Assistive Technology Support Initiative Parent Training Toolkit Part 1

1. Assistive Technology Support Initiative Parent Training Toolkit Part 1 This training tool kit is for use in any school board, learning disability association or other non-profit organization to train parents to support students who use assistive technology.

2. Background, Tips and Information • The following slides provide the background on ATSI. • Tips on coaching. • AT software training can be found in the ATSI AT Parent Software Training Part 2 PowerPoint.

3. ATSI is made possible with donations from Northern Micro donated laptops and scanners Micro Computer Software donated software

5. Myth or Fact? • Can learning disabilities be cured? • True or False

6. False • There is no "cure" for learning disabilities. They are life-long. However, children with learning disabilities can be high achievers and can be taught ways to get around the learning disability. With the right help, children with learning disabilities can and do learn successfully.

7. Myth or Fact? • Are learning disabilities inherited? • True or False

8. True • Learning disabilities tend to run in families, so some learning disabilities may be inherited. • Learning disabilities are more common in boys than girls, possibly because boys tend to mature more slowly.

9. Myth or Fact? • Is Assistive Technology a “cop-out”? • True or False

10. False • Just as an individual in a wheelchair needs a ramp to go around stairs, an individual with learning disabilities needs tools to help work around obstacle in the areas of reading, writing, spelling, numbers, memory and/or organization.

11. About ATSI • Volunteers in Education is an Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, community volunteer program that began in 1993. • Volunteers are recruited from the community, screened, and trained to support teachers and students in K-12 schools. • We share the mutual goal of helping educators ensure academic success for students. • Educators need AT trained parents and volunteers.

12. Goal of ATSI • ATSI aim - enhance support to students new to AT so they can reap the benefits of these tools as quickly as possible.

13. Community Partners in Ottawa • Students – elementary, high school and post secondary • Parents/guardians • Algonquin College Centre for Students with Disabilities • Carleton University Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities • University of Ottawa Learning Technology Mentoring Centre

14. Community Collaboration • Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est • Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario • Ottawa-Carleton District School Board • Ottawa Catholic School Board • Learning Disabilities Associations • Ottawa Carleton Learning Foundation

15. How you can help • Volunteer to help students who use AT • Share your own LD experiences • Mentor a student • Make a difference • Give back to the community • Start an AT volunteer program at your school

16. Assistive Technology in Education • Computer-based (AT) is being used successfully within the education system to support the learning process. • The goal for AT use is to allow learners to use their strengths and participate as fully as possible in school.

17. AT Software For Learning • Text to speech – Kurzweil 3000, TextHELP , Natural Reader, Premier • Speech to text - Dragon NaturallySpeaking • Screen readers – ReadPlease, Browsealoud • Reading and writing – Read&Write GOLD, Word Q • Organization, writing, mind map – Inspiration, SMART Ideas

18. AT Devices • iPod Touch • Talking calculator • Franklin Spell Checker • Electronic Dictionary • Digital Voice Recorders • LiveScribe Echo Smart Pen

19. Purpose of AT • Effective tools • Not to replace other students services or academic accommodations • Augment current support • Extend both academic independence and academic options • Follow student from post secondary to the workplace

20. Challenges Right fit Significant learning curve Technical difficulties Need for support

21. Benefits for Students • Independence • Levels playing field • Access to curriculum • Academic Success

22. Responsibility to Accommodate • Required by law • Accommodate LD students • Equal access to AT • Inclusion in mainstream classrooms • Access to curriculum

23. ESL FSL Support • AT is a powerful tool to teach second languages • Can be used in all classrooms • Accelerates language learning

24. AT Training in Schools • Students are identified for AT through the IPRC process • Ministry of Education SEA grants provide equipment and limited training • Students need long term training and support • Parents and volunteers needed to support AT students

25. Types of Learning Disabilities • Visit http://www.ldac-acta.ca/ to learn more about learning disabilities • How AT is a learning strategy for some students • Strengths, weaknesses, challenges

26. Step One—AT Training • Watch the Don Johnson video “The Case Against Assistive Technology” http://www.donjohnston.com/media/flash/case_against_technology/index.html • Watch ATSI Videos and testimonials www.onfe-rope.ca/at • Walk through website resources • Discuss and answer questions after each video

