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As the school year draws to a close in May, our focus sharpens on two key areas: evaluating the impact of assistive technology (AT) interventions through thorough data collection, and ensuring students transitioning out of their current school setting are well-equipped with knowledge of the AT tools that best support them. This month, we'll prioritize gathering comprehensive data to guide future AT decisions and facilitate seamless transitions for students moving to new schools or grade levels. Looking ahead to the summer, we'll also explore valuable AT resources and engaging programs that can maintain student progress and independence. Our goal is to empower students with the right AT and the understanding of how to use it effectively, both now and in their future educational journeys.

Table of Contents

1. Upcoming Assistive Technology Professional Learning Events and Announcements
2. Assistive Technology Resource Suggestion
3. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Corner
4. From the Desk of Mike Hipple
5. QIAT Community and AT Forward Community, Help Me Out!
6. Feature Match: ADL Skills (NEW)

Upcoming Assistive Technology Professional Learning Events and Announcements

Assistive Technology CoP Meetings

Our AT Forward Community of Practice meetings for this school year have concluded. However, you can access recordings of all our sessions on the DPI / AT Forward page. To support your professional development, we've divided the content into shorter, 20-30 minute segments. We're now planning next year's CoP meetings and welcome your input! If you have suggestions for topics, please email Kathy White (kathy.white@CESA2.org ) or Stacy Duffy (Stacy.Duffy@CESA2.org), and we'll explore finding a speaker for your ideas.

Other Assistive Technology Professional Learning Events or Announcements 

Adaptive Gaming Expo Returns to Middleton, WI!
The Adaptive Gaming Expo is back for its second year, offering a fantastic opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the gaming world. Join us for this FREE event on May 3rd, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM in Middleton, WI. This expo is the perfect space to connect with fellow gamers and enhance your gaming experience.

The event will feature a variety of exciting activities, including:

• • Vendors showcasing the latest adaptive gaming technology
  • Informative presentations
  • Opportunities to play games with adaptive controllers
  • And much more!

WisTech, Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology Program 
WisTech, Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology Program announces the lineup for the 2025 webinars. The following five webinars are FREE for attendees and each includes IACET CEUS and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credits. 

Please join us for some fantastic learning over the next few months. All webinars are two hours in length and will be recorded for the WisTech YouTube channel (CEUS and CRC hours are only available for the live sessions.) Full details on Wistech trainings can be found on the WisTech AT Trainings website.

WisTech Webinar #1 Exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practical Applications and Ethical Considerations

WisTech Webinar #2 Digital Ethics: Empowering Autonomy

WisTech Webinar #3 Tribal Members with Disabilities: Assistive Technology Services and Relationship Building

WisTech Webinar #4 Assistive Technology to Support Mental Health

WisTech Webinar #5 Literacy Access: The Integration of Digital Literacy and AI into Program Services  

From Rachel Holt at the Lending Library

Guess what? The end of the school year is upon us. Please plan accordingly by having all devices returned to CESA2 by June 1st.  If you have questions or concerns please contact, Rachel Holt is the CESA 2 PRC Consultant and ATLC Director. She can be reached at rachel.holt@cesa2.org .

End of year surveys

Your opinions and thoughts count!! Please take a few minutes to complete these short surveys. They are important for planning programming next year. 

1. AT Forward Community of Practice Survey
2. 2024-25 Wisconsin AEM Center Survey

Assistive Technology Resource Suggestions 

Looking for a new Podcast?

1. S6 E6: More Leaders and Changemakers Featuring Don Johnston  Featuring Don Johnston from Building Wings. 
2. Awe and Wonder Podcast: AAC & AT 

Bookshare: Accessible Reading Program

As summer approaches, keep your students engaged and learning with Bookshare's accessible reading program. This is a fantastic opportunity to prevent summer learning loss while ensuring students continue to utilize their assistive technology. Beyond simply maintaining reading skills, Bookshare's vast library can expand vocabulary and foster a love of reading, all while keeping students comfortable and proficient with their essential AT tools. Before school ends make sure your students can independently access their Bookshare account, search for books, and read their selections. Keeping students engaged and continually using their tools will not only make for good summer reading, but also a smoother transition back into more structured learning in the fall. 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Corner 

Literacy skills are foundational for all students, including those who are non-speaking and use AAC, as they unlock greater independence, access to information, and opportunities for self-expression beyond immediate communication needs. Developing literacy in AAC users can open doors to written communication, accessing information independently, and engaging with the world in new ways. To support literacy development over the summer, consider utilizing resources like Bookshare for accessible digital books, and incorporating core word-based literacy activities into everyday summer routines. Think about everyday activities such as making a grocery list. Asking all family members to write a list or create a recipe. Keep learning at the forefront and keep it fun! Check out this  Assistiveware Page that includes practical writing tips for users of AAC.

