Texas Assistive Technology Regional Conference 2006 Blog

Judith Sweeney, “Math for Middle to High School Age Students”

txatconference — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:55:01 +0000

Judi Sweeney shares low, mid, and high-tech tools for math that can meet the needs of students with all types of learning styles. She also talks about how to get your older students to use the tools that are available.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Judith Sweeney’s Interview

6:46 Minutes, 6.19 MB

Patti Rea, “Writing Across the Curriculum”

txatconference — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:47:12 +0000

Instead of teaching grammar, history, and science as independent activities, Patti shares information about templates that have been developed to incorporate writing throughout the curriculum.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Patti Rea’s Interview

3:15 Minutes, 2.98 MB

Randy and Vicki Foederer, “Putting the Adapted Back in PE”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:31:21 +0000

Assistive Technology doesn’t have to be high-tech, and many of the strategies and ideas shared in this presentation can be made simply and inexpensively.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Randy and Vicki’s Interview

7:04 Minutes, 6.47 MB

Kellie Cullen and Kathy Siler, “Accessible Curriculum: Making the General Curriculum Accessible to All Students”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:24:11 +0000

Kellie and Kathy’s presentation centered on what teachers can do after assistive technology has been recommended, as well as strategies for using what technologies they already have.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Kellie and Kathy’s Interview

6:51 Minutes, 6.26 MB

Mark Ammons and Darren Avey, “Engineering the Classroom”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:49:34 +0000

Mark and Darren presented how to use Boardmaker with students with more severe disabilities in academic areas, as well as a communication supplement. They go beyond using symbols and talk about using screenshots and pictures from the internet to teach content.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Mark and Darren’s Interview

12:12 Minutes, 11.1 MB

Kim Haynes, “Standards + Technology = Access for All”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:53:13 +0000

Kim Haynes is the Regional AT Coordinator with the Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative. Her presentation focused on integrating AT into the classroom, with emphasis being placed on the curriculum, not the tools.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Kim Haynes Interview

3:52 Minutes, 3.54 MB

Candace Hicks, “From Testing to the Classroom: Hearing Aids, FM Systems, and Classroom Recommendations for Children with Hearing Difficulties”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:43:48 +0000

Candace Hicks presented information for teachers of students with hearing difficulties, specifically focusing on types of hearing loss, how hearing loss affects educational performance, how students are tested for hearing loss, and what to do with the information presented in an audiological evaluation.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Candace Hicks Interview

4:31 Minutes, 4.14 MB

Kenneth Grisham,”Shifting Paradigm of AT for All Students”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:09:46 +0000

The term assistive technology is generally associated with students with disabilities and special education. Kenneth Grisham shares that by thinking about technology in new and different ways, we can serve much larger populations.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Kenneth Grisham’s Interview

10:24 Minutes, 9.52 MB

Kelly Fonner, “Exploring Universal Access to Tech in the Classroom”

txatconference — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:41:16 +0000

In this podcast interview, Kelly Fonner shares information about how Assistive Technology and more general technology can me the curriculum more flexible for all learners.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Kelly Fonner’s Interview

5:37 Minutes, 5.15 MB

Susan Norwell, “Play for All Children with Severe Disabilities”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:46:45 +0000

Susan was interviewed on June 7 about her presentation on “Play for All Children with Severe Disabilities.” In this interview, Susan shares highlights from her presentation, her thoughts about new AT tools and strategies, as well as areas of strength and areas of concern in the world of Special Education and Assistive Technology.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Susan Norwell’s Interview

13:20 Minutes, 12.2 MB

Robert Smith, “Technology Supports for Struggling Writers”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:40:46 +0000

Robert Smith was kind enough to sit down with us and talk about his presentation, “Technology Supports for Struggling Writers.” As an Occupational Therapist, this topic is an area of great concern and great hope. In this interview, Robert discusses why technology can make such a difference for struggling writers, as well as his favorite tools for teachers and students.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Robert Smith’s Interview

5:10 minutes, 4.74 MB

Joy Zabala, “The Texas Implementation Planning System (TIPS): Working Together to Make a Measureable Difference with Assistive Technology”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:35:05 +0000

Perhaps one of the most recognizeable names in the field of Assistive Technology is Dr. Joy Zabala. Joy presented “The Texas Implementation Planning System (TIPS): Working Together to Make a Measureable Difference with Assistive Technology” on June 7, 2006. This presentation involved a training module developed by TATN that focused on AT Implementation. In this series of podcast interviews, Joy discusses what the TIPS system is, what difficulties we have in the area of AT implementation, and things that we should consider when implementing AT in the classroom.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Joy Zabala’s Interview, Part I – An Overview of the TIPS Module

12:11 minutes, 11.1 MB

Joy Zabala’s Interview, Part II – The Purpose and Features of the TIPS Module, Teacher Preparation and Pedagogy, Collaboration and Planning

12:04 minutes, 11.0 MB

Joy Zabala’s Interview, Part III – Areas of Concern in the Field of AT, The Future of AT, AT Success Stories

12:16 minutes, 11.2 MB

Elizabeth (Libby) Rush, “Engaging your AACs who use AAC in AAC”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:30:51 +0000

Now that title needs a little bit of explaining for those of you who weren’t able to attend Libby’s session. The full title is, “Engaging your AACs (Adolescent & Adult Communicators) who use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) in AAC (Age-Appropriate Communication).

