JCISD AT Update
January 2024
Introduction
Your Assistive Technology Team
Elisabeth Mills- AT Coordinator:
I have been with JCISD for 15 years and have worked as a classroom teacher for students with Physical and Otherwise Health Impairments, Students with Severe Multiple Impairments, a Teacher Consultant for Early Childhood, and now your full time Assistive Technology Coordinator. For most of that time, those positions have been split with Assistive Technology. I enjoy helping problem solve how students can better access curriculum, communicate more fully, and how to use a device to its highest potential to help students succeed and become more independent. I have a strong background working with complex communication needs and alternative and augmentative communication systems as well.
Krystie Adorjan- Speech Language Pathologist/AT Coordinator:
I have been a Speech-Language Pathologist with the JCISD for the past 10 years. During that time, I have had the pleasure of working with students from ages 3-26 with a variety of complex communication needs, all over the county. I enjoy collaborating with families and our JCISD team to give our students functional ways to communicate and/ or access their environment. It is inspiring to learn new ways to help our students be successful. I am excited to be a part of the assistive technology team and look forward to working with you and your students.
Lynnelle Tans- Speech Language Pathologist/AT Coordinator:
I have been a speech-language pathologist with JCISD since 2009. For the past several years, my primary focus has been serving students with complex communication needs. It is gratifying to witness students learning to communicate in a variety of ways and seeing their faces light up when they have expressed themselves and know their message was heard and understood. I value and enjoy collaborating with other professionals; working together to find strategies which help students learn and reach their full potential is very rewarding.
Kary Swiontek- Speech Language Pathologist/AT Coordinator:
I have been a Speech-Language Pathologist with the ISD for 25 years and Director of Camp McYack for 22 years. Camp McYack is a special education camp for students who are nonverbal and use a Speech Generated Device to communicate. I have seen many different devices and applications. However, there is always more to learn and I am eager to do so. Over the last few years, I have been completing AAC evaluations for students in Jackson County. I have always had a love for assistive technology and am eager to support you and your students in finding the best communication device and app to meet their needs.
Krystie Adorjan
SLP/AT Coordinator
Lynnelle Tans
SLP/AT Coordinator
Kary Swiontek
SLP/AT Coordinator
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.
- AT can be low-tech: communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt.
- AT can be high-tech: special-purpose computers.
- AT can be hardware: prosthetics, mounting systems, and positioning devices.
- AT can be computer hardware: special switches, keyboards, and pointing devices.
- AT can be computer software: screen readers and communication programs.
- AT can be inclusive or specialized learning materials and curriculum aids.
- AT can be specialized curricular software.
- AT can be much more—electronic devices, wheelchairs, walkers, braces, educational software, power lifts, pencil holders, eye-gaze and head trackers, and much more.
Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different disabilities require different assistive technologies.
How do I get Assistive Technology?
Assistive Technology Resource Center
The JCISD Assistive Technology (AT) Resource Center is here to help meet the needs of your students by providing any low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech options. Requests may be placed through any of the following AT Requests Forms. Also, if we don't have the item in our inventory we can work with other Lending Libraries to get what you may need.
TORRANT AT REQUEST FORM:
https://forms.gle/VqSVgHz2cYZFyFGv6
CENTRAL CAMPUS/OUT-COUNTY/LOCAL DISTRICT COMMUNICATION AT REQUEST FORM:
https://forms.gle/b7jzo6q3gpNiSwRp6
LOCAL DISTRICTS/PAROCHIAL (NON-COMMUNICATION) AT REQUEST FORM:
https://forms.gle/3WGkzHHVdEyQAr3V9
AT in the IEP
Assistive Technology Consideration
As part of the Special Factors requirement in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004, for each child in special education, every individualized education program (IEP) team is required to consider a child's need for assistive technology (AT).
This requirement leaves us with several questions: What does it mean to consider? How will every IEP team do that? What is the difference between consideration and assessment?
