Implementing AT into the Classroom & School

Assistive technology can be beneficial to any school and classroom.  Recommending the use of AT to be implemented into the classroom may be difficult when going through a school district.  Ensuring that professionals and student have the knowledge and skills to implement a successful transition to using the AT devices requires much planning.  During the planning process, you need to determine which individuals are responsible for different elements of the plan, any necessary training that needs to be provided, and determining if the AT is working and assisting the student with participating in the curriculum. 


http://www.setbc.org/setbc/topics/effective_implementation_of_assistive_technology.html

Making it Work: Effective Implementation of Assistive Technology Guide provides resources for implementing AT to students with special needs. It helps create organization in a complex procedure that helps a student develop into the community and continue to grow through adulthood. Each one of the sections is carefully developed and can be downloaded and used for free.  They are specifically detailed for each step of the process, and also include charts, questions, and case study examples.


http://www.otap-oregon.org/Pages/OTAPPublications.aspx

The Oregon Technology Access Program designed documents to be used by agencies/ school districts who are developing plans to implement assistive technology. The PDF's available include samples, checklists, and a plethora of information on transitioning seamlessly with the use of AT in the classroom.  There is also information about how to correctly include the implementation into the IEP and the requirements and guidelines that need to be followed.
To download the document please click the following: http://www.otap-oregon.org/Documents/AT%20Model%20Operating%20Guidelines.pdf
This resource also has additional downloads available for school personnel, agencies, and parents.  It is easily accessible and more clearly outlined than the previous website I listed. 


References:

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive Technology in the classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities. Pearson.

 http://www.otap-oregon.org/Pages/Default.aspx

http://www.setbc.org/