Monday, July 26, 2010 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Nicollet Island Pavilion | 40 Power St., Minneapolis

View Flyer Here!

Great Opportunities

Kami Griffiths from TechSoup will interview the great Jane Vincent from Center for Accessible Technology and Beth Berenson from Lighthouse for the Blind. They will discuss both hardware and software accessibility solutions, their costs and what it takes to get started. This is also a chance for you to ask any and all computer accessibility questions.

This webinar is ideal for anyone who manages or volunteers in a public computer center, either in a library, housing development or social service agency. But also applicable to IT managers looking to better address staff needs.

What assistive technology tools are you using or want to know about? Let us know here and we will try to address any specific concerns. Also, we’ll be using the #techsoup hashtag on Twitter. Please spread the word!

Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST  (1:00 – 2:00 Center Time)
Skill Level: All
Location (Web): TechSoup
Registration: Please visit https://cc.readytalk.com/r/6yrsybatvize to sign up.
Sharing: Please pass this announcement on to any one you think will be interested in this webinar.

This provides guidelines for early intervention to maximize the language and communication development of young children with complex communication needs.

Please click here or on any of the links below to access the site. We hope you find it to be useful. Feel free to forward the website to others who might be interested.

The website is intended for

• Parents of young children with special needs
• Education and rehabilitation professionals
• Students in preservice programs in education, speech language pathology, and related areas

The website provides

• Step-by-step guidelines for evidence-based intervention to build language and communication skills
• Videotaped examples of intervention with young children with special needs

The website is based on research funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as part of the AAC-RERC

Alexa Posny Confirmed as Assistant Secretary to OSERS
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Alexa Posny as Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education. Posny comes to the Department of Education from Kansas where she served as Commissioner of Education for the state. Prior to her work as commissioner, Posny served as the director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the U.S. Department of Education, a position in which she assisted state and local efforts to effectively educate all children and youth with disabilities. More

Simon Technology Center Open House is Nov. 14
PACER’s Simon Technology Center open house is Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The theme of this 22nd annual event is “Trends and Technology Tools; Come See What’s Cool!” Open to people of all ages and ability levels, the event highlights cutting-edge assistive technologies, including options for communication, computer accessibility, education, early childhood, literacy, recreation, vision, and more. Come talk with vendors, register for prizes, sample assistive technology, attend hands-on mini sessions on social networking sites and Internet safety for kids, and more. Children can complete accessible art projects, attend a magic show, ride an adapted bike, and try technology.
More

Federal and Military Employees Can Donate to PACER During Workplace Charity Drive
If you are a federal civilian, military, or postal employee, you are eligible to contribute to PACER Center through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity drive at your workplace. Look for PACER in your local campaign booklet under the Children’s Charities of America (CCA) heading or alphabetically. You also can watch a video about one of PACER’s programs by visiting cfcvideospeakersbureau.org and entering PACER as the keyword. To designate your gift to PACER, use code 12272. This code is unique to PACER and should be used under any heading where you see PACER’s name listed. The charity drive will run from September through mid-December. Contribute at your workplace this fall to keep PACER’s important programs available at no charge! More

Register Now for the Free “Welcoming, Honoring, and Connecting Conference” Oct. 22 & 23
Parents will learn new ways to support their children’s education at the Minnesota Parent Center’s third annual dinner and conference. The free event includes a dinner (Oct. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and a conference (Oct. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) that features informative breakout sessions and an inspiring keynote presentation by Minnesota Rep. Mindy Greiling. It’s at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. Register now.

New Report Urges Health Care Reform for People with Disabilities
The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report titled The Current State of Health Care for People with Disabilities, calling for immediate health care reform for people with disabilities. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) led the team that researched and wrote this landmark report. According to NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn, “NCD undertook this study in 2007 to focus the nation’s attention on the health care disparities experienced by people with disabilities, and to provide information and recommendations that can help to eliminate health care inequities for people with disabilities.” The report, released Sept. 30, provides a road map for eliminating the pervasive barriers to health care for people with disabilities, highlights the health care disparities experienced by people with disabilities, and makes recommendations to eliminate health care inequities. More

The American Academy of Pediatrics Answers Parents’ Questions about Autism
In the wake of a national survey that showed the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders is approximately 1 in 91 U.S. children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has prepared a question and answer document about autism and the study. View it here.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
President Obama announced in early October that his administration is taking several steps to ensure fair and equal access to employment for all Americans, particularly the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities. The announcement came during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, whose theme is Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation! Learn more at the Web sites of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor.

PACER’s Gone Digital!
Social media is taking the world by storm, and PACER Center is on board! PACER’s Facebook page, Twitter page, and YouTube channel let you and PACER stay connected, anytime, anywhere. Parent Centers can find their social media connection with the ALLIANCE at taalliance.org. So, friend us, follow us, and watch us today with just the click of a button! More

Publications
Updated! Surrogate Parent Resources

The revised edition of “Children in Need of Surrogate Parents: Program Rules and Procedures in Minnesota” covers federal and state requirements, offers suggestions for public agency procedures, answers frequently asked questions, and provides resources including sample forms. Call PACER at 952-838-9000 or 800-537-2237 to order. The cost is $9 or $6 each for 10 or more copies. More

Programs and Resources
PACER Center is a Minnesota nonprofit organization that provides services to families of children and young adults with any disability. More

“Assistive Technologies that Support Learning Goals: Connecting the Power of Audio Book Players with Accessible Educational and Recreational Content” is now available free of charge.