In thinking about consideration, some things are pretty clear. First, consideration is a brief process, one that can take place within every IEP meeting and should not be confused with an evaluation. Second, in order to consider the need for assistive technology, at least one person on the IEP team must have some knowledge about assistive technology. You cannot consider something that you know nothing about.
Here are possible decisions an IEP team can make:
AT is not needed. The student is making adequate progress through task modification, skill remediation, or other interventions specified on the IEP. Nothing new is needed for this student.
AT is needed and is successfully being used, as determined most often through the SETT Framework. In this case, it is appropriate to list particular AT services and devices on the IEP, being careful to include enough detail of features and device categories needed. Do not specify the brand name, as this may limit your options in the future. For example- if a student is using an iPad, we say "dynamic touch screen device" and do not list the actual brand.
AT may be needed, but the IEP team is unsure what service or device would meet the student’s needs. The team may decide that new AT should be tried and additional data should be collected to determine what an appropriate service or product might be. Contact is made with the JCISD Assistive Technology Coordinator and a team meeting is held. Team members will complete the Assistive Technology Screening Checklist and the SETT Framework to begin the process of further consideration.
Region IV Assistive Technology Consortium
Jackson County is apart of Region IV!
https://miregioniv.weebly.com/
Who We Are and What We Do
The Region IV Assistive Technology (AT) Consortium is one of five Assistive Technology Consortiums throughout the state of Michigan. We include representatives from eight Intermediate School Districts (ISD's) in Southeast Michigan. The consortium promotes and facilities the capacity to deliver quality AT services through regional and inter-regional collaboration and training by:
- Communicating with both state and national agencies that serve Region IV students in order to exchange ideas, information, and resources.
- Reviewing software and technologies appropriate for students with disabilities and facilitating group purchases to reduce costs.
- Provide professional development opportunities to staff and parents throughout the region.
Topics of monthly collaboration include the following:
- Region IV Conference
- Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)/Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Alt+Shift
- Assistive Technology Forum Presenters
- iOS updates relating to accessibility
- Low Incidence/Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)
- 21 Things 4 Teachers Website - Assistive Technology Supports
- Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Updates
Upcoming Professional Development
March 11th- County Wide PD Day- Intro to Assistive Technology and CORE Vocabulary for ALL
March 11th is our County Wide PD Day and Our AT Team will be providing 2 sessions:
The morning session will consist of an Introduction to Assistive Technology:
We will discuss a variety of AT, how to get AT, and the AT consideration process. There will be make and takes and tools to play with. This session is for anyone- General Ed and Special Ed Teachers, TAs, Itinerants!
The afternoon session will consist of CORE Vocabulary:
We will discuss an overview of CORE vocab, how to use (SMORRES), and will have numerous scenarios to model CORE. This session is for anyone- General Ed and Special Ed Teachers, TAs, and Itinerants!
Session registration links will be sent out soon. You do not have to register for both sessions
Monday, Mar 11, 2024, 08:30 AM
Kit Young Center, West Parnall Road, Jackson, MI, USA
Meaningful Making Workshop
Do you have students who utilize expensive switch adaptive toys? This session will give a hands-on experience adapting toys for switch use. Each participant will make a switch and practice simple circuits and soldering skills to modify a toy. They will also make a light touch switch to use with the toy. The session will also explore other maker projects and resources for future making projects. Participants will leave the session with a modified toy and switch and skills necessary to adapt Assistive Technology tools. IMPORTANT: This session will be held at Monroe County ISD and will be limited to 64 participants. Lunch will be provided.
Space is limited and invite only! Please email elisabeth.mills@jcisd.org if interested
Friday, Apr 12, 2024, 08:30 AM
Monroe County Intermediate School District, South Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI, USA
4TechTogether Conference
September 26-27, 2024
Look for more information to come!
Thursday, Sep 26, 2024, 08:30 AM
Macomb Intermediate School District, Garfield Road, Clinton Township, MI, USA
Contact Us!
Elisabeth Mills
517-867-5907 (office)
734-693-3840 (cell)
Krystie Adorjan
517-768-5178 (office)
Kary Swiontek
517-795-0669 (cell)
Lynnelle Tans
517-768-5174 (office)