Here are some questions to spark your reflection: How could schools be created to to ensure equal access? What tools would be helpful in our schools and homes? How do I see myself as an inclusive educator? What is needed to ensure equal access? How do all students learn in schools? How can a school be a welcoming place for all learners?
You will share your thinking in a 350+ words blog response. Please comment on at least 2 other participants.
| Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for education that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, environments, structures, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. An Educators Guide Worksheet is a tool that supports educators when considering their classroom curriculum and environment. Resources: UDL Wiki-space for Free Resources National Center of UDL Making learning accessible and engaging for all studentsA Parent’s Guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Universal Design for Learning Lesson Plan Questions to Consider in UDL Observations of Early Childhood Environments UDL Teacher Reference Guiding Principle Chart UDL Lesson Plan Template Universal Design for Learning in Early Childhood Inclusive Classrooms UDL Classroom Environment Equal Access Guidelines 2.0 Version UDL Educator Anchor Checklist UDL DIY Figure Visual Supports Checklist UDL in the Classroom UDL Curriculum Resources CAST was the creator of Universal Design For Learning. They have created a number of teacher tools to support the variability of learning in your classroom. UDL Studio: Allows anyone to make universally designed educational materials with levels of learning supports. UDL Exchange: Enables educators to create, mix, and share instructional resources based on UDL and aligned to the Common Core Standards. UDL Curriculum Tool Kit: Empowers curriculum developers and researchers author and publish educational materials that are flexible and responsive to the needs of all learners. UDL Lesson Builder: Helps educators to design lessons/units of study to meet the diverse learning challenges, skills, and background of students in today's classrooms. iSolve It Math Puzzles: Innovative, research-based games that teach essential math reasoning and problem-solving skills. UDL BookBuilder: Enables educators to develop their own digital books to support reading instruction literacy learning. UDL Curriculum Self-Check: Helps educators build options and flexibility into each element of the curriculum in order to reach and engage all students. ConnSENSE Report The ConnSENSE Report and Website are dedicated to sharing practical resources on assistive technology that help individuals with disabilities. It contains recent articles, Washington updates, resources reviews, links, and conference information. Extensive archives of previous issues of the ConnSENSE Report are archived on the Web site. Look for older articles, Washington updates, resources, etc. in the "Archives." Sign up for the free Email newsletter. AbleData AbleData's most significant resource is the AbleData database of assistive technology, which contains objective information on almost 40,000 assistive products. For each product, we provide a detailed description of the product's functions and features, price information (when available), and contact information for the product's manufacturer and/or distributors. We also offer information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. To select products most appropriate to your needs, we suggest combining information provided by AbleData with professional advice, product evaluations, and hands-on product trials. Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) The mission of the ATA is to increase the use of technology by children and adults with disabilities and functional limitations. ATA encourages and facilitates the empowerment of people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities. Through public education, information and referral, capacity building in community organizations, and advocacy/policy efforts, the ATA enables millions of people to live, learn, work, define their futures, and achieve their dreams. Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) ATIA is a not-for-profit membership organization of manufacturers, sellers and providers of technology-based assistive devices and/or services. The mission of ATIA is to serve as the collective voice of the assistive technology industry association so that the best products and services are delivered to people with disabilities. Closing the GapIncludes information about the Closing the Gap Conference and Newspaper dedicated to the use of computer technology for people with disabilities. Contains a searchable resource directory, information from the field, and a multiple resources. California State University at Northridge Center on Disabilities (CSUN) The site provides information on the CSUN Conference and Assistive Technology Training and multiple resources pertaining to technology and services to individuals with disabilities. Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) The FCTD web site provides thousands of assistive and instructional technology resources of interest to families of children with disabilities. The website offers access to fact sheets, Power Point presentations, monthly newsletters, online discussion and summer institute transcripts, a database of more than 3,500 organizations, a resource review database with hundreds of reviews of AT resources and more. Through the site users can also access FCTD Family Information Guides as well as resources in Spanish. Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT) GPAT develops and enhances local expertise in assistive technology to ensure that students with disabilities have access to the assistive technology devices and services that they need in order to participate in and benefit from their educational programs. This site contains a rich bank of resources, forms and links that can be accessed by anyone. Maryland Assistive Technology Network (MATN) This professional learning network connects educators, families, and educational leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching through the effective use of assistive and universally accessible technologies in education. MATN is a service of the Johns Hopkins University, Center for Technology in Education (JHU CTE). MATN membership is free and open to all. National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials For students with sensory, physical, cognitive, or learning differences and their teachers, accessible instructional materials (AIM) may open doors to teaching and learning that ordinary print-based materials have closed. Accessible instructional materials or AIM are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with students who are unable to read or use standard print materials. Specialized formats include braille, audio, large print, and digital text. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes a requirement that schools provide AIM in a timely manner to K–12 students who need them for participation and achievement. Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) OCALI serves families, educators, and professionals working with students with autism and low-incidence disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, and traumatic brain injuries. Based on a respect for individuals with autism and low incidence disabilities and our belief in their right, need, and desire to achieve their full potential, OCALI's mission is to build state- and system-wide capacity to improve their outcomes through leadership, training and professional development, technical assistance, collaboration, and technology. Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology in Post Secondary (QIAT-PS) QIAT-PS offers tools and resources on quality implementation of assistive technology in the Post Secondary environment. QIAT-PS is a collaborative effort of hundreds of professionals from a wide variety of higher education and K-12 schools and based on the successful implementations of assistive technology indicators in K-12 public schools. Rehabiliatation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)RESNA is a professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. RESNA advances the field by offering certification, continuing education, and professional development; developing assistive technology standards; promoting research and public policy; and sponsoring forums for the exchange of information and ideas to meet the needs of our multidisciplinary constituency. Special Education Technology British Columbia (SET-BC) SET-BC is a Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program established to assist school districts in educating students whose access to the curriculum is restricted primarily due to the following disabilities: physical disabilities or chronic health impairments, visual impairments, dependent handicaps, deafblindness, autism spectrum disorders, moderate to profound intellectual disabilities and to lend assistive technologies (reading, writing, and communication tools) where required to ensure students' access to educational programs, and to assist school districts in providing the necessary training for students and educators in the use of these technologies. TechMatrix Search a database of over 400 products using extensive criteria tailored to assistive and educational technologies. Compare up to four products across search criteria. Read related research articles on the theory and practice of using technology to improve student learning. Technology and Media Division CEC (TAM) The purpose of TAM is to support educational participation and improved results for individuals with disabilities and diverse learning needs through the selection, acquisition, and use of technology. The secondary purpose is to provide services to members and other units of CEC, to federal, state, and local education agencies, and to business and industry regarding the current and future uses of technology and media with individuals with exceptionalities. Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide leadership in addressing identified areas of need in special education services is provided through ten functions and three projects directed by various Education Service Centers (ESC). Each function and project has primary responsibility to provide leadership, training, technical assistance, and the dissemination of information throughout the state. The ESCs coordinating these statewide leadership functions and projects are responsible for the implementation of many of the state's continuous improvement activities. Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) WATI is designed to increase the capacity of school districts to provide assistive technology services by making training and technical assistance available to teachers, therapists, administrators and parents throughout Wisconsin. WATI resources and forms are available on the web, along with a wealth of other information that can be accessed by anyone. OSEP The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is a component of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). OSEP's mission and organization focus on the free appropriate public education of children and youth with disabilities from birth through age 21. OSERS The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), a component of the United States Department of Education, supports programs that assist in educating children with special needs, provides for the rehabilitation of youth and adults with disabilities, and supports research to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. The Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) website http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/ includes the work done to date to develop a comprehensive set of quality indicators for effective assistive technology services by school districts. |
Communicator Feature Comparison from Enabling Devices. http://enablingdevices.com/files/content/ComparisonChart.pdf
The TAM (Technology and Media) Division of the Council for Exceptional Children offers a variety of information about assistive technology and special education instructional technology. You can learn more about it’s publications, conferences, and membership at http://www.tamcec.org.
If you have students who use a single switch to access a computer, take a look at http://www.switchintime.com. This website by the developers of Scan ‘n Read is full of cool freebies. It is all for the Macintosh platform. There are outstanding freeware programs that you can download. They include: CD Jukebox, Single Switch Bingo, Scan ‘n Read, and Word Search.
Florida Assistive Technology Education Network (ATEN) Homepage has tutorials that can be downloaded on a variety of assistive technology devices. http://www.aten.scps.k12.fl.us/.
Trace Research & Design Center includes software toolkits and many disability related articles and papers. http://trace.wisc.edu//world/computer_access/multi/sharewar.htm
Closing the Gap is a website offering a variety of articles, resources, and interactive activities related to assistive technology. It offers the “Question of the Week” to encourage visitors to share their knowledge and feedback with other visitors. The site now has a search capability to allow visitors to search their Resource Directory of computer related products for individuals with special needs. http://www.closingthegap.com/index.lasso
World Institute on Disability promotes access to the internet in K-12 schools for students with disabilities. They have a new handbook entitled “The Internet: An Inclusive Magnet for Teaching All Students”. It provides practical tips, general access guidelines, resource listings, and success stories. It can be downloaded for free from their website at: http://www.wid.org/publications/the-internet-an-inclusive-magnet-for-teaching-all-students/.
YaacK, which stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)connecting Young Kids, is a wonderful site. You will find it at: http://aac.unl.edu/yaack/toc.html. It begins with what AAC is and when does a child need AAC. Also on AAC, for great information on creating literacy based communication boards and an excellent resource list on AAC, go to: http://www.aacintervention.com. Watch this one for Tips of the Month, too.
WisTech (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/disabilities/wistech/