From the Desk of Mike Hipple

• The end of the school year is award season for students and faculty. Some awards for students might be the best player, the smartest student, a student that didn't miss a day the whole school year, the spelling bee winner, and the science fair winner. I have one little problem with this and I think you can guess what it is, sorry no award if you know it. Many times the students that we work with, they don't get to be in the contest in the first place because they use assistive technology tools and it will be "cheating" if they are in the contest. If the school lets students in the contests, maybe one student or a family member might say it's not fair they will win the race for sure, because the student is using a power chair or a scooter. This is an excellent opportunity for the student and you to do some educating and advocating to the school on why they are in a power chair and it is their legs. Hopefully the school principal will understand this and let them in the race. Many many years ago when I was in grade school, I was in the club called Battle Of The Books where we read a list of selected books and at the end we had a contest to answer questions about all of the titles and the authors. I was on a team with three of my classmates/friends. One parent whose child didn't know me, they thought that I could access the internet to look up answers, this was around 2004. My teacher and my mom needed to tell the parents that my device was for communication and I didn't have the internet. The parents were cool with this and they were interested in seeing my communication device. The point is not everyone in the world understands what assistive technology is and why students need to use it to be equal with their peers. It is up to us to teach them about this important topic. I hope everyone will enjoy your summer!! I will see you in September or around Wisconsin this summer vacation. I found these fun and interesting award ideas for students. End of the Year Awards for Special Education Classes - AutismClassroom.com

I love this blog post. It talks about celebration using technology and some easy things that you can do to celebrate. 27 Fun Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year | Common Sense Education

A great award for students who use AAC is a membership to United States Society of AAC [USSAAC] https://ussaac.org/membership 

QIAT Community, Help Me Out!

QIAT is a nationwide grass roots organization that supports the identification, dissemination, and implementation of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology services in school settings. Posting a question is free. Often the people who are answering the questions are users of AT themselves and or family members.

Question:. “Hello QIAT team!

  “I have a non-speaking 4th grade student with Down Syndrome who really struggles with fine motor tasks such as typing and writing. He uses AAC which is an iPad mini with the TouchChat app to communicate. The OT and I collaborated yesterday and we tried to use the AAC device for voice to text on his Chromebook but it only picks up the words about 50% of the time. Is there an amplifier that anyone has used with an iPad used as an AAC device to increase volume?  Any ideas would be appreciated!”

 Answers from the group:  

1. We have had success doing this by using a good quality microphone.
2. There are Bluetooth speakers you can connect to the device. See if that helps! Try with different devices too (with iPad, newer chromebooks, etc.)
3. You may also want to try word prediction and a simple wireless mouse if this student has stronger reading skills compared to fine motor. The other features in google read and write may be helpful but if he can use an app like Educreations in an ipad that would be the easiest to get his ideas out, minimize the use of fine motor skills and allow him to use voice to text but also record his voice if needed.
4. Here's the AAC Writing Guides link from the AAC/AT Team at the Special School District of St. Louis County - (I checked, it is shareable). Great information to help people use the keyboards in the major AAC apps.

Feature Match: Activities of Daily Living (ADL) New in 2025!

When conducting an IEP and having the conversation about “whether the student needs assistive technology services or devices, “consider the following questions. This is not a finite list. This is intended as a starting point for teams. 

Please note: Any listed app/website should be vetted prior to student use to ensure compliance with the district’s technology policy. 

Special thank you to Kathy Sween OT and Michelle Silverman, OTD for their assistance with this new Feature Match. 

What is AT Forward?

The Assistive Technology (AT) Forward Project works with self-advocates, educators, practitioners, caregivers, and families to increase student autonomy in utilizing Assistive Technology tools to support access, engagement, and progress in learning. The AT Forward Project provides a variety of free resources and learning opportunities, including Community of Practice (CoP) meetings, micro-credentialing, and monthly email updates. See all past recorded CoP meetings on the AT Forward CoP Video Resource Library.  Please help us grow our AT community in Wisconsin and refer others to the AT Forward CoP, by visiting the AT Forward Registration page.  From AT beginner to expert, the AT Forward CoP welcomes all knowledge level backgrounds!

Together we can and are moving AT Forward!! 

If you have any questions or comments about the AT Forward Project, please contact Kathy White at Kathy.White@CESA2.org or Stacy Duffy at stacy.duffy@cesa2.org.