Overview
Are you struggling to figure out how to best deliver needed services in this time of virtual and home-based instruction, and to find resources to help students receive and use the right assistive technology (AT) tools and services? Join members of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Team in exploring “just in time resources” for AT Teams, family members, and AT specialists. This presentation will focus on both freely available and purchasable resources and ideas that teams and individuals can use to develop or improve services that they may need to now provide remotely.
Content Session Disclosure: This session will focus on online resources provided by Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT), a non-profit nationwide grassroots group that includes hundreds of individuals who provide input into the ongoing process of identifying, disseminating, and implementing a set of widely-applicable Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services in school settings.Learning Objectives
- Identify three virtual and print resources to support Assistive Technology Assessment Services that might be conducted either in-person or remotely.
- Describe two critical aspects of quality AT services to administrators and families including the availability of supporting resources.
- Cite three ways in which you can use the quality indicators and selected resources in planning remote delivery of AT services.
Primary Strand
Education and Learning
Secondary Strand
Leadership
Target Audience
- Administrators
- AT Specialists
- Caregivers
- Communication Specialist
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Disability Services
- Educators
- Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
- Family Members
- Government/Non-Profit Agencies
- Instructional Technologist
- Occupational Therapists
- Paraprofessionals
- Physical Therapists
- Rehab Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Special Education Educators
- Teachers of the Visually Impaired
- Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- Transition Coordinator
- Visual Impairment Specialists
- Vocational Rehabilitation
Experience Level
Introductory
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
All
Content Area
Related Area
Course Schedule
This course was included in the ATIA 2021: AT Connected virtual event education program.
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA CRC Assistive Technology in Education and Higher Education Series (2022-2023). This series offering was available from March 7, 2022, through March 6, 2023.
ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: March 10, 2021. This course was offered for 0.10 ASHA CEUs. (Intermediate level.)
End date of ASHA CEUs offering: April 30, 2023.
Speaker/s:
Joan Breslin Larson, M.Ed.
Breslin Larson and Associates, Independent Consultant
Biography
Joan Breslin Larson, M.Ed. Joan is an independent consultant in the field of assistive technology and leadership. She was formerly a supervisor for low incidence disabilities at the Minnesota Department of Education. She has worked in AT for over 30 years as an independent consultant, in a school setting and at the state education agency. She lives in Minnesota, and is the parent of three adult children, one of whom had an IEP. Joan is a member of the QIAT Leadership Team, and a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Joan Breslin Larson is an independent consultant. She contracts with school and state systems to provide consulting services on AT leadership systems. She is a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology and The QIAT Companion and receives royalties from CAST Publishing.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Breslin Larson is a member of the QIAT Leadership Team, and the QIAT electronic mailing list. She serves on a statewide committee making legislative recommendations on access to AT for Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Gayl Bowser
Assistive Technology Collaborations, Independent Consultant
Biography
Gayl Bowser, M.Ed. works as an independent consultant Her work focuses on the creation of effective, legal and high quality service systems that encourage the integration of technology into educational programs for students with disabilities. Ms. Bowser has worked as a Local Regional and State-level administrator in Oregon. Formerly the Coordinator of the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) and the State of Oregon’s Specialist in Assistive Technology, Gayl currently provides special education focused consultation, training and technical assistance throughout the United States and internationally. Gayl has co-authored numerous publications about assistive technology including Leading the Way to Excellence in AT Services: A guide for school administrators, A QIAT Companion; Education Tech Points: A Framework for Assistive Technology; and Assistive Technology Pointers for Parents.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
I receive consulting fees from my work as an independent consultant. Current contracts include Minnesota DOE, SET-BC, Oregon Technology Access Program, Wyoming Assistive Technology Network, Maryland Assistive Technology Network, Infinitec.
I am co-author of 3 books by CAST Professional Publishing. I receive royalties for all three. Titles are Leading the Way to Excellence in AT Services, Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services and A QIAT Companion.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
I serve on the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Assistive Technology in Oregon and of the National Assistive Technology in Education Network. This is an entirely volunteer position and I receive no financial benefit from either group.
I am also a member of the school board for Camas Valley Charter School in Camas Valley, Oregon
Penny Reed
Consultant, Penny Reed Consulting
Biography
Penny Reed, Ph.D., is an independent consultant in the field of special education. She was founder and director of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI). Dr. Reed is an original member of the Leadership Team for Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT). She also volunteers with the WATI Development Team to keep the WATI assessment tools current. Dr. Reed is the author or co-author of numerous resources, guidelines, and assessment tools to help school districts develop and improve their assistive technology services. In collaboration with Gayl Bowser she has written Education Tech Points: A Framework for Assistive Technology (2012), Assistive Technology Pointers for Parents (2014) and Leading the Way to Excellence in AT Services: A Guide for School Administrators (2018). Dr. Reed presents on a variety of topics related to AT services. She is a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology and The QIAT Companion, both publications of CAST Publishing. Dr. Reed contracts with a range of state and local districts on topics related to AT.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
As one of 11 authors of the QIAT materials that have been published by CAST, I receive a very small royalties check each quarter.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
I serve as President of the board for two non-profit groups, the National Assistive Technology in Education (NATE) Network and the Coalition for Assistive Technology in Oregon (CATO) and its website. I help develop and write the content of both websites.
