International Dyslexia Association Conference Offers- AT-UDL Lab! “In addition to explicit reading instruction, Technology is a component of support for learners with Dyslexia, and all learners. The Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning Lab offers two full days of live, virtual 30-minute presentations of riveting content from national experts in the areas of assistive technology and universal design…” Join this event live via the online conference venue or Facebook live! http://bit.ly/IDA_ATUDL_Lab

Combining Assistive Technology & Literacy Intervention- THE BEST Multi-sensory Support for Dyslexia

Assistive Technology (AT) combined with literacy instruction bridges gaps for learners with Dyslexia by supporting access to grade level content, supporting confidence and independence, improving reading and writing skills, supporting executive function skills (memory, recall, scheduling/ reminders, organization), as well as preparing them to succeed in higher ed and the workplace. AT reduces frustration and prevents learners from falling behind, or worse, wanting to drop out/ quit school because of literacy challenges. If individuals do not have access to AT along with literacy instruction, their literacy development will suffer, negatively impacting important skills such as comprehension, written expression, and conversation dialogue, as well as presentation skills. Assistive Technology supports critical executive function skills that many students with Dyslexia struggle with, including time management, organization, attention and focus, task initiation and emotional regulation, all critical for successful transition to post-secondary options and the global workplace. Often, students and educators don’t even realize what AT exists already in their pocket or backpack!

In addition, most reading specialists and SLP’s are elated to learn that there is assistive technology specifically to support OG literacy instruction, that can be embedded in their literacy intervention, not only to provide a multi-sensory approach, but for some of our learners with Dyslexia, this IS their means of access when they have a print disability. Sometimes replacing the paper and pencil due to fine motor difficulties, sometimes making the lessons accessible for a learner who also has CVI or a visual impairment.

AT Makes UDL Possible! AT supports multiple means of Access, Engagement, & Expression for All Learners, including those with Dyslexia.

Modern mobile phone in office connecting tech devices around the world together

Winter CEU’s-Professional Development-2-Day Hands-On Pre-Conference Workshop: Successful Transition to College and the Workplace: AT, Accommodations, & Advocacy Jan 28 & 29, 2020 (PRE-7TW) ATIA 2020 Orlando! https://www.atia.org/2020-pre-conference-seminars/#Transition

Transition from High School to College or the Workplace is a significant time in an individual’s life. What Accommodations & Assistive Technologies are available to succeed in higher ed & while working? AT supports individuals with disabilities to be able to efficiently & equally access the workplace, college or vocational training, to accomplish tasks that may be difficult or impossible due to their disability. AT demonstrations, case studies & hands-on exploration of the most innovative AT including various devices, tools, apps, software, and adaptive equipment will be demonstrated & explored during group activities and Hands-On workstations! Free, Built-In Accessibility & Low-Cost options will be explored. From simple, important features such as OCR and text to speech to more advanced options such as head control & eye gaze. Learn how to support Literacy, Math, Communication, Accessible Digital Documents & Materials, Digital Books & Programs, Note Taking options for school & meetings, Scheduling & Reminders, Organization, Task Management, Sensory & Physical support, Working Memory, Language Translation, Online Learning & online meeting/ telepractice to support clients & students. BYOT- Bring Your Own Tech to follow along, as well as learn from our hands-on tech stations provided ! Support for various disabilities including Cognitive, Dyslexia, LD, Physical, TBI, CVI, Executive Function, Blind, Low Vision, & Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Autism. Learn the difference between HS, Post-Secondary, & Workplace laws & discuss individual’s rights as well as self-advocacy strategies & resources. This workshop is incredibly helpful for transition coordinators, AT coordinators in K12 & higher ed, college ADA/Equity/Compliance/Diversity professionals, adults with disabilities, special educators, parents, Voc Rehab counselors, school counselors, advisors, administrators, & related therapists. This workshop is presented by a team of AT experts currently working with clients in HS, higher ed, adult ed and the workplace, professionals previously working as AT coordinators in colleges, K12 & Voc Rehab, & area agencies. Over 30 years of combined experience with this multi-disciplinary team guiding you through this hands-on, engaging two-day workshop, you will leave with an incredible toolkit of resources, skills & technologies to implement & share immediately in your practice. You will learn while building a new network of professionals to communicate & collaborate with!