During this interview, Libby focuses on an overview of her presentation, as well as things to consider when working with older users of AAC devices.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Libby Rush’s Interview

11:28 minutes, 10.5 MB

Blaise Mladenka & Lynn Guthrie, “Letter Sounds to Literature: Online Tools to Meet the Challenge”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:25:45 +0000

With budgets tightening, free tools for teachers are always welcome in the classroom. Blaise Mladenka and Lynn Guthrie have discovered some of the best resources on the internet and shared some of them with the participants of the TATN Conference. They share some of their favorites in this podcast interview.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Blaise Mladenda and Lynn Guthrie’s Interview

10:35 minutes, 9.7 MB

Kate May, “A Day in the Life of a TA in AT”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:50:16 +0000

Kate May is an Assistive Technology Teaching Assistant for the Austin ISD. She is a lifelong AAC user, and currently uses a Pathfinder. Kate has a wealth of knowledge (first-hand and otherwise) to share with the participants of the TATN Conference, her students and colleagues.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Kate May’s Interview

8:15 minutes, 7.56 MB

Susan Zapf, “Life Skills Goes to Hollywood” and “The MATCH Process”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:08:22 +0000

Susan Zapf shares how she has used Microsoft PowerPoint as a tool to assist students with disabilities as well as how the MATCH process (Matching Assistive Technology to the Child) can benefit children.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Susan Zapf’s Interview

7:35 minutes, 6.94 MB

Margaret McAughan and Catherine Swaim, “The Assistive Technology Report: Evaluation to Implementation”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 21:28:22 +0000

After the AT assessment is completed and the report is written, many team members have difficulty in taking the next step – taking the recommendations in the report and implementing them in the classroom. Margaret McAughan and Catherine Swaim shared a rubric that they use to assist their school teams with this process.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Margaret McAughan and Catherine Swaim’s Interview

6:46 minutes, 6.20 MB

Barbara Cesari and Kathy Higginbotham-Jones, “Multi-sensory Rooms: Who, What, When, Where, Why”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:37:28 +0000

Many of you may have seen catalogs advertising equipment to place into a multi-sensory room. These items and rooms are beautiful, but also very expensive. Barbara Cesari shares her experiences in creating a multi-sensory room on a small budget, the impact that it can have for students, and important considerations for its use.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Barbara Cesari Interview

6:29 minutes, 5.24 MB

Dershowitz, Goldstein, Mladenka, and Lawrence, “You Want Me To Consider What? Considering Assistive Technology in the ARD Process”

txatconference — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:30:36 +0000

Hindie Becker Dershowitz, Donna Goldstein, Blaise Mladenka, and Karie Lawrence sat down to talk about considering AT in the ARD process on June 8, 2006. The ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) team, which is similar to an IEP team, needs to be aware of the process of AT consideration for each student with which they work. Dershowitz, Goldstein, Mladenka, and Lawrence all have experience training the different members of the ARD teams and share what they have learned in that process.

Click the following link to listen to the interview in your web browser, or subscribe through your favorite MP3 aggregator.

Blaise Mladenda and Lynn Guthrie’s Interview

8:02 minutes, 7.36 MB

Vendor Hall Podcast – Applied Human Factors

txatconference — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:00:26 +0000

Click here to listen to an interview with Jim Schroeder, Representative from Applied Human Factors

Applied Human Factors are the manufacturers of the REACH keyboards.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.ahf-net.com

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – CrickSoft

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:35:25 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview with CrickSoft representative, Deb Barrows.

CrickSoft is the maker of Clicker 5, Cloze Pro, and much more!

Click here to visit the CrickSoft website.

Their phone number is 1-866-332-7425

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – Don Johnston, Inc.

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:30:42 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview about Don Johnston, Inc., with company representative, Jeremy Palese.

Don Johnston makes applications such as SOLO and Start-to-Finish Books.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.donjohnston.com

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Podcast – Freedom Scientific, Low Vision

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:25:22 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview with Bobby Lakey from Freedom Scientific, and Marcie Tamez from Christal Vision.

Freedom Scientific offers a wide range of products for people with vision impairments or learning disabilities.

Click here to visit the Freedom Scientific website: http://www.freedomscientific.com

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – HearIt

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:20:53 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview with Tanya Goldbeck from HearIt (now doing business as Speech Banana Therapies).

HearIt is a company that specializes in amplification systems for students with hearing impairments.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.hearitllc.com/

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:15:55 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview with Ginger Cleveland, representative from RFB&D.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic provides literature in a number of electronic formats for people with visual impairments or learning disabilities.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.rfbd.org

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – Slater Software

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:10:04 +0000

Click here to listen to a podcast interview with Roxanne Butterfield from Slater Software.

Slater Software is perhaps best-known for its Picture It! and PixWriter software.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.slatersoftware.com

Phone: 1-877-306-6968

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – SoftTouch Software

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:05:18 +0000

Click here to listen to an interview with Jo Meyer from SoftTouch Software.

SoftTouch Software has many titles. My Own Bookshelf and Test Me, Score Me are two of the most well-known.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.softtouch.com

Phone: 1-877-SOFTTOUCH

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

Vendor Hall Podcast – The Wheelchair Shoppe, Inc.

txatconference — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:01:39 +0000

Click here to listen to an interview with Paul from the Wheelchair Shoppe, Inc.

The Wheelchair Shoppe does custom molding for seating systems and custom, high-end electronics.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.wheelchairshop.com/index.html

Links to participating vendors can also be found in the right-hand column.

We’re glad you’re here!

txatconference — Wed, 17 May 2006 19:17:11 +0000

We're excited to be able to bring you the content from the 2006 TATN Regional Conference. On this site, you'll find links to podcasts and show notes from conference speakers and vendors.

Please explore and let us know how we can make this an even better experience for you!