Over 200 Presentations
The 2008 Closing The Gap Conference offered over 200 sessions that described and/or demonstrated successful applications of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. Sessions examine results of current applications, research, development of computer hardware, software, or adaptive devices, model programs, or procedures used by and for persons with disabilities.
Displaying 1 through 10 of 190 sessions found.
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Assessment
10/16/2008
AT Assessment: Laying the Groundwork for Success (Two Block Session)
Date:
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
from
8:00 am -
10:30 am
Location: Plaza 6 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: lecture
Subject Level:
All
Computer Level:
N/A
Description:
Assessment is a process through which the information needed to match goals to tools can be gathered. Questions that surround assessment include: Who should do the assessment and where? What should assessment include? When is assessment over and when does implementation start? When should recommendations be made? What information (data) is necessary to support funding requests? This session will address these questions and discuss critical components in assistive technology assessment. There are many resources available to help teams as they strive to become increasingly able to conduct effective, efficient assessments. Some of these resources that guide the process of collecting useful information during the assessment process will be shared. Both philosophical and pragmatic aspects of assessment will be discussed.
Presenters:
Jane Korsten
10/17/2008
Clarifying Assessments and Capturing Understanding with Boardmaker Software Family
Date:
Fri, Oct 17, 2008
from
3:30 pm -
4:30 pm
Location: Plaza 6 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: company-affiliated demonstration
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
You're using Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus to teach your students each day. Learn how to then use those same tools for assessing what they have learned! We will begin with a review of various types of assessments and points to consider when providing assessments to diverse student populations. Next -- creating! Learn how to utilize the Boardmaker Software Family to create a variety of curriculum-based assessments, performance-based assessments, portfolios and alternate assessments in an innovative fashion, incorporating movies into portfolios, capturing student responses by recording their voice during an assessment, as well as integrating data tracking. Clarify assessment and capture their understanding.
Presenters:
Dan Herlihy
Lisa Kehoe
10/18/2008
Creating Alternate Assessment Activities with ClozePro
Date:
Sat, Oct 18, 2008
from
8:00 am -
9:00 am
Location: Plaza 4 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: company-affiliated demonstration
Subject Level:
Beginner
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
This presentation will demonstrate how alternate assessment activities to monitor students' progress can be created quickly and easily with ClozePro. Participants will discover that all of the resources, from traditional reading comprehension activities and specific grammar tasks to simple matching activities and math assessments, are fully switch-accessible and include speech support, making ClozePro appropriate for all students. The presentation will also examine ClozePro's straightforward reporting system that allows you to track student progress. In addition to finding out how to create your own materials, the LearningGrids World Web site, which provides hundreds of free, ready-made teaching and learning resources, will be demonstrated.
Presenters:
John Crick
10/17/2008
Creating and Conducting an Effective Large Scale Assistive Technology Needs Assessment
Date:
Fri, Oct 17, 2008
from
2:00 pm -
3:00 pm
Location: Atrium 8 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: lecture
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
A hallmark of successful assistive technology provision is the inclusion of ongoing assessments. This presentation will address creating, conducting, and utilizing results of periodic assessments of schools, school districts, and the state's assistive technology systems. The presentation will focus on the Iowa Center for Assistive Technology Education and Research's (ICATER) Statewide AT Needs Assessment for Iowa. We will discuss the methods and instruments used to assess Iowa's needs and their effectiveness, as well as preliminary results, their implications on Iowa's AT service, and how this can be adapted to assess a school, school district, or other state's AT needs.
Presenters:
Noel Estrada Hernandez
James Stachowiak
10/17/2008
How to Assess Young Children for Powered Mobility
Date:
Fri, Oct 17, 2008
from
8:00 am -
9:00 am
Location: Plaza 3 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: lecture
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
The times have changed. However, the assessment of powered mobility with children has not. How the child is assessed still resembles what occurs with adults. Children are expected to demonstrate "driving" and "directional" skills and perform "upon command." They are expected to demonstrate judgment and safety, while their able bodied counterparts cannot. I will focus on how we must first assess mobility and then driving later. I will share successful strategies of seating/positioning/access and equipment that have allowed children to develop and demonstrate functional independence. This session will focus initially on seating, access, and mobility, then shift to the equipment needed, its programming and use.
