylor. The two will get to share together about the device and Richard will share on success stories with the device and the work he does. The broadcast date is yet to be announced.

Go here for an interactive video overview of the device. Here is a virtual emulator of the Tango

I apologize to any of you looking for #3 in the series on Implementing AT. I had some scheduling changes that threw off the series with the interview tomorrow. It is in the hopper ready for release as soon as I get through the interview, so stay connected! There are quite a few conferences and guests coming up that I will be presenting on either the Gcast podcast or No Limits to Learning Live so watch for more to come...

All the best to you!

Lon