WATR dispatch may 2021 enewsletter with picture of green mountains, blue sky with white clouds and river running in the valley.
wyoming assistive technology awareness day wednesday may 5 2021 at 215 pm images are of girl using eye gaze and a liftware spoon and the wyoming capitol
Witness Governor Mark Gordon sign the formal proclamation for Wyoming Assistive Technology Awareness Day, Wed., May 5 at 2:15 p.m. via Google Meet. Sponsored by the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities Assistive Technology Advisory Council.

Assistive Technology Awareness Day in Wyoming will bring attention to the importance of assistive technology and how residents can access services through Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR), the state’s AT Act Program.

Join through Google Meet video platform:
 

For captioning, click on this link at the time of the meeting and a new browser will open, then minimize on your screen so you can read the text and see the video at the same time:

Contact WATR staff with any questions. (307) 766-6187 | watr@uwyo.edu
WATR's Wyoming AT4ALL Website
Has Gone Through a Website Redesign!

The Wyoming AT4ALL website is your entry point to view assistive technology available for short-term loan through Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR). You can search by device name or category. When you create an account, you can make a direct request for the AT device(s) of interest, locate and request lightly used devices or durable medical equipment available in reuse, or list your own items for sale or donation.

Please contact WATR for further assistance:
watr@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-6187
Woman teacher pointing to a tablet a girl child is holding. Another boy student sits in the background.
Join the
Wyoming Assistive Technology Teams
Development Project

Based on results from a recent needs assessment, the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND), Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR), the Wyoming Accessible Educational Materials Clearinghouse (AEM), and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) have partnered to offer four districts or regions in Wyoming the opportunity to develop an Assistive Technology (AT) Team.

The AT Teams will work collaboratively to assist a child with a disability and the IEP team with the selection, acquisition and use of an AT device.

No fee to apply or participate.

View the flyer for more specifics about the program.


Direct questions to: aem@uwyo.edu | (307) 766-5770
ASL Summer 2021 Com Dis class
Summer 2021
American Sign Language (ASL)
SPPA 2110 Online Asynchronous Class
May 24 - August 13, 2021
For more information about this ASL course, visit the Division of Communication Disorders website:

Training and Technical Assistance
UW ECHO IN
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Bi-weekly Thursdays
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT

May 6: Family, Support, Autism, and AT - Presenter: Susan Delicath, parent. In this session, Susan will share her perspective on using assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication devices with her son.

May 20: ECHO in AT Wrap-Up -
This is our last session until September 2021!
Join this session and let us know what topics you would like to see during the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 sessions, as well as provide any feedback on the didactic or case presentations you have joined in on.

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. 

Certificate Offered for Viewing Previously Recorded Sessions:
ECHO AT Asynchronous Learning: A new course offered to Wyoming residents provides participants an opportunity to view previously recorded UW ECHO in Assistive Technology didactic sessions from Fall 2020 through Spring 2021. Participants who complete activities per module will be awarded a Certificate of Completion for one contact hour for continuing education units (CEUs).


woman providing device demo to man at table
Weekly Virtual Open Lab
Device Demonstrations

Open Labs will continue to be provided through Zoom distance technology on
Wednesdays and Thursdays between and 2-4 p.m. until further notice. Ongoing device sanitization procedures will continue.
Join Open Lab for 15 minutes or as long as your time allows between 2 and 4 p.m. on the following Wednesdays or Thursdays through Zoom video conferencing technology from your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android using this link: https://bit.ly/watr-open-lab

Open Lab themes are created to feature technology. Questions about other WATR devices or services are welcome!

May 5 & 6: Assistive Technology and Autism - (The May 5th lab will begin at 2:45 p.m. due to AT Awareness Day signing). Learn about the devices WATR has available for short-term loan that can assist an individual of any age with Autism in their daily routines or education. Also, consider registering for our ECHO in AT session on Thursday, May 6 for Family Support, Autism, and AT. In this session, you will meet a parent that will share their perspective on using AT/AAC with their child.

May 12 & 13: Assistive Technology and Transition - Learn about what assistive technology WATR has available that can aid a student or adult transitioning into employment, higher education, or living independently.

May 19 & 20: What is ECHO in AT? - Join Open Lab and learn about ECHO in Assistive Technology (AT), which is held bi-weekly through Zoom in the fall and spring providing 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. Also consider joining our last spring session ECHO in AT Wrap-Up on Thursday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT. Join in and let us know what topics you would like to see during the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 sessions, as well as provide any feedback.

May 26 & 27: Low Vision and Hearing Loss Devices - Learn about technology solutions WATR has for short term loans that would aid individuals in their daily lives who have low vision or hearing loss, such as the Eschenbach SmartLux Digital Magnifier or the Pocketalker Ultra Personal Hearing Amplifier.

To view the up-to-date schedule and read more about Open Labs visit:
Device Loans and Reuse Equipment
Wyoming AT4ALL
Loan and Reuse Equipment
WATR' s assistive technology (AT) device loan library and reuse listings are available through the Wyoming AT4ALL website. To read more about WATR's device loan library, visit: http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/watr/loans.html

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
by phone (307) 766-6187 or email watr@uwyo.edu.
Featured Equipment for Loan and Reuse
two UbiDuo3 devices with text to speech on one
The UbiDuo 3 TTS-1 (Text-to-Speech-one side) adds a voice to sComm’s signature real-time split-screen communication solution, along with the new enhanced built-in speaker and voice technology. This feature not only benefits those who are blind or who have visual impairments, but also allows others to listen simultaneously.
Two mini cassettes and a Sony Pressman Micro Cassette Recorder
SONY Pressman Micro-cassette Voice Recorder with VOR
(Voice Operated Recording).
Two micro-cassettes and two AA batteries are included.
Perfectly suitable for recording client meetings, lectures, and personal notes.
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.


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

WIND WATR and AEM logos