Assistive Technology & Professional Development
Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D.

Goals of ARRA 2009
 Spend funds quickly to save and create jobs.
 Improve student achievement through school
improvement and reform.
 Ensure transparency, reporting and
accountability.
 Invest in one-time ARRA fund thoughtfully to
minimize the “funding cliff.”

IDEA Recovery Funds
 $11.3 billion under Part B Grants to States
 $400 million under Part B Preschool Grants
 $500 million under Part C Grants for Infants & Families
 Early intervention for infants & familes

Uses of IDEA, Part B Recovery Funds
 Obtain state-of-the art assistive technology devices and provide training
in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students
with disabilities.
 Provide intensive district-wide professional development for special
education and regular education teachers that focuses on scaling-up,
through replication, proven and innovative evidence-based school-wide
strategies in reading, math, writing and science, and positive behavioral
supports to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
 Develop or expand the capacity to collect and use data to improve
teaching and learning.

Uses of IDEA, Part B Recovery Funds
 Expand the availability and range of inclusive
placement options for preschoolers with disabilities
by developing the capacity of public and private
preschool programs to serve these children.
 Hire transition coordinators to work with employers
in the community to develop job placements for
youths with disabilities.

Implications for AT
 State of the art assistive technology devices
 Provide professional development in the use of the
assistive technology devices
 Opportunities to refresh inventory of equipment
 Focus on enhancing access to the general education
curriculum
 Provide intensive district-wide professional
development for special education and regular
education teachers

Things to Consider??
 Moving towards a Universal Design for Learning Model
 Goals for your program(s)
 Needs of the students
 Population(s) to serve
 Tasks you are hoping your students will perform
 Classroom settings for your programs
 Assistive Technology Toolkit
 Current inventory of assistive technology
 Professional development

Looking at the big picture
Opportunities to systematically phase in
Universal Design for Learning
 Multiple Means of Representation
 Multiple Means of Expression
 Multiple Means of Engagement

Curriculum
Professional Accessibility
Development
Teacher
UDL AT Toolkit

What is in your AT Toolkit?
Reading Tools
• Text to Speech
• Audio Supports
• MP3 Players
Writing Tools
• Text to Speech
• Word prediction
• Spelling tools
Math Tools
• Calculators
• On Screen applications
• Virtual applets

Things to Consider??
 Standardizing on an AT Toolkit
 Looking at Web 2.0 Tools
 Looking at online AT services
 Combination of commercial and freeware tools
 Timeline for purchase and training
 Delivery of training
 Will your district be able to support the initiative after
the grant period?

Traditional
Training
Building
Professional
In Class
Learning
Models
Capacity
Communities
Virtual
Training

It is an exciting time!
 Plan with a purpose
 Envision the future with technology
 Work with experts in the field who share your vision
 Plan your professional development wisely
 Collect data and watch your students soar!

Things to Consider
 Engage your Technology Director early on in the
process
 Think in terms of two years out
 Build the capacity of your staff
 Plan with your terminal goals in mind
 Understand your school culture and plan wisely

Resources
Available online at
www.innovativespeech.com
Available from NPR, Inc.

Resources
 Center for Applied Special Technology
 Closing the Gap
 AssistiveTek Blog
 AssistiveTech Ning Group

Questions & Discussion

Assistivetek.blogspot.com
Brian@assistivetek.com
908.852.3460