Penny Reed, PhD, is an independent consultant in AT services and provides training on a variety of topics related to AT with a special focus on improving delivery of AT services. Dr. Reed has a BS in elementary education, an MS and PhD in special education, and certification as both a principal and special education administrator. She was the director of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) for many years and serves on the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) Leadership Team. She is a founding member of the QIAT Consortium, the National Assistive Technology in Education Network, and the Coalition for Assistive Technology in Oregon. Dr. Reed has authored and co-authored numerous articles and manuals, including her most recent publication, Best Practices in Special Education: A Framework for Assistive Technology (2022), co-authored with Gayl Bowser.
Workshop Description:
Are you confused about your responsibility to provide assistive technology devices and services?
Are you frustrated with delays in obtaining AT assessments from sources outside of your district or the cost of those assessments?
Are you looking for an efficient, effective way to determine a student's need for Assistive Technology?
Then this workshop is for you.
Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessment Made Easy
This activity-packed workshop will present a team-based model for completing assistive technology (AT) consideration and assessment. It begins with a brief overview of the laws related to the provision of AT services in the schools, including AT Consideration and Assessment. Participants will examine and discuss AT Consideration forms to determine what works for them. Then, an AT Assessment process will be explained. Specific, easy-to-follow forms will be provided. Participants will use the forms for guided practice in completing the AT Assessment process. The training will end with pointers for implementation planning. It is most beneficial if participants can attend as a team.
If you have questions regarding this training, please email our AT inbox.
Kelli has a background in general education and special education classrooms. She holds a master’s degree in Learning and Technology with teaching licensing in both general and special education. Kelli has keynote, national, state, and local presentation and training experience. She has a strong understanding of and ability to connect theory to practice. Her instructional experience has been with students requiring mild, moderate, and intense intervention. Kelli’s specializations include Universal Design for Learning, Autism, Accessible Educational Materials & Assistive Technology, Google Chrome Accessibility & Integration, and Specific Learning Disabilities.
Workshop Description:
This workshop will explore ways to debunk the mindset of “it’s cheating” through personal stories, understanding learning disabilities, short simulations, discussion of the different skill sets of reading, and the “what” of accessible educational materials (AEM) and most importantly the “why.” Attendees will learn about and have access to free/low-cost simple AT tools for Mac, PC, iOS, and Chrome extensions to turn classroom worksheets and documents into accessible formats, instruction for independent student access, and other assistive technology options.
Assistive Technology integration for All students
Creating our classroom instruction with learner variability in the forefront will allow us to be mindful in meeting the needs of all of our students. Oftentimes, the use of assistive technology is the appropriate accommodation to meet those needs. Statements such as “That’s cheating. They need to do that by themselves,” are often comments aligned with the use of appropriate accommodations of accessible educational materials (AEM) and assistive technology (AT) for students with specific disabilities. But how can we promote a culture of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and at the same time step outside of our “No, it’s not cheating,” echo chamber to have meaningful conversations with educators who may see AT accommodations as a crutch?
If you have questions regarding this training, please email our AT inbox.
Fall Regional Professional Development (Northern AZ)
Come to this make-and-take workshop to learn how to create a variety of easy-to-assemble learning tools made with paper, PVC pipe, and other materials found in your storage rooms, garages, and hardware stores. Leave with lots of DIY learning tools to use in your classroom the very next day, including iPad stands, tactile rulers, weighted pencils, and more (seats are limited).
Locations:
Camp Verde
Date: September 28, 2022, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Where: Camp Verde Unified School District
Address: 280 Camp Lincoln Road, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Are you confused about your responsibility to provide assistive technology devices and services? Are you looking for an efficient, effective way to determine a student's need for Assistive Technology? Do you wish you could get your hands on some of the AT that is out there?
Then this workshop is for you! Come explore a wide range of tools and resources to increase your understanding of how to effectively consider assistive technology for all your students (seats are limited).
Locations:
Camp Verde
Date: September 29, 2022, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Where: Camp Verde Unified School District
Address: 280 Camp Lincoln Road, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
If you have questions regarding these training, please email our AT inbox.
Assistive Technology—Just One Thing (AT-JOT) Register For The Lunch Or After-School Session.
Sometimes focusing and organizing thoughts, ideas, and information in reading, writing, and math can be a real challenge for students. Join us at this JOT to learn about graphic organizers that may help struggling students understand, remember, and apply information, and help students see connections, patterns, and relationships. We will explore how students can use a variety of these templates to organize their ideas with visual maps, diagrams, and pictures. Come, learn and take away your favorite graphic organizer to use with your students the very next day.
Everything you need to know about keyboards with special guest speaker Matthew Press, OTR/L, ATP. In this session, participants will learn about increasing keyboard productivity for various abilities focusing on ergonomics, shortcuts, accessibility options, and keyboard alternatives.
Did you know MacBooks have accessibility features built into their operating system? Teach your students to use these accessibility features that are right at their fingertips and you can help them improve their independence and performance at school and at home. Come to this session and in 30 minutes learn about some of the valuable tools you can implement the next day.
There are lots of great reasons to use cooking in your classroom or therapy sessions. Cooking is engaging, fun, and multi-sensory. Cooking can be used to target language, math, literacy, social and transition goals, and more. But when you have students who can't read recipes independently, it’s hard to find the time to create the photo-based recipes they need. Come to this JOT to learn about “The Accessible Chef”. Use this incredible free resource to choose from hundreds of ready-to-use photo-based recipes. We’ll also look at some easy ways to use their free templates to make your own photo- or symbol-based recipes, and how to easily modify existing recipes to meet the needs of all your students. Leave this session ready to get cooking!
Join Judith Schoonover MED, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA, as she teaches you how to fabricate fabulous foldable. Did you know it is possible to create a kinesthetic tool for viewing and organizing information from a simple sheet of paper and a few strategic scissor snips? Use folded paper creations to display step-by-step directions, a To-Do list, parts of a story, the scientific process, class schedules...the possibilities are endless! Learn how to create mini-books, Venn diagrams, pocket folders, and more. Discussion and exchange of ideas will be encouraged throughout the session and a resource folder of instructions and examples will be provided.
You might think of Google Slides as just an alternative to PowerPoint. But special educators use Slides for all kinds of things besides making presentations. We’ll take a look at different ways to use Google Slides in the classroom - morning meeting slides, choice boards, schedules/visual supports, and more! Come to this session and get ready to “slide” into the New Year!
Join Anne Page, SLP, and Emily Gaylord, PT as they share how they created an AAC Club for AAC users across three different classrooms at one of their schools. They'll tell how they started and how they keep the focus on fun, movement, exploration of each device, and socializing. Get ideas on how you can start an AAC Club at your school.
ADE/ESS is acutely aware of the shortage of qualified special education teachers and related service providers across Arizona. ESS has multiple activities and programs to support PEAs to confront this shortage every school year. The ESS Recruitment and Retention team has created Developing a Grow Your Own Program: A Guide for Special Education Administrators as a reference as you consider developing and implementing a Grow Your Own program as part of your own recruitment and retention efforts.
The ADE/ESS Assistive Technology (AT) team is excited to announce the 2022–2023 National Presenter Series with Kelli Suding, MEd. This workshop is designed for special educators and related service providers.
“Assistive Technology Integration for All Students”