Session Description Website: https://www.atia.org/2020-pre-conference-seminars/#Transition

Register: https://www.atia.org/register/

Free Assistive Technology Camp for Blind & Visually Impaired Youth October 25-27!
The Association of Blind Citizens (ABC) is sponsoring a weekend camp in Dover, New Hampshire for legally blind youth between the ages of 12-16, open to NH and Massachusetts students. ABC is a not for profit, all volunteer, organization that has been providing programs and services for the blind and visually impaired community for the past 19 years. This program is an outgrowth of our experience in operating camps for blind children. Participants will spend the weekend experiencing hands-on technology demonstrations and group activities! Participants should bring their own iPhone and/or iPad. If you do not own one, devices will be available on free loan with apps fully loaded. The certified Assistive Technology trainers, Diana Petschauer and Stephen Yerardi, from AT for Education, will engage the students with activities to teach:

*Built-In Accessibility features to access everything from your phone or tablet (text to speech, magnification, high contrast, display accommodations, speech to text)

*Access to Digital Books and Handouts for school

*Support for Literacy, Math and Executive Function

* Instant OCR and text to speech for documents on the go such as Menus, grocery items, signs, etc.

*Money, color and product identification

*Navigation support

*Voice Control devices (Siri versus Alexa versus Google)

*The latest innovative assistive technologies! For recreation activities, an indoor pool and adaptive games will be available, and meals provided. This will be a weekend of learning and fun activities and a chance to meet new friends. The program will take place the weekend of October 25-27, 2019, in Dover, NH. Transportation for MA attendees will be provided with pick up in Boston. NH attendees will need to be driven by parent/ guardian. If you are a teacher of the visually impaired or an orientation and mobility instructor, please inform your students’ parents or guardian about this opportunity. If you are the parent of a blind child, please contact John Oliveira at president@blindcitizens.org or call 781-961-1023, if your child is interested. You will receive registration materials and information at that time. This opportunity is being offered at no charge to participants. The registration deadline is October 11, 2019.

3 New Hampshire Workshop Days! Assistive Tech & AAC, Join us for Professional Development Hands-On in November, December and February!

Come learn about tools that can support students in accessing curriculum, participating in assignments and activities, researching and studying, note taking, literacy and math support, executive function skills support (organization, time management, scheduling/reminders), Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), AAC, Transition and more! Bring your Laptop, Chromebook and iPad for hands-on Learning! Tools to support All Learners including those with Dyslexia, LD, Blind/Low Vision, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Physical, Cognitive and sensory disabilities as well as Autism. All Workshops Sponsored by NHASEA. Info & Registration: http://bit.ly/NH_AT_AAC_PD

Upstate, NY- CUOT Assistive Tech Expo- Join Us! November 15 & 16th:
ATforED Consultants will be facilitating Two Half Day, Hands-On workshops for Executive Functioning Across the Lifespan as well as AT-UDL Apps, Extensions and Tools: Support Diverse Learners on ALL Devices Across the Curriculum- along with other excellent presentations and AT activities occurring!
Registration for this year’s CUOT Assistive Technology Expo is now open!
Please visit the website https://www.clarksonassistivetech.com/at-expo.html for a full description of this year’s events.

Join Our Team at ATIA 2020! We are excited to be planning our fall & winter PD, are you?! Join us for this Engaging Two day Hands-On Pre-Conference Workshop- PRE-7TW: Successful Transition to College and the Workplace: AT, Accommodations, and Advocacy http://bit.ly/TransitionATIA2020 January 28 & 29, 2020
Transition from High School to College or the Workplace is a significant time in an individual’s life. What Accommodations & Assistive Technologies are available to succeed in higher ed & while working? AT supports individuals with disabilities to be able to efficiently & equally access the workplace, college or vocational training, to accomplish tasks that may be difficult or impossible due to their disability. AT demonstrations, case studies & hands-on exploration of the most innovative AT including various devices, tools, apps, software, and adaptive equipment will be demonstrated & explored during group activities and Hands-On workstations! Free, Built-In Accessibility & Low-Cost options will be explored. From simple, important features such as OCR and text to speech to more advanced options such as head control & eye gaze. Learn how to support Literacy, Math, Communication, Accessible Digital Documents & Materials, Digital Books & Programs, Note Taking options for school & meetings, Scheduling & Reminders, Organization, Task Management, Sensory & Physical support, Working Memory, Language Translation, Online Learning & online meeting/ telepractice to support clients & students. Support for various disabilities including Cognitive, Dyslexia, LD, Physical, TBI, CVI, Executive Function, Blind, Low Vision, & Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Autism. Learn the difference between HS, Post-Secondary, & Workplace laws & discuss individual’s rights as well as self-advocacy strategies & resources. This workshop is incredibly helpful for transition coordinators, AT coordinators in K12 & higher ed, college ADA/Equity/Compliance/Diversity professionals, adults with disabilities, special educators, parents, Voc Rehab counselors, school counselors, advisors, administrators, & related therapists. This workshop is presented by a team of AT experts currently working with clients in HS, higher ed, adult ed and the workplace, professionals previously working as AT coordinators in colleges, K12 & Voc Rehab, & area agencies. Over 30 years of combined experience with this multi-disciplinary team guiding you through this hands-on, engaging two-day workshop, you will leave with an incredible toolkit of resources, skills & technologies to implement & share immediately in your practice. You will learn while building a new network of professionals to communicate & collaborate with!
Session Description Website: https://www.atia.org/2020-pre-conference-seminars/…

