Introductions - Tell us about Yourself

[KarenJanowski]

Welcome to the Assistive Technology Network. Please introduce yourself and let us know where you are from.

[Diane Kasaczun]

Hello to everyone from around the globe. I am a special education teacher in one of the districts that Wendy covers. I had the pleasure of working with her and a student that taught me more than I could have ever taught him. I carry a piece of that child with me and he will never be forgotten. My dream is to make a difference for every child I am given the opportunity to learn with. I fully believe in lifelong learning and what better way to stay current than with technology. In the past few years, I have tried to bring technology into the classroom for all my students, not just those requiring assistive technology. Everyone can benefit from the use of technology. It is easier and faster. I am very excited to be a part of this social network of individuals that share my dream.

[Wendy Homlish]

DIANE!!! It is so awesome to see you on this network! People from the same town, to people halfway across the globe. How cool is that?? Just for all the others on this board, this is a teacher who truly embraces students with all differences. She allows herself to learn from students as they learn from her, and is always open to new things. Welcome!

[Erin King]

I am Erin King, a special educator at the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative in MA. I too am a proud graduate of Simmons Graduate AT program! I am currently working my 5th year as a teacher, incorporating daily AT strategies into the classroom and supporting my students in the best UDL that I can provide. :) I definitely love the teaching role, and am itching to get more involved in AT, heading in that direction in the future years ahead.

Karen, you have once again created another wonderful social network! Thanks for bringing us together. I hope to learn and share much with all of you. :)

[Karen Hrank]

Hi, I'm Karen Hrank, an AT Specialist in a private school for students with multiple developmental disabilities, ages 5 - 21. I learned about this group from the QIAT listserv,and must admit that I never heard of a Ning before. I am always interested in learning about new things, and would love to be able to share information, activities, and files through this group!

[Hindie Becker Dershowitz]

Wow, This is all so new to me, I feel like I am starting out new in the area of technology. My name is Hindie Becker Dershowitz and I'll post my picture soon. My title is Diagnostic Specialist for Assistive Technology in a fast growing suburban school district in the Houston Texas area. I have been a special education teacher and an educational diagnostician. For the past 20 or so years, I have been on our District Assistive Technology Team. I am the team leader with all of its responsibilites plus. All the team members conduct evaluations provide support to assigned campuses. In additionI provide district trainings and order materials. I am always learning from teachers, parents, therapists and students. With all my technology and assistive technology knowledge, I don't text message and have never before now participated in this type of technology. I hope to learn a lot from this experience.

[Glenda Anderson]

Wow! So powerful to have people from all over the world pulling together in this format. Thank you Brian and Karen.

My name is Glenda Anderson and I am from Northern California. (Paradise to be exact, Chico to be familiar.1.5 hours from Sacramento to be geographical.) Living in a simi-rural area and being solo in the AT field, I rely heavily on this type of communication (as many of you seem to do). It is often my lifeline.

I was in the classroom as a special education teacher for 17 years then migrated over to AT and have now been in this field full time for 10 years. (Is it true!?!) I work full time in the school system (serving the whole county of 14 school districts) and then started a private business on the side after discovering the great need. I also teach "Technology in Special Education" in the credential program at the state university in our area. AT is an addictive field as it is always presenting new challenges and more to learn than I have time for... every day!

[MagiD]

Hello! My name is Magi Shepley, and I teach in Northern Virginia, but I consider Lancaster, PA to be home. My official title is "cross-categorical special education teacher", which I've discovered translates to, "whatever my principal wants me to do". This year's translation has me doing splinter-skill remediation for the state tests and 1 period of functional academics. I am also assisting with technology integration for the special education department. The last addition to my job was surprising, and is directly related to being selected for the 2007 Microsoft Innovative Teacher Forum.
I came to computers through growing up with a mother who was a programmer. When I started teaching, the school moved all of the AAC users to me because I wasn't scared of technology. I started there, wrote some grants, became an AT junkie. In November, I will earn a CAGS in AT & Curriculum Design from Johns Hopkins University. I also have a BS in special education from CW Post, and a MS in transition planning/severe disabilities from Johns Hopkins. In the past, I have taught in Pennsylvania, and in Maryland. I have taught vocational skills, life skills and computer literacy. Outside of teaching, my passions are swimming (I'm a certified lifeguard and children's swim instructor), being a disaster services volunteer for the American Red Cross both locally and nationally, and spoiling my cat.

[Paula Walser]

Hello everyone. My name is Paula Walser and I am a speech and language pathologist in Wisconsin. I was formerly the statewide consultant for the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI). I have been involved in AT forever. My professional life is now a combination of IT and AT. I lead a 12 member team of IT folks at my CESA and also teach assistive technology courses for grad and undergrads. My interests in the field? Voice recognition, AAC, handheld technologies, and Web 2.0 tools.

[Carol Harpold]

Paula, will you be presenting at the AT across the Life Span in March in WI? I always enjoy your presentations and knowledge in AT/IT?
Carol H.

[Paula Walser]

Actually - I will be doing a preconference on Web 2.0 tools. I will be the technical support for the rest of the conference so I will be there and running around making certain everything is in working order.

[Madalaine Pugliese]

Hi Everyone - It's Madalaine Pugiese from Simmons College in Boston. CTG is a really mind blowing event again this year, for the 25th year in a row. I am LOVING the focus on curriculum. Mads

[Bob Keller]

My name is Bob Keller and I work for Don Johnston Inc. and have been with the company for 19 years.

I have been involved with people with disabilities since I was a counselor at a summer camp in high school. I have been a SPED teacher, staff trainer for a statewide agency, job coach and behavior specialist. I first started using AT with group home residents who recently moved into the community from a state DD center in 1987. That was on an Apple II with some basic switch software developed by the TRACE Center.

Many changes over the years in technology and service delivery.