Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is pleased to announce the final session in our 2021-2022 AT Builders National Presenter Series. This workshop is designed for special educators and related service providers: “Designing and Delivering Empowering Experiences to Teach Language Using AAC.”

Date: Friday, May 13, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. (Seats are limited; register now!)

Fee:  No Cost (lunch on your own)

Where: Peoria Unified School District

Address: 6330  W. Thunderbird Road Glendale, AZ 85306

Course Description: 

This interactive experience explores strategies for teaching even the youngest students language by engineering environments so all communicators have opportunities for rich, meaningful practice of language in the context of everyday routines. Learn current best practices regarding Augmentative and Alternative Communication principles such as how to support language learning, select appropriate vocabulary and get Augmentative and Alternative Communication users engaged in the process. Explore how to design educational experiences using interactive technologies which empower the learner and their support network to achieve their lifelong language goals, how to build the skills of communication partners, and how training centered on coaching empowers parents and educators to take ownership of promoting the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems all day long, in all environments. 

Registration:

Register for May 13

Email questions you have regarding this professional learning opportunity to our AT inbox.

About:

Rachel Madel, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Los Angeles-based speech-language pathologist and communication expert dedicated to coaching parents and professionals on how to incorporate technology to best support speech and language development. Rachel presents both nationally and abroad on the use of augmentative alternative communication (AAC) for children with complex communication needs and coaches clinicians, teachers, and parents on integrating technology in classrooms and at home to support communication. Her work has been featured in Autism Parenting Magazine, Speech Science, Practical AAC, Xceptional Ed, Teachers with Apps, and ChildNEXUS.

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA, CCC‐SLP is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris and Rachel co-host the Talking With Tech podcast featuring interviews and conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Chris has hosted The A.T.TIPSCAST podcast and is the author of The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For All, published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). He is co-author of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year Chris has presented over 500 live or digital sessions at local, regional, state, national, and international events, including TEDx.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to announce our first in-person professional learning opportunities of the 2021–2022 AT Builders National Presenter Series with Judith Schoonover for special educators and related service providers.

“Want to ‘Make’ a Difference? Promote ParticipATion with Easily Found Materials!” with Judith Schoonover.  

Date: April 7, 2022, from 8:45a.m.–3:45p.m. (Seats are limited; rsvp now!)

Fee: $35 (includes a light breakfast, a box lunch, and all materials)

Where: Sunnyside Unified School District #12 (Palo Verde Portable)

Address: 2238 East Ginter Road, Tucson, AZ 85706

Description:

Never underestimate the power of using what is available or easily acquired as a first step to supporting young learners or those with exceptional needs. A common misconception is that all assistive technology is complicated and expensive. Finding new uses for familiar tools is a means to increase “buy-in” by all involved. Whether working virtually or face-to-face, simple adaptations with easily found materials can make a difference and empower users, caregivers, and educators to come up with their own interventions. This make-and-take workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to create PVC tools from items found in hardware stores (PVC pipe, joints, and cutters) and to assemble them in minutes, as well as to make simple manipulatives to support physical access and learning. A variety of free and low-cost materials for learning and play environments will be shared. Discussion and exchange of ideas will be encouraged throughout the session. Participants will leave with tangible tools to use the next day and with a digital file of additional resources and directions to continue their “making” a difference journey.

Objectives:

1. Participants will name three or more familiar tools used in unique ways to increase participation.
2. Participants will discuss three or more DIY tools that can be fabricated from easily found materials.
3. Participants will list three or more features that can be represented more than one way from light tech to high tech.

About

Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA is an occupational therapist and former elementary school teacher. She is certified as an assistive technology professional (ATP) by Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America RESNA and was a founding member of the Loudoun County Public Schools Assistive Technology Team. Judith has provided direct services in schools for more than 44 years and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker presenting on the topics of school-based occupational therapy, transition, literacy, and assistive technology. She has authored numerous articles, and chapters in Early Childhood: Occupational Therapy Services for Children Birth to Five, Occupational Therapy for Children (6th–8th eds.), Best Practices in School Occupational Therapy, Assistive Technologies, and Occupational Therapy and Transitions: A Cross-System Perspective. She participated in National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) workgroups addressing response to intervention (RTI), transition, and virtual schools. Currently, Judith represents American Occupational Therapy Association AOTA on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities; she is a Strand Advisor for The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference and serves on the editorial board of the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits (ATOB) Journal.

RSVP for April 7, 2022

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to the AT Inbox.

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to offer a free virtual professional learning opportunity by nationally known presenter Tony Vincent.  Registration information is available below:

Digital Learning Construction: Tools with Tony Vincent

March 22, 23, and 24, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Pixels to Paper (Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.)

In this session, you will be able to see the variety of printable creations you can make in Google Slides or PowerPoint. These creations are not ordinary printouts! Learn to make your own tear-off sheets, table toppers, multipage posters, door hangers, brochures, dice, scratch cards, and foldable mini-books. These printable items can serve as visual scaffolds, handy reminders, or learning artifacts for students.

Register to attend March 22

Live Transcription will be available for all webinars. If you require additional accommodations to participate in this webinar, please register no later than 71 hours in advance of this meeting.

Google Forms Awesomeness (Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.)

Google Forms is awesome, but you already knew that. It’s great how responses feed directly into a spreadsheet for easy access and analysis. You can create assessments, surveys, checkout forms, and quizzes for students. You can also poll colleagues, collect information from parents, and keep logs. If you dig into the settings, you can do even more!

Register to attend March 23

Live Transcription will be available for all webinars. If you require additional accommodations to participate in this webinar, please register no later than 71 hours in advance of this meeting.

Electrify Any Lesson 2.0 (Thursday, March 24, 2022 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.)