HumanWare’s audio talking book players, which include tools such as bookmarks, voice notes, highlights and speaking dictionary, will help students to develop listening and learning skills. Using digital materials created by Bookshare and Recording for the Blind and Dyslexia (RFB&D), students are now being opened to a world of information and access to the educational curriculum.

To help with the unprecedented opportunity to boost special education resources and efforts for students with learning disabilities, HumanWare offers educators the technology and guidance to enhance learning opportunities of their students in the following ways:

• Help you select and implement audio book players to access educational material from valued content providers
• Work with your school district staff to identify classroom tasks that can be supported with the appropriate technology
• Offer practical approaches for assistive technology implementation through strategic partnerships and comprehensive customized services and professional development, and
• Provide special seminars by leading educational consultants, Kelly Fonner and Scott Marfilius: “Reading Made Easy Everywhere”

To learn more about our programs and request free copies of the Assistive Technologies Resource Guide: Matching Assistive Technologies with Learning Goals and the new Assistive Technologies that Support Learning Disabilities: Connecting the Power of Audio Book Players with Accessible Educational and Recreational Content visit our website or email us at:

http://www.humanware.com/education

The stimulus funds constitute an unprecedented opportunity for special education, and we hope by designing these resource guides and offering training seminars to educators that it will help support gains in educational goals and improve learning outcomes for all students.

Resource Guide

Download Assistive Technologies That Support Learning Disabilities (.PDF)

provides a collection of topics for educators, rehab professionals, assistive technology specialists, individuals with disabilities and their families, and others who are looking to broaden their knowledge of assistive technology and the evaluation skills needed to assess the products.   These topics include a general overview of AT, augmentative communications, technology for the blind or visually impaired, and topics to assist those providing support to students with special needs.

Each webinar is being presented by national leaders in their field.

Don’t miss these August webinars:

Weaving the Threads of Communication – REGISTER

Presenter:  Marsye W. Kaplan, M.S., CCC-SLP, ATP, Assistive Technology Team Leader, Baltimore County Public Schools

Thursday, August 13:  4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern time

This session will explore the use of Core vocabulary to create customized, functional and interactive communication systems. The research basis for designing communication systems for individuals with complex communication needs will be demonstrated.

Augmentative Communication Evaluations:  A Toolkit Approach – REGISTER

Presenters:  Debby McBride, MS, CCC-SLP, AAC TechConnect; Lisa Bardach, MS, CCC-SLP, Communicating Solutions, LLC

Thursday, August 20:  4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern time

This session will assist in organizing and systematizing the AAC evaluation process. Participants will be able to put together their own low-cost, efficient communication toolkit, both using what they already have and identifying additional tools to obtain.

Upcoming webinars in early September – go to our website for session abstracts, learning outcomes, and speaker biographies:

Selecting Software for Students with Learning Disabilities:  An Instructional Resource – REGISTER

Tuesday, September 1:  4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern time

This webinar will discuss how selecting appropriate educational software for students with learning disabilities can often be a difficult and complicated process. This online resource helps people to better understand the nature of different learning disabilities as well as identify appropriate and effective educational software to deal with specific cognitive and achievement deficits- as identified through common learning disability testing instruments. Learn how this resource came to be created, and how you can use it to better help your students with learning disabilities.

Jayme Johnson is the Web Accessibility Instructor at the High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU) for the California Community Colleges.  Jayme conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of assistive computer technology and web accessibility, including instructional design and technology, assistive computer technology applications, emerging technologies and media, distance education, and related access issues.

Technology for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired – REGISTER

Presenter: William Bielawski, Director of Adaptive Technology Center, The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Thursday, September 3:  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern time

This webinar is a complete examination of the current technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired to access information on paper or electronic information. It will trace the recent evolution of this technology and the implications for today’s young students, college students, working adults, and seniors.

After a career at Bell Laboratories, William Bielawski joined The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired as Director of the Adaptive Technology Center and Office Skills Training. Bill was co-founder of the Illinois Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (IPVI) in 1986 and is its President.  Bill is also the Blindness Strand Advisor for the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2009 Chicago Conference in October.

Upcoming webinars in mid September -  go to our website for session abstracts, learning outcomes, and speaker biographies:

Stirring the Alphabet Soup:  Blending AT, UDL, RTI, and AIM to Increase Achievement
Presenters:  Joy Zabala, Ed.D., ATP, CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology): Diana Carl, Independent Consultant, Vicki Hershman, PATINS State Project Director (Indiana), Indiana Department of Education/Division of Student Learning/Office of Differentiated Learners
Wednesday, September 9:  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern time

AIMing for Achievement!:  What YOU Need to Know about the Selection, Acquisition, and Use of Accessible Instructional Materials
Presenters: Jeff Diedrich, Michigan Integrated Technology Services; Skip Stahl, CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology); Jenna Wasson Gravel, CAST; Joy Zabala, Ed.D., ATP, CAST
Thursday, September 10:  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern time

Overview of Assistive Technology
Presenter:  Russ Holland, Program Director, Alliance for Technology Access
Wednesday, September 16:  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Eastern time

Click here for complete webinar details. Registration is easy – Sign up now!

Provided By: Assistive Technology Industry Association | 401 North Michigan Ave | Chicago | IL | 60611