Make-n- Takes were a hit at ABLE Tech's first AT Support Team Workshop held last month in Owasso. In addition to learning procedures for Consideration of AT for students with disabilities, participants learned how to make a variety of low-tech tools including a reading guide, a marker holder, and a weighted pencil. |
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Marker Holder |
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Reading Guide |
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Weighted Pencil |
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Registration is open for ABLE Tech Spring AT Support Team Workshops in Lawton, and a few openings remain for the second and third workshops in the fall series. To meet prerequisites, an educator needs to have attended an AT Consideration or an AT Assessment session respectively in a previous year, or complete the corresponding courses in ABLE Tech's Online AT Curriculum. These guided-study lessons mirror or in-person workshops and are designed for educators to access at their convenience. Click to go to ABLE Tech Online AT Curriculum.
AT trainings are provided at no cost to Oklahoma educators and related service providers. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for OTs, PTs, and SLPs. See the workshop descriptions below and click here for training details and registration links.
At Assessment Part 1- Consideration
Choose one:
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Fall Session: September 13, 2018, (Past)
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Spring Session: January 17, 2019, Cameron University, Lawton
Description: Participants will learn the process for Consideration of Assistive Technology (AT) for all students with disabilities, including legal requirements related to AT Consideration, and hands-on learning to help educators discover potential solutions available to help meet student's IEP goals.
AT Assessment Part 2- Gathering Information and Trialing Devices
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Fall Session: October 11, 2018, Owasso Tech Center
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Spring Session: February 14, 2019, Cameron University, Lawton
Description: Participants will learn the steps involved in conducting an Assistive Technology (AT) Assessment, and the procedure for borrowing AT to try with students. Educators will try their hand at making low-tech AT to help students with classroom tasks.
AT Assessment Part 3- AT in the IEP and Implementation
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Fall Session: November 8, 2018, Owasso Tech Center
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Spring Session: March 14, 2019 Cameron University, Lawton
Description: Participants will learn how to write AT in the IEP, summarize AT Implementation process, compare and contrast AT across disabilities, and identify funding resources for acquisition of AT. Afternoon breakout sessions will offer educators opportunities to see and try devices in the categories of their choosing.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech is the Statewide Assistive Technology Act Program whose mission is serving Oklahomans with disabilities. ABLE Tech offers educational resources and training programs to Pre-K through 12th grade educators and related service providers through a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
To learn more visit okabletech.org
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Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, Oct 3 from 3:00-3:45 to learn about an ABLE Tech collaboration that provides free smoke alarms and alert equipment for individuals with disabilities. Program Manager, Millissa Gofourth will explain what equipment is provided, as well as the application and installation processes. |
No registration is necessary. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://zoom.us/j/794855687
Please share the link with families of your students! Visit our Webinars and Videos webpage to see this year's schedule and links to archived webinars.
Building mathematical skill has lifelong implications for students, but the lack of skills can be easily overlooked. The ability to understand and think critically about numbers is vital for students to operate successfully in the real world. Basic tasks that independent adults use in everyday life such as paying bills, balancing a checkbook, creating budgets, arriving at work on time, and measuring all require math.
Teaching mathematics encompasses more than facts, equations, and procedures. Students also need to know why they are doing what they are doing. The challenge for educators is knowing how to assist students in gaining an understanding of the language of numbers and apply what they know to the problems they encounter.
You may notice that some students in your classroom struggle with counting, memorizing arithmetic facts, or have anxiety when it comes to math assignments. These students may have Dyscalculia, which is a specific learning disability in mathematics. Dyscalculia affects approximately 3-6% of individuals, and is often comorbid with other conditions such as Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder. Source: Price, G. R. (2013). Dyscalculia: characteristics, causes, and treatments. Numeracy, 6(1). doi:10.5038/1936-4660.6.1.2
Fortunately, assistive technology (AT) can be implemented in your classroom to help students who struggle with math. Common AT tools that could benefit your students are calculators, graph paper, and rulers. Other AT supports include adaptive tools such as manipulatives like blocks and number lines, which create opportunities to solve math problems in alternative ways. More high-tech AT includes math notation tools, digital graphing tools, drawing tools, equation-solving tools, graphic organizers, text-to-speech, and dictation.
  For more information on how to discover and incorporate AT devices to assist your students that struggle with math, go to AT Discovery for Math.
ABLE Tech AT Discovery highlights a variety of tools to assist individuals with disabilities in the areas of Computer Access; Daily Living; Environmental Adaptations and Controls; Hearing; Learning, Cognition, and Development; Recreation; Seating, Positioning and Mobility; Speech Communications; Vehicle Modifications; and Vision. Each page includes explanations of available resources, tips, financial information, fact sheets, videos, and links to AT devices available for short-term loan.
The Mathline Abacus Jumbo 10 is great for early counting/skip-counting, number recognition, and early addition and subtraction. The Jumbo 10 Abacus is a larger version of the Junior 10 Abacus and is especially helpful for children with a limited range of motion and dexterity, or those with visual impairments. |
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The Jumbo 10 has oval-shaped rings with 1" high numbers and the 21" length fits right on student’s desk. Pre-K Teachers and children of all ages use this model for learning basic math concepts. The rings are equipped with tabs for easy manipulation or use with a head pointer or mouth stick.
Cost: $20.00
Purchased From: Mathline Concepts
Click to see Abacus Jumbo 10 in ABLE Tech Device Loan Inventory.
ABLE Tech device loans are provided for up to six weeks at no cost for the following purposes: (1) to assist in decision-making; (2) to serve as a loaner while the consumer is waiting for device repair or funding; (3) to provide an accommodation on a short-term basis; or (4) for professional development.
Visit okabletech.org weekly to see the featured device in the homepage and click here to read about the ABLE Tech Short-Term Device Loan Program.
Search our Device Loan Inventory for more Math-related AT!
 Educators are invited to join ABLE Tech Assistant Director Allyson Robinson and Teacher of the Visually Impaired Kimberly Berry for a breakout session entitled Transitioning Assistive Technology with Students at the 13th Annual Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI). Allyson and Kimberly will teach a process for creating a transition plan which includes transferring ownership of assistive technology (AT) and/or purchase of new AT which will be needed for a student to succeed after high school.
The session will introduce resources including the Oklahoma Funding for AT manual, and best practices for transitioning AT with students. Participants will discuss the challenges related to initiating transition planning, as well as encouraging self-advocacy, and self-determination in transitioning students. A variety of assistive technology devices will be available as examples.
ABLE Tech educator trainings are aligned with the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT), which provide guiding principles for the provision of assistive devices and services to individuals with disabilities in education and other aspects of life.
OTI will be held Oct. 15-17 at the NCED Conference Center and Hotel in Norman. The ABLE Tech breakout session takes place Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 10:15-11:30. The theme for this year’s OTI is Strategies for Success: Creating Connections.
Click here for more information about OTI and to register.
Need
funding to assist in the purchase of assistive devices? Oklahoma ABLE Tech offers a comprehensive online guide for Oklahoma Funding for AT.
Additionally, ABLE Tech, in partnership with Oklahoma Assistive Technology
Foundation (OkAT) and BancFirst of Stillwater, offers Financial Loans to
purchase assistive technology. Several programs of funding are available, all
with LOW interest rate and flexible repayment terms, as well as special
qualification opportunities for applicants who might not qualify for a
traditional bank loan. For questions on the Financial Loan opportunities, call
Shelley Gladden for more information at 800-257-1705.
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