Introductions - Tell us about Yourself

[KarenJanowski]

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

[Hindie Becker Dershowitz]

Nicole,

The powerpoint is great. It is true that IT and AT need to talk the same language.

[Paul Hamilton]

I agree that this is a terrific presentation, so thanks for sharing the powerpoint!

One strategy that I have found helpful in bridging the sometimes great divide between AT and IT is to invite IT people to software training sessions. When an IT technician has a clear understanding of what a program does and why, and when he/she knows how the software benefits the user, the increased understanding inevitably yields increased motivation to support the assistive technology. I do a lot of Kurzweil 3000 trainings, and this has been particularly helpful for the people who are trying to network Kurzweil on school servers. The truth is that we are all on the same team. It just takes serious intentional effort to breakdown barriers and ensure that the whole team is moving in the same direction.

[Madalaine Pugliese]

Hi Everyone: OK, I've been lurking long enough and love everything I see so here goes. My name is Madalaine Pugliese and I am the Program Director for Grad Studies in Assistive Tech at Simmons College in Boston. Although I've found myself in various leadership positions throughout a wonderful 25 years in assistive tech so far, my passion is with low incidence populations. I work on an ongoing journey to connect K-12 curriculum mandates using assistive technology as the tool for including learners of all abilities. This work is called Stages; the website includes a free online accessible curriculum software search tool.

In recognizing most of the folks who have jumped into this new community so far, I'm compelled to ask why.... and does anyone have any tips about how to juggle listservs, email, RSS news and new communities such as this?

[KarenJanowski]

Hey, Mads,
You may want to follow the discussion at What is this Ning Thing? Plus you can RSS the discussions.

Karen

[Mark Coppin]

My name is Mark Coppin and I am the Learning Center Manager at the Anne Carlsen Center for Children in North Dakota. I have been working with AT for 20 years (7 as classroom teacher). Just met Karen for the first time at CTG where she introduced me to the world of twittering and the ning thing. I had lurked in some of the online blogging sites, but they were fairly stagnant and I wouldn't keep on top of them. These tools appear to be much more active and dynamic. I am surprised by the amount of information that seems to be flowing through these tools.

[Julie Monahan]

Hi. My name is Julie Monahan and I am the coordinator for the Assistive Technology Resource Center for Chicago Public Schools in Illinois. I am a special education teacher who has been working in the field of AT for almost 9 years, and I have only recently taken on an administrative role. I love all that AT has to offer to children and adults. It is a fascinating field with all of its changes!

[Kaj Rietberg]

My name is Kaj Rietberg. I'm a special needs teacher in the Netherlands. I teach children with ASD. I'm interested in technology and learning for special needs education.

[Dan Herlihy]

Hi Everyone, I guess I should add my name to this introduction roll! I'm Dan Herlihy. I work as a private consultant providing professional development, have written a variety of books on using software programs such as Classroom Suite, Clicker 5 or Discover Pro, as well as produced CD's of activities and present at many conferences around the country. I usually refer to myself as a technology integration specialist since most of my work is researching the possibilities of hardware and software, then taking a step back to see the connections and solutions - of how it all fits together to provide solutions for the educator or student.

[Gina Stefanini]

Hi! I am Gina Stefanini, a Special Education Case Manager for the Brookline Public Schools in Massachusetts. The other hat that I proudly wear is being one of two people in the system who conducts AT assessments for high incident students. After 24 years in the field of education, I decided to go back to school and I am currently working towards a Masters in Assistive Technology at Simmons.

This fall I have been using technology to assist students in 'making their learning visible" to themselves and others in their learning environment. There are many students that have a difficult time communicating and/or comprehending the learning (their own learning and the learning of others) that takes place in their space (classroom, cafeteria...). We talk about being part of a 'community of learners' and that we learn from and with each other but what happens when a student can not access that learning? Though we provide individualized instruction, does it mean that those learners do not have the right/ability to share their learning with each other and themselves? What happens when students are more actively engaged in their learning and sharing what they have learned with others? Through the use of video, photo and audio recordings we are finding out that students want a more 'democratic' experience to their education. These students are asking (OK, demanding) to have a greater say in their learning. For example, one student asked to review all the videos that included someone reading. He was hoping to find a few new tricks that he could use in order to read. Another student requested more video clips of playground play so that she could figure out how kids share balls. I have also had quite a few students ask for pictures of themselves and words put together on a paper to help them learn a school rule (non spectrum students asking for some of those 'cool' social stories that other kids have that seem to really work well). I continue to be amazed about the learning that happens when students are able to view/review/discuss/problem solve using this technology. I also wonder why it is different then just observing in the playground, watching your classmate read in class, or ask a teacher for the answer. What element is providing the door for a more active role in their learning? I have lots of theories as I work with 5-8 year olds but the most insightful responses have come from the students themselves. Here are a few of them:

"I can see it when I don't have to see everything."
"It is good when I can have an instant replay."
"You know, I think I can learn better if I could hear what one person said at a time"
"Its like watching Channel 2"
"Why don't I get to decide what I get to learn? I come to school just like teachers do."

[DENISE LANCE]

My name is Denise Lance, and I have cerebral palsy. I got my first computer at age 20, and it changed my life! Technology made such a difference that I have focused my career on helping other people with disabilities find technology that opens doors to new independence in learning, working, having fun, and simply living their lives as they want.

If you have been in the field of AT awhile, you may have visited the Virtual Assistive Technology Center site, which offered links to free and cheap software for people with disabilities. Tech-Can-Do is a rebirth and extension of that, but will offer reviews of commercial software, gadgets, other sites, web accessibility tips, and more.

I have a Ph.D. in special education with an emphasis in assistive technology from the University of Kansas. I worked as an AT consultant before coming to the Beach Center on Disability and Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, where I have been a research associate for seven years.

I am restarting the blog at www.tech-can-do.com after a few false starts and interruptions.

I look forward to sharing and connecting with you all.

Denise

[Anne Truger]

Wow! You join a ning and walk away for a month and it explodes! I am very honored to be here with so many amazing educators!

My name is Anne Truger. I am the Instructional Technology Specialist for the Special Ed district of Lake County in North Suburban Illinois. I am new to the field of AT, but have taught in LD/BD for 15 years at all different grade levels. I have always been a bit of a techie geek and now I am lucky enough to LOVE my new job.

This was my second year at CTG and really the first year that I "connected" with people there. The highlights for me were meeting Paul, Karen, Paula and Mark, people whose passions are so contagious!

~Anne

[Cindy]

Hi, my name is Cindy, my friend Paula mentioned ning a couple weeks ago, and today had a workshop with John Pederson who also mentioned you Karen, so here I am. I am in Wisconsin, I work for WATI. Looking forward to meeting everyone.