AT Support Team Training: Device Trials

Encouraged

ABLE Tech’s Spring AT Support Team Workshops are underway, and participants are encouraged to trial devices with students in between the training sessions. Educators who attended the Jan. 17th session in Lawton were trained in the process of Consideration of AT, which is required for each student on an IEP.

The upcoming Feb. 14th session, AT Assessment Part 2 – Gathering Information and Trialing Devices, will give the participants experience in using recommended forms as they assess students’ AT needs.

The third session, to be held March 14th, will cover AT in the IEP and Implementation. The workshops also give educators the chance to create their own inexpensive AT with several Make ‘n Take activities.

These workshops are FREE to Oklahoma educators and related service providers, and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for OTs, PTs, and SLPs. The three-workshop series is meant to be attended in order, and each participant is required to register for each session individually. Click here to visit AT Support Team Workshops Webpage.

• Do You Need an AT Loan? Join us in this upcoming webinar.
• AT for Hearing
• AT and Self Determination

Do You Need an AT Loan? Join us in this upcoming webinar.

Webinar: ABLE Tech Financial Loan Program Date: March 20, 12-12:45 p.m. Presented by: Shelley Gladden, ABLE Tech Loan Coordinator Join the Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/954823782

ABLE Tech's financial loan program helps individuals purchase assistive technology. Shelley Gladden will explain how ABLE Tech partners with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) and BancFirst of Stillwater provide financing options with low interest and flexible repayment terms.

You may send your questions ahead to Kimberly.Berry@okstate.edu and we’ll try to answer them during the webinar. Certificates of Participation will be provided, and the webinar will be archived for later viewing.

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.

AT for Hearing

Hearing AT can be helpful anywhere that effective communication is needed. Listening needs vary with the level of hearing loss, the type, and quality of a student’s hearing aids or cochlear implants, and the situation. This particular category of AT may also support students with Autism, ADHD, or auditory processing disorder. 

Comfort Contego

Phonak Roger Mylink

Phonak Roger Inspiro Microphone

Are you looking for other types of assistive technology?  Visit ABLE Tech AT Discovery to learn more.

AT and Self Determination

Students with disabilities need to develop skills for Self Determination in order to make their way through school years and beyond. Taking care of their assistive technology (AT) devices is an important component of Self-Determination. The Student Information Guide for Self Determination and Assistive Technology Management is a set of forms developed by Canfield, T. & Reed, P. (2001) in collaboration with the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative.

The forms are designed to guide IEP teams through the process of assessing a student’s AT device specific skills and AT management skills. Some examples of AT device specific skills are the ability to set up the AT hardware or software and request new features. AT management skills include being able to recognize when the AT is malfunctioning and troubleshoot simple problems. The forms also include an AT emergency plan with places to note basic maintenance requirements, who to contact for repairs, how the individual can accomplish tasks if a device is out of service, and where to get loaner equipment (i.e. ABLE Tech Device Loan Program).

Additional information about AT in Transition is included in the AT Technical Assistance Document for IDEA Part B. Learn more about Secondary Transition requirements at https://sde.ok.gov/secondary-transition.

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.