Tony's most popular presentation is updated with all new ways to make learning irresistible. Experience Tony's new favorite low-prep lesson hooks, conversation starters, and tools to make any lesson extra special.

Register to attend March 24

Live Transcription will be available for all webinars. If you require additional accommodations to participate in this webinar, please register no later than 71 hours in advance of this meeting.

About Tony Vincent

Tony Vincent has been a pioneer in digital learning. Tony left regular teaching in 2006 to work with teachers worldwide. After years of self-employment as an education and technology presenter, Tony went back to the classroom to teach fifth grade in Council Bluffs, Iowa for the 2018-2019 school year. While he’s proud to have led workshops and presentations in almost all 50 states, empowering his students to be creative thinkers is his favorite professional accomplishment. Tony is a prolific sharer, approachable, and he consistently selects practical tools and strategies that can be implemented right away. To see what Tony shares online, click on over to the Learning in Hand website, where you can explore his website and find his social media links. And, if you spend a little time with Tony, you’re likely to hear about his charming nine-year-old twins.

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].

Dear Special Education Directors,

The Arizona Department of Education Assistive Technology team continues our 2021 AT National Presenter Series with Beth Poss.  

About

Beth Poss is a speech/language pathologist, educational and technology consultant, accessibility advocate, and former assistant principal. She is currently the Director of Educational Programs for LessonPix. Beth is passionate about designing educational environments that support all students in accessing a rigorous curriculum and meeting educational outcomes. Areas of special interest include Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Coaching to Build Educational Success, the Use of Technology in Early Childhood, Designing Inclusive Learning Environments, Supporting Social-Emotional Learning to Promote Academic Success, and Culturally Responsive Teaching. She is one of the authors of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year.

December 7, 2021 3:30–5:00 p.m. (Arizona time)

An Eye on Visuals: Strategies to Support All Learners by Beth Poss

Visual supports are critical in meeting the needs of learners with disabilities. This 90-minute session will explore the benefits of using visuals to improve social-emotional, behavioral, learning, and communication skills in school-aged learners. We will examine best practices in using a range of visual supports, including first/then boards, visual schedules, token economies, and social stories. Learn about both high tech and low tech visual supports, including printed materials; hands-on, kinesthetic materials; and digital tools. Participants will learn specific strategies for integrating visual supports into the therapy room and the classroom as well as ideas to support families’ home routines. The first 60 people to register and attend will receive a very special holiday gift! 

Register for An Eye on Visuals

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].

Special Education Directors,

Please share this announcement with your staff.

Assistive Technology (AT) National Presenter Series 

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology team is kicking off our 2021 AT National Presenter Series with Chris Bugaj. Chris is offering 3 separate presentations, attend one or attend all!

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA, CCC‐SLP, is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris co-hosts the Talking with Tech podcast, and has hosted The A.T. TIPSCAST, a multi‐award winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences.

Designing Educational Experiences for All!

10/19/2021 4:00–5:15 p.m. (Arizona time)

This session will allow participants to take the opportunity to mesh contemporary educational principles such as Universal Design for Learning, the Growth Mindset, Project-Based Learning, the Maker Movement, the Least Restrictive Option, and the use of technology to transform practices to empower students of all abilities to take charge of their own learning.

Registration link:

Register for the Designing Educational Experiences for All! session

Feature Presentation! Necessary Considerations for Technology Implementation

10/20/2021 4:00–5:15 p.m.  (Arizona time)

What’s the point of technology in educational design? What features of technology can be used to design educational experiences that work for every learner? Participants will explore a wide variety of necessary features presented by different technologies that can be used as universal supports for learners in inclusive learning environments. Leave with practical ideas for how to consider, select, and implement contemporary technologies for instructional experiences. 

Registration link: 

Register for the Necessary Considerations for Technology Implementation session

Seven Up! 7 Ways to Boost Your AAC Implementation

10/21/2021 4:00–5:15 p.m. (Arizona time)

Teaching core vocabulary and using partner-augmented input/aided language stimulation are practices more widely implemented now than ever before. This session will focus on seven additional factors that can be used to boost the language acquisition process.

Registration link:

Register for the 7 Ways to Boost Your AAC Implementation session 

Dear Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is kicking off its 2020 AT Builders National Presenter Series with Chris Bugaj, “Make Learning Awesome for All.” This learning series requires a commitment of four weeks, and includes pre-recorded videos that are available to view at your convenience. Participants are asked to ensure they can meet the full time commitment prior to registering. The series includes the following training times:

• Monday, September 28
  • 3:00 - 4:15 PM Live Kick-off and 75 min. pre-recorded session
• Monday, October 5 
  • 75 min. pre-recorded session
• Monday, October 12
  • 75 min. pre-recorded session 
• Monday, October 19
  • 3:00 - 4:30 PM Live Q & A 

Students of all abilities head off to kindergarten with bright smiles, eager for the journey of discovery, and with a passion for learning. Then, somewhere along the way, school becomes a chore. It transforms from an experience students want to do into something they have to do. For many, one of the first lessons they learn in schools is that they are not good at it. This is particularly true for students with disabilities.

Let’s shift that paradigm by rethinking how we design educational experiences to empower every student to embrace their passion for learning. Participants in this interactive event will discuss contemporary educational principles such as Universal Design for Learning, Growth Mindset, Project Based Learning, The Maker Movement, and the use of innovative technologies to transform practices by empowering learners to achieve their own goals.

Engage in an evidence-driven method for determining which supports should be made universally available to all students while focusing on specific strategies using technology supports. Come to the session as an educator and leave, transformed, as an Educational Experience Designer!

Please click here to register. Participant registration is first-come, first-served and is not limited to special educators – feel free to forward.

Questions regarding this professional learning opportunity can be sent to [email protected].