Assistive Technology Action Plan
Use with “Strategies for A.T. Negotiations”
 
 

 

 



COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY:  Join with parents in your district to:

 

·          Contact your school’s central administration office and ask to speak before the board or call/email board members.  Explain Early Intervening Services (EIS Services) and that EIS funding options include adaptive and instructional software.  EIS funds may be used for:  Professional development (which may be provided by entities other than LEAs) for teachers and other school staff to enable such personnel to deliver scientifically based academic and behavioral interventions, including scientifically based literacy instruction, and, where appropriate, instruction on the use of adaptive and instructional software.  See handout: “Teaching Children to Read: What Every School Board Member and Administrator Should Know” at http://www.elc-pa.org/pubs/downloads/english/dis-Literacy%20Imperative%20for%20PA%20School%20Boards%203-08.pdf

 

INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY

 

·        Request (in writing) a “Permission to Evaluate” form for an A.T. evaluation. (See AIU A.T. forms: http://www.aiu3.net/Level3.aspx?id=3484) The AIU is using “Response to Intervention” (RTI) approach.  However, according to Chapter 14, parents may request and obtain an evaluation (including an A.T. evaluation) at any time.  Child may be on an A.T. evaluation waiting list since the number of I.U. A.T. consultants is limited (2 in Allegheny County).  However, the school cannot require that child go through the 3 tier RtI process before an A.T. evaluation.

·        While waiting for AIU consultant to provide an A.T. evaluation, ask school to teach child use of existing technology in school, including Microsoft accessibility features.  If school personnel don’t have or are not trained in existing options, send written request that district inform I.U. consultant and request expedited evaluation.

·        Request Chapter 15/Section 504 Service Agreement with available A.T. accommodations while waiting for evaluations.

 

   READING

·        Download text-to-speech software (e.g.,

Ø      NaturalReader free version or $49.50 (with better voices) at http://www.naturalreaders.com/, or

Ø      ConfidentReader free trial version which also includes word prediction at http://www.confidentreader.com/ (Cost: $69)

  • Request in writing electronic version of text necessary for child to “access the general education curriculum.” (You can check publisher’s web site to determine if text is already available in electronic format.  If so, ask teacher to order this format and include electronic texts in SDIs of IEP.

  • If electronic version of text is not available, ask district to have textbook scanned professionally.  (See: http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Curriculum/Reading/scantoSpeak.php).

One Western PA source for professional scanning: Systems Imaging has done textbook scanning for several districts in I.U. 3 and for Pittsburgh City Schools.  They scan onto a CD and save files as PDFs.  Scanning Services:  http://sysimg.savvior.com/scanning.php  Contact: David DeSantis, VP of Sales, 412-323-8375

 

WRITING

 

·        Check out Microsoft Word accessibility features (Resources Guide for Individuals with Learning Difficulties and Impairments -http://www.microsoft.com/enable/guides/learning.aspx and “Skillsheets” - http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/atwork_skillsheets

 

·        For writing, download or order trial version of word prediction and speech recognition software: WordQ/SpeakQ (http://www.wordq.com/) (You will need headphones and microphone for this.)

 

IEP

 

·        IEP (include “alternate electronic formats” as Specially Designed Instruction (SDIs) for instruction and testing and as accommodations for the PSSA.  See: http://www.pde.state.pa.us/a_and_t/lib/a_and_t/2008AccommodationsGuidelines.pdf  (Screen or text reader and speech to text (or speech recognition) software must have prior approval by PDE.  Sample wording for SDI:  “accessible, alternate format versions of printed textbooks and printed core materials that are required for use by students in the classroom”

 

PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS

·          If district refuses to request A.T. evaluation, provide A.T. or include A.T. in the IEP, request that IEP team document on the NOREP (Prior Written Notice) “action refused” and “why action is refused”.  See PA Dept of Education NOREP at http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/FILES/Forms/English/NOREP_070105.pdf

(See:  “1. Action proposed or refused and 2. Why the action is proposed or refused”)

·        Schools are responsible for providing accessible materials to all print-disabled students. http://nimas.cast.org/downloads/NIMAS-Accessible_Textbooks_in_the_Classroom.doc  (See pages 24-25.)