Presenters:
Karen Kangas
10/16/2008
How to Assess, Teach, and Use the Head as an Access Site for AT
Date:
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
from
8:00 am -
9:00 am
Location: Atrium 7 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: demonstration
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
Head access is frequently tried, and frequently rejected, by many AT professionals for their students. The head is an excellent primary site and an excellent beginning site for use of AAC, computer access, and powered mobility. Presenting its use, and teaching its use is still not readily understood nor provided. Today we will share how to examine the process of physical configuration of the hardware, use of what software, how to present the access to the student, and how to progress in its use. Head access for AAC devices, computer access, and powered mobility will be shared.
Presenters:
Karen Kangas
Lisa Rotelli
10/18/2008
How to Gather Useful Evidence for Access Assessment
Date:
Sat, Oct 18, 2008
from
11:00 am -
12:00 pm
Location: Plaza 4 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: company-affiliated demonstration
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
Evidence-based practice can powerfully enhance assistive technology services. Learn how to gather and apply clear evidence in the area of access assessment, with particular focus on computer access and AAC. Available assessment tools will be described, along with criteria for an effective assessment tool. We will also demonstrate Compass software for access assessment and outcome measurement. Principles that guide evidence gathering will be discussed with concrete examples of applying each principle. Finally, we will present sample case studies and ask participants to use evidence-based practice to identify difficulties with an existing interface, compare performance with different input devices, and track changes over time.
Presenters:
Heidi Koester
10/16/2008
Location, Location, Location! Determining the Best Switch Location and Type for Access to Assistive Technology (Two Block Session)
Date:
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
from
2:00 pm -
4:30 pm
Location: Atrium 6 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: demonstration
Subject Level:
Beginner
Computer Level:
Beginner
Description:
This session will demonstrate a variety of mechanical and electrical switches by category. We will discuss the features of each type and match these features with client needs. We will also discuss assessment strategies to find that ever-elusive switch location for optimal access to assistive technology. Switch use varies with the specific assistive technology device being accessed, so this needs to be considered in the assessment as well. The session will cover a hierarchy of switch locations. Access training will also be presented to optimize switch access, particularly scanning skills.
Presenters:
Michelle L. Lange
10/16/2008
Look What I Can Do: From an Adaptation-Based to an Assessment-Based Approach
Date:
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
from
12:30 pm -
1:30 pm
Location: Atrium 2 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: networking session / discussion
Subject Level:
All
Computer Level:
Beginner
Description:
Five Dutch educators will share with you how they shifted from 'ICT focused education' to 'needs assessment-based' education, using an assessment tool that leads to proper adaptations for special needs education in the framework of the 'four in balance' model. We welcome you at our workshop and will share the 'four in balance' development model that we have specially translated to English for you!
Presenters:
Jasper Beguin
Ruben Bloemen
Martijn Lasthuizen
Peter Stoffele
Jack Vlassak
10/16/2008
Portfolios that Work
Date:
Thu, Oct 16, 2008
from
12:30 pm -
1:30 pm
Location: Plaza 4 Sheraton
Category: assessment
Format: demonstration
Subject Level:
Intermediate
Computer Level:
Intermediate
Description:
By using mixed media-based digital learning portfolios, a teacher can demonstrate learning in an unprecedented way. Using digital photos, video, text, and the versatile Microsoft PowerPoint, the individualized education plan comes alive to truly show learning taking place. This presentation will feature a free downloadable portfolio system in the PowerPoint format. The portfolio system is based on research conducted as part of Dr. Mary Ann Lowe's dissertation in the Doctoral Studies Program in Speech Language Pathology at Nova Southeastern University, and includes additional research-based content and technical work by both Dr. Lowe and Samuel Charles Sennott.
Presenters:
Samuel Sennott
