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Join WATR to Celebrate National Assistive Technology Awareness Day
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
On April 17, 2024, National Assistive Technology Awareness Day will celebrate and bring attention to the critical role that assistive technology (AT) plays in the lives of people with disabilities. The day will also recognize and commemorate AT specialists and program coordinators for their hard work and dedication to serving individuals with disabilities seeking proper AT to meet their individual needs, along with professional organizations and researchers dedicated to facilitating the access and acquisition of AT for individuals with disabilities and older adults.
Assistive technology, defined in the Assistive Technology Act, is any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities and older adults. Assistive technology provides people with disabilities the option to access education and the workplace, to live within their communities, and enjoy recreational activities.
Visit the WATR lab, UW College of Health Sciences, Room 151, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for device demonstrations and to learn about WATR services. Accessible parking is available in the Health Sciences parking lot at the intersection of 9th and Clark Streets. If you cannot join in person, you can schedule a personal 15-minute Zoom meeting between 3 p.m.and 4 p.m. with WATR staff. To get your Zoom link and time call (307) 766-6187 or email watr@uwyo.edu
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Riverside Plaza in Converse County Welcomes WATR's
AT Ambassador
WATR's Assistive Techonology (AT) Ambassador, Brooke Varland, hosted an assistive technology device demonstration table for senior residents who reside at the Riverside Plaza in Douglas, WY. They enjoyed seeing how assistive technology could assist them in their daily lives and learned about what services WATR offers.
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Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services, U.S. Department of Education, January 2024
The United States Department of Education released a fundamental document in January 2024. Designed to increase understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's (IDEA) assistive technology (AT) requirements, dispel common misconceptions regarding AT, provide examples of the use of AT devices and services for children with disabilities, and to highlight the different requirements under Part C and Part B of IDEA.
The document is intended for a wide range of individuals including parents, early intervention service providers, special educators, general educators, related services personnel, school and district administrators, technology specialists and directors, and employees at State lead agencies and educational agencies.
Myths and Facts Document
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Wyoming Assistive Technology Awareness Month Video Request
May 2024 is Wyoming’s Assistive Technology (AT) Awareness Month. We are asking Wyoming residents to help us celebrate!
Governor Mark Gordon will sign a proclamation to commemorate Assistive Technology Awareness Month. The actual day of this signing is to be determined.
In honor of this event, Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources and our AT Advisory Council will produce a celebratory video highlighting the value of AT in individual lives. If you are interested in completing a short (1 minute or less) video, please contact WATR. We request that completed videos be sent to us on or before April 19, 2024.
This video will be viewable on WATR’s website in May. You can view last year's video here: https://www.uwyo.edu/wind/watr/
Please contact WATR for more information by phone (307) 766-6187 or email watr@uwyo.edu.
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UW ECHO in Assistive Technology
Spring 2024 Learning Topic:
WATR Just Wants to Have Fun! Assistive Technology and Recreation
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Bi-weekly sessions are held virtually on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time
April 11: Casper Adaptive Biathlon/Paralympic with Robert Rosser, President of the Casper Mountain Biathlon Club
April 25: Therapeutic Adaptations for Horseback Riding
Network participants include users of assistive technology and their families, 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.
Important registration information: Since the fall of 2023, most ECHO sessions, including ECHO in Assistive Technology, are held on the new iECHO content management platform. Registering for and joining sessions now requires an iECHO account. You'll be prompted to create your account when you register for the first time. Sessions will still occur via Zoom, but you will access the Zoom link through the iECHO platform. You will receive the session link in an email 30 minutes before each session, and this is where you will access your session materials and Zoom link. **If you had registered for the fall 2023 series, you will now be included in the spring 2024 series.
The iECHO platform will allow you to:
- Directly connect to Zoom to join a session
- Access all session materials (also available in the Canvas course)
- One-time registration for all sessions during the semester
A short training video is available on how to register in iECHO.
ECHO in AT website
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Free Device Demonstrations
Schedule an appointment with WATR to test assistive technology devices. WATR staff are available both in-person in Laramie as well as through Zoom videoconferencing technology.
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Increase understanding of the types of devices that can help with specific needs, such as speech communication or reading mail.
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Improve knowledge of a device's features, and how those features differ from other devices that perform similar functions.
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Increase understanding of how device(s) can help at work, in school, at home, and in your community.
You can request a device demonstration by using our online request form or contact WATR by calling
(307) 766-2051 or email watr@uwyo.edu
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Device Loans and Reuse through
Wyoming AT4ALL
WATR' s assistive technology (AT) device loan library and reuse listings are available through the Wyoming AT4ALL website.
Please contact WATR for more information on these services by phone (307) 766-6187 or email watr@uwyo.edu.
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Featured Device for Short-Term Loan
Time Timer® Original 8” - Visual Scheduler
By combining the disappearing colored disk of the Time Timer® visual timer with visual activity cues, you can easily create time-based visual schedules that all ages and abilities can understand.
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Featured Device or Durable Medical Equipment from Reuse
UbiDuo Face to Face Communicator (For sale $10)
UbiDuo can be used anywhere at home, in the office, at businesses and agencies where deaf, hard of hearing and hearing customers, co-workers, employers, or clients need to communicate when a sign language interpreter is not available immediately.
This older model 200A does not keep a charge and can be used only when plugged into a wall outlet.
Shipping charges and taxes will apply.
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Accepting Lightly-Used Assistive Technology in Reuse
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.
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) 766-2051.
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Join Our Next WATR AT Advisory Council Meeting!
If you are a user of assistive technology (AT), a self-advocate, a family member, or a professional who serves individuals with disabilities, consider joining our next AT Advisory Council meeting in the Spring of 2024. You can join through Zoom or in person to learn about WATR and consider serving on our Council.
For more information, please e-mail watr@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-6187
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