Terry Foss, M.Ed.
EMC Communication Inc., Consultant
Biography
Terry Foss has a B.S. from Fort Hays State University and a M. Ed. from the University of Kansas. She has been a special educator for 35 plus years in classrooms for students with severe multiple differences, autism, trainable mental differences, physical differences, and for the last 20 plus years as an AT resource facilitator for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas. She has certifications in regular elementary education; trainable mentally handicapped, educable mentally handicapped, and severely multiply handicapped. Terry is the co-author of Every Move Counts and Every Move Counts, Clicks and Chats. She is a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology and The QIAT Companion, both publications of CAST Publishing, for which she receives royalties.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Publishing royalties as an author
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Personal relationship with someone who sells or uses the products you are discussing
Jane Korsten, M.S.
BIOGRAPHY
education: B.S. University of Kansas - Elementary Education. M.S. University of Illinois – Speech Pathology and Audiology. ongoing professional development: University of Kansas, Hamlilne University, University of New Mexico and UMKC (University of Kansas and University of Missouri at Kansas City)
professional experience: Shawnee Mission District #512, Overland Park, Kansas – SLP in primary, intermediate and secondary school settings as well as in classrooms serving students with complex communication and sensory needs; AT resource for students pre-school thru graduation from secondary settings.
Responsive Centers, Overland Park Kansas – private practice working with adults with complex communication needs in supported work and living settings; Principal Investigator on an Innovative Research Grant funded through National Institutes of Health;
current – provide professional development on a variety of topics in the area of Assistive Technology
publications: co-author on Every Move Counts, (Korsten, Dunn and Foss), Every Move Counts, Clicks and Chats, (Korsten, Foss and Berry), How Do You Know It? How Can You Show It? (Reed, Bowser and Korsten) and Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology – A Comprehensive Guide to Assistive Technology Services (The QIAT Leadership Team)
organizations: member of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology consortium and leadership team; member and on the board of directors of the NATE Network (National Assistive Technology in Education).
Relevant Financial Relationships: YesSalary from employment. Co-author royalties from publications.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationships: Yes
Member of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology consortium and leadership team; member and on the board of directors of the NATE Network (National Assistive Technology in Education).
Kathy Lalk
St. Louis Special School District, AT Specialist
Biography
Kathy Lalk has a B.S. in Recreation Therapy and an M.S. in Educational Technology. For 20 plus years, she has served as an assistive technology specialist for Special School District in St. Louis County. Her work includes support of students with disabilities, their families and their educational team in the consideration, implementation and evaluation of the use of assistive technology. She is also a Consumer Support Provider for Missouri Assistive Technology. Kathy is a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology: A Comprehensive Guide to AT Services.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Kathy is an author for CAST Publishing and receives royalty payments.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No
Joy Zabala, Ed.D.
CAST and the National AEM Center, Director of Technical Assistance for CAST
Biography
Joy Smiley Zabala, Ed.D. is the Director of Technical Assistance at CAST. She is the developer of the SETT Framework (http://www.joyzabala.com), a founder of QIAT (http://www.qiat.org) and the facilitator of the QIAT List. She is a strong supporter of Universal Design for Learning, accessible materials and accessible and assistive technologies as complementary supports for the participation and achievement of all students across the lifespan.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Diana Carl, M.A.
Independent Consultant
Biography
Diana Foster Carl, M.A., is an independent consultant who has more than 40 years of experience in various capacities in special education and in leadership roles in national, statewide, and regional organizations and boards. Carl, whose background is as a licensed specialist in school psychology, is a former Director of Special Education Services at Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston and was the lead facilitator of the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) for twelve years. For the past ten years she contracted with CAST as the Special Projects Coordinator for the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials and the previous national centers at CAST related to accessible materials. Carl is a founding member of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) and a co-author of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology: A Comprehensive Guide to Assistive Technology Services and The QIAT Companion: A Just in Time Resource for Implementing the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Diana Carl is an independent consultant who receives speaking fees and honoraria for contracted engagements and projects. She receives royalties as an author of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology: A Comprehensive Guide to Assistive Technology Services and The QIAT Companion: A Just in Time Resource for Implementing the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No