Have your students ever experienced difficulty with the accessibility of electronic textbooks? As you may know, only textbooks that have been produced as hard-copy printed versions are available in an accessible digital format from Bookshare and other Accessible Media Producers through the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) due to requirements put in place under IDEA 2004. The U.S. Department of Education is now proposing that the law be interpreted to include textbooks that are available in digital-only format. This would make it possible for schools to obtain accessible versions of electronic textbooks for students with disabilities to read using text-to-speech, dual-color highlighting, and other accessibility features. 

Learn more in the November Newsletter.

Two workshops remain in the Dyslexia Regional Training Series being offered by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) this fall season.

• Nov. 14 – Tulsa
• Nov. 15 – Tulsa

The workshops are based on the recently released Oklahoma Dyslexia Handbook and will focus on the science of reading, as well as identification, intervention, and tools for students with dyslexia. A brown-bag lunch session features training on how to use Bookshare to provide accessible text which can be read with synthesized speech and customizable highlighting for increased comprehension. Bookshare staff will be presenting the session in Owasso, and Kimberly Berry from ABLE Tech will present the Bookshare session at the Nov. 15 workshop in Tulsa.

Learn more in the November Newsletter.

A common request from educators is hands-on training on Assistive Technology (AT) devices, and they will get their opportunity this month.
Join us at the AT Assessment Part 3 – AT in the IEP and Implementation will be held Nov. 14, rounding out the series of three AT Support Team Workshops presented in Enid this fall.

Learn more in the November Newsletter.

The Oklahoma Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project is collaborating with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to offer a FREE Communication Matrix Training in Owasso on Friday, Nov. 8th.
The Communication Matrix is a tool often used to help assess the communication needs of students who have multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness.

By definition, students with deaf-blindness have deficits in both hearing and vision, but they often have additional needs due to physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and medical conditions. Due to these varied needs, students with deaf-blindness may benefit from a variety of AT, including personal listening systems, braille notetakers, adapted games, and more.

Learn more in the November Newsletter.

• Culturally Responsive Transition Practices
  Wed., Nov. 13th, 2019
  Time: 9:30-10:30  Register Here
• Facilitating Positive Postschool Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities from Rural and Impoverished Areas
  Wed., Nov. 20th, 2019
  Time: 9:30-10:30am  Register Here

Learn more in the November Newsletter.