TATN, Texas Assistive Technology Conference, 6/19 & 6/20. Join us in Houston, TX in just a couple weeks for two assistive technology workshops, as well as many vendors, exhibitors and AT professionals for networking!

On 6/19 Join us for two half-day workshops: Morning: 8:30 am-11:30 am: Successful Transition to College: AT, Accommodations & Advocacy

Afternoon: 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm: Google Apps, Extensions & Add Ons-Your Essential Toolkit for Diverse Learners

Registration: http://www.texasatconference.net/

Presented by:
Diana Petschauer, AT for Education & Kathleen McClaskey, Make Learning Personal

March 20, 2019, 7-8:30 pm ET: Empower Your Grade Pre-K to 5 Learners with a Personal Learning Backpack (PLB) Focus: Literacy and Executive Function

April 10, 2019, 7-8:30 pm ET: Empower Your Grade 6-12 Learners with a Personal Learning Backpack (PLB) Focus: Literacy and Executive Function including Transition to Post-secondary

In these webinars, you will learn and discover through demonstrations and examples about…

• The UDL Lens of Access, Engage and Express to create a Learner Profile;
• How to build a Personal Learning Backpack of tools/technologies and apps that a learner can use to support a strength or challenge; and
• The skills learners need to use the tools and be independent in their learning.

Resources shared include: Learning Plan and PL Backpack Templates, iOS, Google Chrome, Microsoft and Android options,  Matrix of tools and learning resources; WEBINARS ARE RECORDED. Live demonstrations and realistic implementation discussed. Feel Confident with an understanding of the apps, tools and resources along with the learning skills that can support the learning diversity you have in your classroom or home. Support ALL Learners, including your most Diverse.

If you cannot join us live for the webinars, Register to receive the recording and view at your leisure.
You will receive a copy of all resources as well!

Register: 3/20/19 Grade PreK-5 PLB using button below

Register: 4/10/19 Grade 6-12 PLB using button below  

Join us at the ATNow Conference in Salem, Oregon! 2/7-2/9! Expert Speakers, Awesome Keynotes, Vendors/ Exhibitors & an AT Maker Fair!

Join Diana Petschauer, M.Ed, ATP from ATforED for 3 Sessions:

Transition to College & the Workplace: AT, UDL & Advocacy- 2/7, 2:15 pm

AT & UDL to Support Early Literacy & Language Development- 2/8, 9:45 am

The Top 20 iOS Apps & Accessibility Features for Diverse Learners: iPad/iPhone Potential-2/8 1:30 pm

Full Session descriptions: http://bit.ly/ATnowATforED2019

Register and View Full Conference Agenda: https://www.smore.com/atkrg

See you there!

Looking for a Warm winter getaway and Professional Development? Join us at FETC in Orlando! 1/29 & 1/30/19:

Tuesday, January 29, 2019: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

$W179 | Apps & Extensions: Your Essential Toolkit to Support Diverse Learners

Room: SOUTH 330A Session Number: $W179

Google, iPad, Microsoft! Apps, AT, Tools & Resources, Built-In Accessibility, Hand-On! Literacy, Math, Executive Function, Dyslexia, Transition, support for vision & hearing, physical and cognitive access, UDL! http://bit.ly/FETC19Toolkit

C302 | Empower All Learners With a Personal Learning Backpack

Room: SOUTH 310D Session Number: C302

Wednesday, January 30, 2019: 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM

Create a Learner Profile and Personal Learning Backpack of tools and skills to support strengths & challenges. UDL: Access, Engage, Express! Personalized Learning; Learner Centered: http://bit.ly/FETC19PLB

FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference) is HUGE and encompasses so many learning opportunities from experts in Ed Tech, AT, STEM, Leadership, Admin, Teaching & Learning, Implementation, Integration and more! Register or Learn More: http://www.fetc.org/