Intro to AT, AAC and UDL

1. An Introduction to
Assistive Technology & UDL
Presented by Jennifer Edge-Savage, MS, EdS, OTR/L
UDL
SETT

2. This is HARD work we have chosen…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3PhJDxvgJM

3. Technology Questions - Discussion
and Answer Garden
How do YOU use technology?
How do you use technology to support your own learning?
How do you use technology to support your students’ learning?
If you could wave a magic wand, what technology would you
have in the classroom?
What are the barriers to the use of technology in the
classroom?

4. Our Mission as Educators:
▪ Provide our students with ways of actively
participating in meaningful activities to meet
curriculum goals.
▪ Inspire our students to become expert learners
▪ It’s a team effort!!
▪ …and sometimes requires more than just great
curriculum and great strategies, we need
technology!

5. Prince EA - I Just Sued the School System

6. What is Assistive Technology?
Poll Everywhere:
www.polleverywhere.com

7. What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology Device:
▪ “Any item, piece of equipment or product system,
whether acquired commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is use to increase,
maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of
children with disabilities.”
Low-tech Pencil grip -> Mid-tech communication
device ->High-tech eyegaze control of computer
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

8. What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology Service:
▪ “Any service that directly assists a child with a disability
in the selection, acquisition or use of an assistive
technology device.”
a) The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in
the child's customary environment;
(b) Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by
children with disabilities
(c) Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing
assistive technology devices;
(d) Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices,
such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
(e) Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child's family; and
(f) Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or
rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are
otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of that child.
Awareness -> Assessment ->Implementation
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

9. What is Assistive Technology?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB9pKkZoJDc

10. What is Assistive Technology?
+ User Stories
+ Michael Phillips
+ Elina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tGS-fDA08
http://www.teachertube.com/video/me-and-my-computer-2499

11. What is Assistive Technology?
“For many of
these children,
Assistive
Technology is the
ONLY way they
can fully
participate in
school.
Yet, there is still
great need for
improving
awareness and
mastery of these
tools and services
in education. “
-Dr. Betsy Dalton,
President ISTE SETSIG

12. Why is Assistive Technology Important?
It is the LAW:
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA 1997reauth)
▪ ALL students, regardless of their abilities, must be given the opportunity to
become involved with and progress in the general education curriculum. Every
student must have access to what is being taught. – IDEA
▪ In order to support the inclusion and participation of students with disabilities in
regular education classrooms, ALL Individual Education Programs (IEPs)
developed for children identified as needed special education services MUST
indicate that Assistive Technology has been considered.

13. So Many Types of Assistive Technology
▪ AT for alternate Access to the Computer
▪ AT for Communication (AAC)
▪ AT for Activities of Daily living
▪ AT for Environmental Control
▪ AT for Recreation
▪ AT for Sensory Impairments (for the Blind, for the Deaf)
▪ AT for Students with Learning Disabilities
▪ Accessible Instructional/Educational Materials
▪ AT for general access to Curriculum (Reading, writing, Math,
studying, etc.)
▪ And much more

14. What is AAC?
Poll Everywhere
www.polleverywhere.com

15. What is AAC?
MA DESE
Augmentative and Alternative Communication:
Methods of communication other than oral speech that enhance
or replace conventional forms of expressive and receptive
communication to facilitate interaction by and with persons with
disabilities who are nonverbal or have limited speech, including,
but not limited to:
+ specialized gestures and signs; communication aids such as
charts, symbol systems, visual supports, and language boards;
mouth sticks; and electronic communication devices such as
switches, head pointers, eye tracking, dynamic displays,
auditory scanning, and voice output devices.

16. AAC Includes: Unaided vs. Aided
1. Unaided communication systems rely on the user's body to convey
messages.
1. Examples include gestures, body language, and/or sign
language.
2. Aided communication systems require the use of tools or
equipment in addition to the user's body. (STUFF)
1. Examples can range from a pencil to communication books or
boards to devices that produce voice output (speech generating
devices (SGD's) and/or written output. Electronic
communication aids allow the user to use picture symbols,
letters, and/or words and phrases to create messages. (ASHA,
2011).

17. What is AAC?
AAC components:
▪ Symbols
Symbol sets (Mayger-Johnson, Synbolstix, Dynasyms, Minspeak/Unity, Pixons)
▪ Aides
low-high tech: (laminated pictures, one-step, step-by-step, Communicators, Dynamic
Display devices, iPad apps)
▪ Techniques
Access: (hands, eye-gaze, switches, alt access, etc.)
▪ Strategies
▪ Communication Partner (Aided Language Stimulation, Prompting)
▪ AAC User (using multiple modalities, independent)

18. What is AAC?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3m8_YmTDDM

19. What is AAC?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIGrxzPMVtw

20. Why is AAC Important?
“Just because I can’t
speak…doesn’t
mean I don’t have
anything to say!”
What kind of pencil do you use?
The mechanics of reading,
writing and communicating
should not be a barrier to
accessing the curriculum.
Presume Competence
#icandomorethanrequest

