Northern Rockies AER
Conference 2021
Registration is open for the Northern Rockies Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NRAER) Conference, which will be held at the Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, Cody, WY, October 26 - 28, 2021.
Join the NRAER Conference for three days of learning and networking. Sessions will be geared to address the learning needs of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, and others working with individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Please direct all inquiries about this conference to:
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The Wyoming AEM Clearinghouse
Has Learning Ally Seats Available!
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Do you have struggling readers who could benefit from audio materials? Would you like to test out an audiobook solution for one school year? |
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Alternate format materials can make all the difference for a struggling reader. Students with visual impairments, blindness, dyslexia, or other learning difficulties, and students with certain physical impairments can all benefit from accessing educational materials in audio, braille, large print, or digital formats.
Learning Ally is an online repository of accessible textbooks and educational materials designed for students with reading difficulties. Books can be easily accessed from a web browser or through the Learning Ally app. Teachers can manage student accounts and keep track of reading frequency and progress. In addition, Learning Ally offers a suite of educator resources for supporting students.
The Wyoming Accessible Educational Materials Clearinghouse has a limited number of Learning Ally seats available to qualifying students in Wyoming. This gives students and teachers the opportunity to try Learning Ally for the full school year. If you find that it meets your needs, we will work with your district to set up your own Learning Ally account.
Please contact AEM for more information! (307) 766-5770 | aem@uwyo.edu
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Training and Technical Assistance |
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UW ECHO IN
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Bi-weekly Thursdays
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT
September 9: Assistive Technology and Teamwork with Gayl Bowser, Independent Consultant, Terri Wofford, M.S., CCC-SLP, Ryan Rausch, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, and Shelby Kappler, ATS. Join our first Fall session and find out why teamwork is such an important part of an AT assessment. Register here for this session.
September 23: OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) AT Internet Modules: Resources for AT Assessments with Jan Rogers, Program Director, and Heather Bridgeman, AT Consultant with OCALI will review their AT internet modules. Register here for this session.
The University of Wyoming ECHO in Assistive Technology (UW ECHO in AT) provides training and the sharing of best practices for educators and service providers to consider, implement and evaluate the use of assistive technology to improve outcomes for students.
Network participants include assistive technology professionals, specialists and teams, school administrators, general and special education teachers, para-educators, case managers, school counselors, school psychologists, state agency staff, and special education service providers, including OTs, PTs, SLPs, etc.
Credits offered:
PTSB and STARS. Graduate credit is offered at an additional expense to the participant. A certificate of attendance will be provided at the end of the Fall and Spring sessions.
We are looking for ECHO in AT case presenters! The benefits of presenting a difficult student or client case you may be encountering during an ECHO in AT session include; receiving feedback on current strategies, learn how to implement best practices with fidelity, and improve individual and program outcomes by reducing variations in services and support. Read more about client case presentations here.
Certificate Offered for Viewing Previously Recorded Sessions:
ECHO AT Asynchronous Learning: This course is offered to Wyoming residents and provides participants an opportunity to view previously recorded UW ECHO in Assistive Technology didactic sessions, and will begin in the Fall of 2021 through the Spring of 2022. Participants who complete activities per module will be awarded a Certificate of Completion for one contact hour for continuing education units (CEUs).
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Registration Open for
Free Online Course!
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Assessment Process AAC-1001
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Designed for Speech-Language Pathologists, AAC Assessment Process participants will:
• Develop working definitions of AAC terminology
• Learn about several AAC assessment framework models
• Be introduced to a variety of AAC assessment tools
• Learn about the importance of feature matching and device trials
• Learn about the key components required in the AAC/ Speech Generating Device (SGD) report for funding
Course Dates: Oct. 11 - Dec. 13, 2021
Capacity: Minimum 5, maximum 20 participants
Continuing Education: Course participants are eligible for 21 CEUs and
1.5 PTSB credits
Instructor: Terri Wofford, M.S., CCC-SLP, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
***Wyoming participants who successfully complete the course will be entered into a drawing for an AAC Assessment Toolbox, valued at approximately $200.00!
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Weekly Open Lab
Device Demonstrations
Join Open Labs through Zoom distance technology or in person by appointment on
Wednesdays and Thursdays, anytime between and 2-4 p.m.
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Join through Zoom video conferencing technology from your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device using this link: https://bit.ly/watr-open-lab or contact WATR staff to set up an in-person appointment to trial devices.
Open Lab themes are created to feature technology. Questions about other WATR devices or services are welcome!
September 1 & 2: Technology to Aid Senior Citizens – Learn about assistive technology WATR has available for senior citizens to use in their daily lives and to help with social isolation, such as Reminder Rosie Personal Voice Reminder, or keeping connected with loved ones using the GrandPad, a simplified computer tablet.
September 8 & 9: Welcome back to ECHO in AT! - WATR kicks off our fall bi-weekly ECHO in AT sessions on Thursday, September 9 @ 11 a.m. with Assistive Technology and Teamwork. Visit Open Lab to learn about ECHO in AT and how the sharing of best practices for educators and service providers can help consider, implement, and evaluate the use of assistive technology, which can then improve outcomes for students. Bring your questions!
September 15 & 16: Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and Fall 2021 Considerations - As the school year begins, it’s time to think about students with print disabilities in your classes. How do you know if a student could benefit from alternate format materials? Join us this week in Open Lab to learn about assessment strategies and tools that could help your struggling readers.
September 22 & 23: Resources for AT Assessments – Join Open Lab this week to learn about resources that can help with assistive technology assessments. Also consider joining ECHO in AT on Thursday, September 23 @ 11 a.m. and meet OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) Jan Rogers, Program Director, and Heather Bridgman, AT Consultant, and review their AT Internet Modules.
September 29 & 30: Built-in Accessibility Features - Learn about the various built-in accessibility features on your device that are extensions to its operating system. These features affect the behavior of the system regardless of which applications are running, such as text-to-speech, color contrasts, or magnification.
To view the up-to-date schedule and read more about Open Labs visit:
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Device Loans and Reuse Equipment |
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Apps Available for Trial: WATR has various apps related to speech communication, learning, reading, vision, and daily living activities to trial on a loaner iPad or iPod or on your own personal Apple device through our Volume Purchase Program (VPP).
Please contact WATR for more information on these services
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Featured Equipment for Loan and Reuse |
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The rechargeable PFM PRO RCH delivers superior audio directly to the ear, enhancing sound at home, work, or school, anywhere background noise or distance from the source makes listening difficult. A versatile 3.5mm jack allows for a variety of earphones and headphone options. |
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The Permobil M300 is running and functional, with some wear and tear.
However, it is missing the 24 volt 8 amp wheelchair battery charger, which will need to be purchased for this chair.
Seat measures approx. 17" W x 20" L
Located in Laramie, Wyoming. Pick-up arrangements will need to be made.
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Accepting Lightly-Used Assistive Technology
The WATR Reuse Program is looking for lightly-used assistive technology to make available to others who could benefit from the use of those devices or technologies in their daily lives. Donated devices will be sanitized prior to sale.
Visit the WATR reuse website to complete the online donation form and provide more information about what lightly-used assistive technology you are wanting to donate. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (307) 766-6187.
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Need financial assistance in purchasing assistive technology and live in Wyoming? Consider a WyTAP loan!
Explore options for funding AT through this WATR publication. A great resource to review prior to purchasing assistive technology.
WATR posts weekly features about loans, reuse and Open Labs on WIND's Facebook page.
Collaborating Projects
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