Technology in the Deafblind Project

1. Technology in the Deafblind Project Jackie Brennan Nov. 2, 2007

2. PA Deafblind Project • Federally and State funded • Services free to families and service providers • Serves children and youth ages birth-21 • Currently 424 students on PA census • 90% of students have additional disabilities

3. PA Deafblind Project Goals • Increase family participation as informed decision makers • Establish a network of parents and family resources • Enhance the local capacity to develop and implement effective educational programs for students who are deafblind • Conduct early, accurate, and ongoing identification of children and youth who are deafblind or at risk for deafblindness • Coordinate with state and national resources for effective program services.

4. Project Activities • Weekend Family Learning Conference • PA Parent Listserv • Quarterly newsletter • Project SPARKLE • Leadership Network • Technical Assistance to families and educational teams

5. Using Assistive technology with students who are deafblind or who have multiple disabilities • Blind and Visually Impaired • Deaf and Hard of Hearing • Communication • Access technology

6. Why use Assistive Technology • Provide access to toys, appliances, equipment, typical technology • Receptive Communication • Expressive Communication

7. What Assistive Technology do you use?

8. Blind and Visually Impaired • Computer with speech output or screen magnification • CCTV • Mountbatten • Electronic Brailler • Scanner • Refreshable Braille Display

12. Deaf and Hard of Hearing • FM System • Sound Field • Hearing Aids • TTY/TDD • Amplification Devices • Environmental Alerts • Blackberry and other text messaging Devices

14. Communication Devices • Big Mack • Rocker Switch • Cheap Talk • Dynavox • Go Talk • Hip Talk • Software such as Board Maker

19. Access Technology • Simple switches to access toys and equipment • Environmental controls • Adapted Keyboards • IntelliKeys

25. AbleNet Bookworm Picture by Deirdre Walsh and Elizabeth Torre, Perkins School for the Blind

26. PaTTAN Short Term Loan Program • A library of assistive technology and resource materials available to schools for trial and evaluation

27. Assistive Technology Kits Augmentative Comm. Computer access Written Comm. Environmental Controls Technology for the Sensory Impaired Resource Materials Deafness/Hearing Loss Educational Interpreter Deafblindness Reading Progress Monitoring Secondary Transition Behavior Other Disability Areas PaTTAN STL

28. Who can Borrow Kits ? • PA Educators employed or contracted by school districts and specialized schools • Therapists employed or contracted by school districts and specialized schools

29. How To Borrow a Kit • http://www.pattan.net/resources/shorttermloan.aspx • PaTTAN/Resources/Short Term Loan or • PaTTAN/Supporting Students/Short Term Loan

30. Searching for a Kit • Search by Category • Search by Title

31. www.pattan.net

33. Select by category

38. Receiving Equipment on Loan • Items shipped to school by UPS • Assistive technology on loan for 6 weeks • Resources on loan for 4 weeks • Return mailing label included for UPS pick up • Loan program free of charge

39. Why use the Short Term Loan Program • Equipment evaluation • Trying equipment before purchasing • Resources for professional development • Resources for staff training

40. Assistive Technology gives are students access to people,things, and activities.Assistive technology is the key to open the doors for learning and fun.