Assistive Technology & Transition Planning

Youth learn in all environments, not just in school. Therefore, it's critical to consider utilizing assistive technology in all the youth's environments including, home, schools and in the community. For example, independent living skills include tasks such as turning on lights, calling for assistance, changing the TV channel or talking on the phone. Typically these are more frequently part of home life, not the school day. However, often the expertise on how assistive technology could be utilized to develop these skills exists with the school and community based assistive technology professionals. Successfully combining assistive technology considertations in all youth enviroments requires communications between the family,school and community agencies which allows everyone to share their perspectives and expertise.

Let's Start Planning for Transiton with Assistive Technology

The steps below do not always occure in the same order and sometimes you have to go back and try again. But, they provide a starting point for evaluating how assistive technology can benifit youth in school and beyond into adult life:

• Establish an understanding of the youth's present level of academic performance by utilizing your state’s standardized grade level student's expectations to identify both areas of strength and where additional assistance may be needed.
• Develop a written vision of life after high school in a detailed post-school outcome statement.
  
• Consider whether assistive technology can help achieve the outcomes.
• Identify who’s going to do what in acquiring the technology, providing training in its use if needed, and funding it. Also determine whether the funding source will allow the technology to go with the student into post-high school education and work.

Finally, as the old saying goes, “The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get.” Good luck.

For more information go to Impact: Assistive Technology and Transiton Planning

Mid-Plains Community College

If you are a person with a disability and require an accommodation while attending this college, please contact: Robin Rankin, North Platte Community College-North Campus, 308 535-3637 or 800 658-4308, Ext. 3637; Sherry Mihel, North Platte Community College-South Campus, 308-535-3710; or Jeremy Jorgensen, McCook Community College, 308 345-8128 or 800 658-4348, Ext. 8128.

ADA Accommodations Materials at Mid-Plains Community College:
1.Talking Calculator
2.Talking Book Cassette player
3.Jaws Software
4.Write out loud Software
5. Carbon less notebook paper
6. Vibrating and Chime wireless personal pager
7.Amplified Telephone
8.Alpha Smart
9. Expert Mouse four button trackball
10.Kinesis keyboard
11. PC Armrest
12.Microcsset tapes and players to assist with recording lectures
13. Fanny packs for carrying recorders
For more information on what Mid-Plains Community College can offer contact the North Platte campus at 1-800-685-4308

Students Rights and Laws Pertaining to Transition and Assistive Technology

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a special education law which requires schools to provide a "Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)" to students with disabilities who meet eligibility criteria. Under this law, schools are obligated to provide transition services to eligible students which will enable them to develop skills necessary for adult life. These services must consider the student's transition needs pertaining to work, independent living, community integration, recreation and transportation.

IDEA and Assistive Technology

IEDA requires that Individual Education Program (IEP) teams consider whether the student requires any assistive technology devices and services.The term assistive technology device means "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a person with a disability." The term "assistive technology service" refers to any service the directly assist a person with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 requires equal access to federally funded programs, such as public school system, by people with disabilities. To be eligible for services under Section 504 you must be a person with a disability which interferes with one or more major life functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, learning, walking seeing, hearing, breathing, speaking, and working. People with a disability who are not eligible for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA) may be found eligible for services under Section 504.

Section 504 requires the provision of assistive technology to ensure equal access to programs. A 504 plan can include transition services and technology which will allow a student to participate in course work, career exploration, career/vocational experiences such as on-the-job-training or job shadowing, as well as opportunities to explore community integration and independent living needs. This technology can include assistive listening devices, interpreters, computers for written work, accessible work stations, taped or written materials, and more.

The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA is a nondiscrimination law pertaining to people with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of telephone relay services.

For more information on Rights and Laws pertaining to persons with disabilities visit www.disabilityinfo.gov

Technology is all around us

Technology is in the classroom, used in the work environment, accessed for recreation, and may even be used at your local place of worship.
When reading a register that I get in the mail I recently came across an article titled "Tuning into technology" By Jennifer Burker. A church in Rochester in New York have a new way of reflecting on the weekly scripture readings, thanks to their pastor. Instead of flipping through the pages of a Bible, parishioners now can turn on their computers or iPods, download the most recent installment of the podcast of "Your Sunday Reader," then sit back and listen as the pastor reads and discusses the week's Scripture selections. What a great way to reach people. Each week the pastor post's a new podcast. For more information go to www.stmarycanadaigua.org.