How to build a successful assistive technology team and professional development strategies.

1. Christopher Bugaj, M.A., CCC-SLP
Bugaj, CCC-
Sally Norton-Darr, M.S., CCC-SLP
Norton-Darr, CCC-
Assistive Technology Trainers
Loudoun County Public Schools ,Virginia

2. Sally Norton Darr
Norton-Darr
snortondarr@yahoo.com
Christopher Bugaj
attipscast@gmail.com
@attipscast via Twitter
www.tinyurl.com/attipscast
www.attipscast.wordpress.com
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3. For More Info:
http://iste.org/chewat
h //i / h
Facebook Site:
http://bit.ly/atbookfb
3

4. See if you can
S
name the
movies
referenced on
the slides. Raise
y
your hand when
you have the
answer.
4

5. Why establish an Assistive Technology
Team?
Examples of best practice policies
a p es o p act ce po c es
Examples of strategies useful for helping
ALL students
Tips to save time and money
Professional development strategies (that
work!)
5

6. AT must be considered
Do all team members understand
de
definition of AT?
to o
Other ways?
Check box
No check box
List of strategies
Who can help you answer these
questions consistently?
“With great power,
comes great responsibility.”

7. Establish a team
of professionals to
create procedures
p
and provide
services.
A team will reduce waste by sharing
y g
strategies to improve performance
for ALL students (AT + UDL = RTI)
“I love it when a plan comes together!”
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8. Scenarios
Ask for volunteer(s)?
Choose from Related Service providers?
Split a caseload?
Hire someone?
Hire a team?
Private/Outside organizations?

9. “Who you gonna call?”
Start by using tools and strategies that are
least restrictive (already existing in the
classroom)
Conducting unnecessary evaluations wastes
time and money DANGER ZONE
You may have what will meet needs
Begin In-House: assess trends, proactive
In-
needs, spending end of year $$
For students outside Special Education
Working with IT= UDL!
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10. Record Sound Feature
Visual Schedules
Text-To-
Text-To-Speech
Social Situation Stories
Graphic Organizing Templates
Pacing Boards for Communication
Communication Notebooks
High Contrast Feature of Windows
Web 2.0 Tools
Resources
slideshare.net/attipscast
slideshare.net/attipscast
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11. Conduct “Traditional” and
“Alternative” professional
development t provide
d l t to id
support.
You have built in staff
development at hand.
d l h d
“If you build it they will come.”
b ild it, th ill ”
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12. 5 minute faculty meeting tips
Face-to-Face Workshops
ace-to-
Customized by school needs
Website (www.lcps.org/at)
(www.lcps.org/at)
Handpicked resources
FAQs
Training Videos
Strategy-
Strategy-A-Day Calendar
One strategy a day rip-off calendar
day, rip-
“Are you talkin’ to me?”
talkin’ 12

13. AT Tonight DVDs
• Teachers check out the DVD,
watch the videos, answer
questions and return to
get staff development credit.
Podcasts on CDs
• Burn podcasts to CD so teachers
can listen to content
(while commuting)
“There’s no place like home.” 13

14. Participate in district-wide committees to
district-
implement solutions that meet the needs of
all learners
AT Clubs (Involve Students!)
Share Fairs
Parent Group/Community Presentations
Conference Presentations (cooperation
with other districts)
Promotion of Services
Summer Seminars
Create a LOGO!
http://bit.ly/atmontagevid
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15. The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive
Technology in Public Schools:
http://iste.org/chewat
http://udlcenter.org
http://udlcenter org
http://cast.org
http://lcps.org/at
htt //l / t
http://www.uvm.edu/~cdci/universaldesign
Download a PDF of this entire presentation at
http://slideshare.net/attipscast
htt // lid h t/ tti t

16. Academy Award Winning Assistive Technology
Teams: Educational Blockbusters