The Need for Accessible Technology
Join our Pilot to increase accessibility of Learning!
The shift to eLearning - Who gets left behind?
As Malcolm Gladwell portrays in Outliers, “The tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just because it grew from the hardiest acorn; it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured.”
The literal overnight shift to eLearning has changed the environments for so many; possibly becoming the rabbit that's chewing at our learners with different needs and those at risk students.
This shift has provided traction to those who, for years, have advocated for universal design and universal accommodations. All in the education field can now see firsthand this system of support that can help students across a whole range of abilities. This universal design and the incorporation of accessibility must now be an integral, CORE component for ALL of our students in ALL environments.
Enter, a guided pilot for accessible technology with DonJohnston and your IU TaC.
Note that this pilot can also be implemented in the F2F setting!
Next Steps
Snap & Read Features
Read Aloud
Dynamic Text Leveling
Translation
Study Tools
Focus/Distraction Removal
Color Overlays/Reading Guides
Picture Supported Dictionary
Bibliographer
Screenshot Reader
Readability Analyzer
Annotation
Data Collection
Overdrive Integration (Links with local libraries)
Co:Writer Features
'Neuron' Word Prediction
Speech Recognition
Test Mode for Assessments
FlexSpell
Vocabulary Support
Language Support
Translation
Data Collection
Example Timeline
September/October: Commit to assessing a minimum of 15 students (max 30 students) with IEPs, ELL plans, or in reading intervention who are reading below grade level.
September/October: Complete Readiness Indicators form and return to Don Johnston (via TaC member)
September/October: uPAR administration
September - October - November: Learning Tool (Snap & Read or CoWriter) piloting
October/November/Deceber: Schedule a Data Walk for your district with Don Johnston, Inc. representative and IU TaC
Andrea Zern, M.S./CCC-SLP
Email: azern@iu08.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/iu08.org/aiu8-assistive-technology/home
Location: 445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, PA, USA
Phone: 8142627392
Twitter: @techytac