21. Who should know about AT?
Special Education Professionals…and beyond!
▪ Teachers
▪ Occupational Therapists
▪ Speech and Language Pathologists
▪ Instructional Technologists
▪ Information Technologists
▪ Paraprofessionals seeking Masters Degree
▪ School Psychologists
▪ Reading Specialists
▪ Parent Advocates
▪ Parents
▪ GENERAL EDUCATION

22. SETT Framework
www.joyzabala.com
SETT Framework –
for Assessing AT needs
• Student
• Environment
• Task
• Tools
Special Assessment tools for students with Moderate Disabilities:
• Protocol for Accommodations in Reading(PAR) (DeCoste & Bastiani)
• http://donjohnston.com/par/#.VBobemRdUQ8
• Written Productivity Profile (WPP) (DeCoste)
• http://donjohnston.com/decoste-writing-protocol/#.VcTzA-1Viko

23. http://www.qiat.org/indicators.html
Join the QIAT listserv for ongoing AT support!
QIAT Indicators–
for Assessing the AT Performance of a
District/School/Program
1. Consideration of AT
2. Assessment of AT
3. AT in the IEP
4. AT Implementation
5. Evaluation of Effectiveness of AT
6. AT in Transition
7. Administrative Support of AT
8. AT Professional Development

24. Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning
www.udlcenter.org
Accessible, Flexible and
Customizable Curriculum:
Goals
Methods
Materials
Assessments
Just because
you built a
ramp…doesn’
t mean you
no longer
need the
wheelchair!
AT and UDL
go hand in
hand!

25. Universal Design for Learning:
Three Principles
1. Multiple means of engagement (Affective) WHY?
+ to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase
motivation
+ New research that this is MORE important than originally given credit
for…
2. Multiple means of representation (Recognition)WHAT?
+ to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge
3. Multiple means of expression (Strategic) HOW?
+ to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know
Helps to reduce barriers for individuals with disabilities but also enhances opportunities for every
student and honors different learning styles.

26. …these inventions will produce
forgetfulness in the souls of those who use it.
They will not need to exercise their
minds…It equips pupils with only a
semblance of learning, not true learning.
Thanks to these inventions, students will be
without benefit of a teacher’s instruction…
Plato - circa 387 b.c.
This person was referring to
BOOKS…
A Criticism of New Technology
An
adaptation
of:

27. Universal Design for Learning
+ UDL is a framework that aims to accommodate a broad
spectrum of learners by requiring a range of options for
accessing, using and engaging with learning materials.
+ UDL principles help educators proactively design goals,
methods, materials and assessment that address the full
range of student variability in today’s learning environments.
+ These multiple means of representation, expression and
engagement reduce barriers for individuals with disabilities
but also enhance opportunities for every student.
The key is flexibility not uniformity. And CHOICE.

28. Strategic Networks

29. UDL Guidelines

30. From Jeff Deidrich and Jamie Basham

31. UDL and Assistive Technology
• AT looks at overcoming the barriers the
Individual faces in the environment
• UDL looks at making the learning
environment as flexible and
accommodating as possible
• BOTH approaches strive to insure the
access, participation and progress of
students with disabilities
From Joy Zabala and Skip
Stahl

32. From Jeff Deidrich and Jamie Basham

34. From Katie Novak

35. From Jeff Deidrich and Jamie Basham

36. From Jeff Deidrich and Jamie Basham

37. Why is UDL Important?
There is no such
thing as an
average student.
We must honor all
learning differences
and support
all students
in the classroom..

38. Todd Rose: The Myth of Average

39. Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)
• Audio
• Braille
• Large Print
• Digital Text
aem.cast.org

40. AEM - Accessible Educational
Materials
+ Print Based Disability
+ Sensory (Vision Impairment)
+ Physical
+ Organic (Learning Disability)
+ Chafee Amendment to Copyright law
+ Permits access to alternate formats for individuals with print-
based disability
+ Popular Digital Repositories
+ Learning Ally
+ Bookshare
+ Amazon Kindle
+ Audible
+ Many others

41. Popular Digital Text Comparisons

42. Lower Tech “Poll Everywhere”:
Plickers www.plickers.com
What are the 3 Principles of UDL?

43. Equality vs. Equity vs. UDL?

44. Transforming Education
With the right combination of general
education technology tools, good
educational strategies and the appropriate
assistive technology, all students can
successfully access the curriculum and
become lifelong learners.
UDL + AT + AAC + Education Professionals +
Community Supports = Education Transformation

45. The Case Against Assistive Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNs88Ki1WSo

46. AT:
+ www.joyzabala.com
+ www.qiat.org
+ http://setsig.iste.wikispaces.net
/
+ http://apps4stages.wikispaces.c
om/
+ http://www.fctd.info/
+ http://www.easterseals.com/m
a/
+ www.atia.org
Resources
AAC:
+ http://teachinglearnerswithmultip
leneeds.blogspot.com
+ www.praacticalaac.org
+ http://cehs.unl.edu/aac/connectin
g-young-kids-yaack/
+ www.lburkhart.com
+ www.spectronicsinoz.com
+ www.janefarrall.com
+ http://www.pinterest.com/lasend
ers
UDL
+ www.cast.org
+ www.udlcenter.org
+ www.udl-irn.org
+ http://aem.cast.org/

47. Thank you.
This is YOUR class…what would you like to explore?