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].

Join Us for an Exciting New Event IHD Evidence for Success VIRTUAL Mini-Conference July 20 & 21, 2020 Assistive Technology Innovative Practices in Disability Disciplines

Choose from 17 virtual sessions Featuring nationally known speakers and local experts Earn up to 10 CE Credit Hours

The Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University and the Arizona Technology Access Program are introducing the IHD Virtual Academy, an online learning environment focused on evidence based practices in disability disciplines. We invite you to join our first event:

• 2 day mini-conference
• 17 diverse sessions selected from this summer's in-person conference which was cancelled due to COVID-19
• Featuring nationally recognized speakers Jonathan Martinis, Gayl Bowser and Mo Buti along with numerous local and regional experts
• Topics covered include Employment, Education (K-12), AAC, American Indian Rehabilitation Service (AIVRS), Community Living and more!
• Four 75 minute sessions each day, with 2 or 3 concurrent session options per time-slot
• Earn up to 5 CE credit hours per day - 10 CE credit hours for the entire mini-conference
  • Northern Arizona University and Arizona Department of Education CEU certificates
  • CRCs offered

Great value and very affordable pricing!

3 Registration and Cost Options:

• Option 1: Monday, July 20 only - COST:  $15
• Option 2: Tuesday, July 21 only - COST:  $15
• Option 3: Full 2-Day Conference - COST:  $25

NOTE: Participants can choose up to FOUR 75-minute sessions per day!

Upon registration and payment, participants will get links to all the sessions they can choose from so they can sign-up for the sessions they want.

Click here for more information, including the conference program and the presenter bios.

If you have any questions, please contact Adi Schaeffer at [email protected] or 602.728.9534.

We hope to see you on July 20 & 21, 2020!

Special Education Directors,

The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is pleased to offer a weekly Virtual Meetup hour every Friday. ADE/ESS AT Specialists Mitch Galbraith, OTR, Margaret Egan, PT, and ADE Assistive Technology Short Term Loan Library coordinator, Mike Buckley, are here to support your needs and answer your questions with the first virtual meetup scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Mitch, Margaret, and Mike will answer your assistive technology questions (but not IT questions!). Participants will type/dictate their questions into the Chat Box (please do not use identifiable information), and the ESS AT team will answer them during the hour. Participants will be muted during this chat so that people do not talk over each other, and the team will address as many of the questions as possible during the hour. All remaining questions will be gathered and answers posted on an ADE/ESS AT Padlet. Registration for the virtual meetup will allow the AT team access to your contact information so the Padlet can be sent directly to you.

These sessions will improve the ESS/AT team’s understanding of your needs and help to formulate trainings to address the needs of your students, as well as identify tools and strategies you can use with students virtually.

Join us for this 60-minute (Zoom) virtual meetup!

To continue to problem-solve regarding virtual learning, ESS/AT is developing short videos called “Quick AT Tips” that will be available for you to view on your own time. The team will post the links on the Assistive Technology Website as each tip is completed. We would appreciate feedback on topics, questions, and needs for your general education, special education, and related service provider staff.

Register for this event here

Questions regarding the Virtual Meet-up can be sent to the AT Inbox.