27. Who are the students? • Average or above average intelligence • Unable to show what they know • May have additional stress of being responsible for learning and using AT independently • Received some AT training from school board • May not have access to AT at school or at home

28. Role of the Parent • Importance of understanding • Importance of positive reinforcement—these students know what they are not good at—your role is to focus on their strengths • Coaching—not training or teaching • You are not their teacher—you are their coach—positive energy. • Let them lead—you guide them

29. Tips to Remember • Keep the communication open with the teacher • Offer to scan or prepare documents • Offer to set up a parent volunteer program • Ask to be invited to AT training at the school

30. Step One: Build the Relationship • Find common ground—use your own childhood and share stories: “I struggled with learning to read when I was a child”, share your challenges, your learning style, how you learn differently.

31. Everyone is Good at Something • Find out what the student likes to do or what they are good at. • LD students have amazing strengths (public speaking, being super organized, creative, gifted athlete, etc.) • Celebrate their strengths at every opportunity.

32. You are on their team! • Build confidence • Above all be positive—comment on success no matter how small. “I think you are amazing at” …being organized, using the keyboard, seeing the small details, etc. • Let the student know you are on their team!

33. Normalize the Experience • Help the student understand their learning challenges; they may think there is something wrong with them. • Reinforce that AT is on their team. It’s a learning strategy that will let them show what they know.

34. Remember—Be Positive • Some students never hear positive feedback. • It’s human nature to remember the negative things you hear about yourself. • Be positive. • You are on their team as their coach!

35. Step Two: Determining Need for Support • Ask the teacher for some background on where the student needs support. The teacher may not know if they have not had the student in their class for very long. • Ask to speak to the resource teacher if possible. Don’t assume the teacher knows the AT learning strategies that work for your student.

36. Step Three:How to Begin your AT Support Session • Start with showing the student the AT videos and website. • Let the student show you what software they have on their computer. • Ask the student to show what they know how to use. • Ask the student where they need help.

37. Coaching versus Training • Guide and encourage the student to use AT to do their schoolwork. • For example they have a writing assignment: use Mind mapping to create a writing outline, use DNS to create the first draft in MS Word, use MS Word editing software as needed to make the final version.

38. Student Actively Engaged • Remember to keep your student actively engaged. • Always let your student be in control of the computer and mouse. • Sit on the side and point and guide—do not take over the mouse and computer. • Your student may have learned to be helpless and to rely on others to do their work—it is your role to encourage their independence and build their confidence in using AT.

39. Step Four: Encourage Teacher Participation • Key to student success is your relationship with the teacher. • Encourage the teacher or resource staff to participate in AT support sessions (with permission from the student).

40. Let Them Teach You • Ask the student to offer “show what you know” sessions with the teacher and resource staff to give them a chance to “teach the teacher” and let them shine. • Remember you only retain 10% of what you learn but if you can teach it to someone you will retain 90%.

41. Be Prepared Provide Feedback • Ask the teacher for materials in advance to prepare for the student. • Ask to prepare tests for test taking. • Provide feedback to the teacher on how well your student is doing using AT.

42. How You Can Help the Teacher • Scan and prepare documents in advance in Kurzweil 3000 or other AT programs. • Edit underlying text in scanned documents. • Prepare tests for test taking in Kurzweil 3000. • Scan materials not already available on Ministry website in alternative format.

43. Find Sources of Alternative Format • Find books on CD, MP3 format, ebooks, W. Ross MacDonald library, etc. for the student and teacher. • Ask for all teacher handouts in MS Word format or in electronic format to save time having to scan and format documents.

44. Additional Training • Ask to be included in any school board AT training sessions. • Offer to set up an AT training session for parents and staff.

45. Access to AT • Many software programs come with a two site license—you may qualify for a free copy for your home computer. • Ask your school board what software if available for home use. • Purchase software or find free AT.

46. Stay Current • Visit your local post secondary student resource centre. • Public Libraries have AT computers—book time to practice. • Visit the ATSI website Help and Resources.

47. ATSI AT Training • Be sure to work through the ASTI AT Parent Training Part 2 PowerPoint for free online AT training ideas. • Download the presentation and customize your own training program. • Stay current—visit often www.onfe-rope.ca/AT • Join online AT communities in Linked In

48. Spread the Word!! • Direct teachers, parents, and students to www.onfe-rope.ca/AT Add your resources to the ATSI site • Help by filling in the online survey!