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Increasing student achievement by the systemic alignment of technology, policies, and curriculum through a multi-tiered system of supports in a universal education setting.
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Headline
- Passport to Learning: February 2023 Expeditions!
Editorial
- Message from Jose Castillo, Ph.D., Director, PS/RtI Project
Welcome New TLC Staff
- Essa Kennedy SLP, M.S.
- Danalyn Workentin OTD, OTR/L, ATP
AT & UDL Loan Library Updates & More
- GoTalk Duo
- GoTalk Fit
- Nova Chat 5
- FSA Accommodations
- FSA Practice Test Guide
- Accommodations Manual
TLC Website Updates
- AI Artist Resources
- Resource Request Form
Let us know how we can help you this year!
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Passport to Learning is a free micro-credential professional learning system that is designed for Florida educators, specialists, and related service providers that serve Florida students. You, the "traveler," can apply for a "passport" (an online account) and sign up for a travel package. Then, along with fellow travelers and a travel guide, you will explore a variety of destinations, create souvenirs, and keep a scrapbook. Travel completion includes a stamp in your passport, inservice points, and optional CEUs. The more travel packages you complete, the more passport stamps, inservice points, and optional CEUs you will receive.
Expeditions starting in February 2023 include:
- Accessible Educational Materials
- Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Band 2
- Technology for Vision & Hearing, Band 2
- Physical Access & Participation
- Assistive Technology Assessment, Your Role
Sign-up January 30th - February 10th for an upcoming travel package by visiting https://www.tlc-mtss.com/passport!
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Check out this example souvenir from an
Assistive Technology Travel Expedition!
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This brochure, created by Michelle Hampel of the Pinellas School District, is a great example of an informational tool that provides service contact information as well as quick ideas for assistive technology tools for teachers and students to use in the classroom.
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A message from Jose Castillo, Ph.D.
Director, Problem Solving/Response to Intervention Project
We often think of technology, and particularly assistive technology, as an accommodation that allows students with disabilities to access curriculum, instruction, and assessments. When technology is identified that increases academic access and performance of a student with a disability, the IEP team will consider incorporating it into that student's IEP as assistive technology. Sometimes, though, we may be inadvertently missing opportunities to incorporate the many benefits of these types of technologies throughout all students’ educational experiences. The idea that any technology might benefit students from the beginning of their educational experience can be realized when a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is considered.
MTSS involves educators organizing their curriculum, instruction/intervention, and assessments into three tiers based on data. The big idea is that all students get Tier 1 instruction and assessments are used to evaluate whether they are benefiting from the instruction. Tier 2 and 3 supports involve more frequent intervention and progress monitoring to determine whether students identified as at-risk for not being successful are responding to the increased intervention. Rather than viewing Tier 1, 2, and 3 services as one-way streets, or hoops to jump through on the path to special education eligibility, we can think about them as opportunities to promote better outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities.
Rethinking the consideration of using any type of technology to promote access and engagement with curriculum, instruction, and assessment across the tiers of an MTSS can help all students increase the chance that they will be successful. When we use the principles of universal design for learning (UDL), we design Tier 1, 2, and 3 services in ways where all students can truly engage with the educational experience regardless of whether they are identified with a disability. It means not waiting until a student has been found eligible to provide technology as a means for supporting their learning. It means promoting student engagement through leveraging technology to promote students’ access to information, to facilitate educators’ design and delivery of instruction and intervention, to help students express what has been learned, and to help teachers assess that learning. We recognize that this vision represents a journey and not a quick change, but we have seen growth in how technology is used to support students in Florida and hope you will continue the journey with us to a place where all students will benefit.
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Essa Kennedy, M.S., SLP
Essa Kennedy is an AT & UDL Services Coordinator. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southern Connecticut State University, earning a MS in Early Childhood Special Education. She attended Nova Southeastern University where she earned her MS in Speech and Language Pathology. She holds a teaching certificate in Early Childhood Special Education and Speech Language Impaired. Essa is a licensed speech language pathologist (SLP) and is a certified member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). She has spent her career specializing in assistive technology including AIM, UDL and AAC with students with disabilities.
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Danalyn Workentin OTD, OTR/L, ATP
Danalyn Workentin is an AT & UDL Services Coordinator. She holds a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences from Boise State University. Danalyn has also earned RESNA’s board certification as an Assistive Technology Professional, demonstrating her expertise in Assistive Technology. Serving in rural school districts for over 10 years as an Occupational Therapist, she worked with her team for nearly 10 years, participating in Oregon’s Technology Assistance Program to support the provision of assistive technology services and the integration of UDL in the classroom. Her experience in rural areas and building capacity from the ground up make Danalyn an experienced asset to the TLC Team.
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AT & UDL Loan Library Updates & More | | |
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Weighing just a few ounces, Duo is a handy sized, mobile device that allows for quick one or two messages, up to 10 seconds long per message. Duo provides a quick and easy way to record messages and change overlays. Named for its duo mode, this device offers two-step sequencing and facilitates language exploration. Easy to use.
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The GoTalk Fit is a lightweight, portable voice output device that offers 2 grids (4 or 9 cells), with 3 levels of messaging for a total of 12 or 27 messages, for 20 seconds of time per message. Each level is easy to program through the use of different LED colors that make recording messages quick and easy. This small handheld device is an AAC solution that fits in your pocket.
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Nova Chat 5 - The NOVA Chat 5 is a communication system that offers Chat software on an Android platform. Features include:
- 5” touchscreen display, accessible by finger touch or an included stylus
- Switch scanning
- SymbolStix or PCS symbol sets, with included page sets and new vocabulary sets
- IVONA or Acapela speech synthesizers
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IEP teams (which includes the student) should be considering any testing accommodations that are needed, as well as developing and supporting the skills to select and use those accommodations. Be sure to check the list starting on page 2 of this guide.
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IEP teams should also be looking at all of the tools available to all students during testing, and consider if any training or support services are needed to build skills in selecting and using these universal testing tools effectively. The list of tools in the practice guide starts on page 15.
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Check out the BEESS Accommodations Guide for more information on the use of accommodations for students with disabilities.
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Artificial intelligence art systems provide all students new tools to create artworks and fully engage in visual arts learning activities, as well as create illustrations for stories and other projects. Our resources include explanations of AI art, links to tools, example visual arts standards for use in the classroom, and integration with common assistive technologies. Your students can get started today!
Check out our AI Artist page!
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We now have a great tool you can use to request additional information and resources on a variety of AT-AIM-UDL related topics. Just put in your email address and check the topics you are interested in. You will receive an email with links to more information and resources.
Check out our Resource Request page!
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This resource was funded through The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). The information and resources are provided as a free awareness service to the educational community and do not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. Please note that access to some resources may be blocked by individual school districts. | | | | |
