SC Department of Education Assistive Technology Workshops - Midlands Region

All workshops will be held at the Assistive Technology Resource Center, Midlands Center, 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC  29203

To register for these workshops, go to the SC Assistive Technology Program Training Page.

September 3, 2014: 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Bookshare (webinar)

This workshop will address the most common questions teachers and parents have about Bookshare. We will review what resources Bookshare has to offer, the eligibility criteria, and types of membership. Reading options, compatible AT software, mobile reading and web solutions for Bookshare will be discussed. Free resources will be provided.

October 8, 2014: 9:30am – 11:30am

Assistive Technology Consideration and Assessments – Utilizing the SETT and the WATI

Conducting student AT assessments can be sometimes difficult, but by using the WATI assessment and SETT framework, your assistive technology team will understand the process and will have the materials needed for documentation. The WATI and SETT are research based and used by many assistive technology specialists throughout the country. We will review resources and materials to show you how to conduct a professional AT assessment with students who need adapted materials, access to technology, help with seating, written productivity, and much more. Free materials and resources will be provided.

November 5, 2014: 9:30am – 11:30am

Visual Supports for Behavior Management

Visual supports constitute an important tool we all use in our daily lives. Given the fact that most students are visual learners, it is essential that we incorporate visual supports in every aspect of planning and instruction as a way to prevent or manage behavior problems. This workshop is designed to provide teachers with the necessary tools to integrate visual supports in the classroom in a meaningful way that will meet the behavioral and emotional needs of students. We will explore visual support strategies, their benefits, and simple methods for implementing them in the classroom.

December 3, 2014: 9:30am – 11:30am

Written Productivity

Teachers are often in the position of referring students to an AT team for assessment for enhancing written productivity. During this workshop, we will explore resources that are available to help with writing difficulties. We will address motor skills and processing and organizational concerns that many students struggle with. We will review various programs that are low-cost or free, as well as audio recording pens that help with notetaking, organization, and study skills.  We will also go over speech-recognition programs and the criteria that students need to meet to have success with them.

January 7, 2015:  9:30am – 11:30am

Reading Supports

Students with disabilities or students who are struggling with reading fluency and comprehension can benefit from existing free or low-cost literacy supports. In this workshop, we will demonstrate many of the resources that can be easily implemented in the classroom. We will approach literacy supports through the Universal Design for Learning concept for all learning styles. We will discuss text-to-speech software, Microsoft built-in features, and mobile solutions, as well as various other free resources.

February 4, 2015: 9:30am – 11:30am

Android Resources

With an increasing number of students using Android mobile devices, teachers and parents are finding themselves in the position to make best use of its available resources. In this workshop, we will compare Android to other operating systems. We will discuss pros and cons of using this platform, and address accessibility features and switch access. Free and low-cost apps and resources for communication, literacy, math and organization will be discussed, as well as exciting new technology, including Google Glass.

March 26, 2015: 9:00 – 4:00

SC AT Expo– Free and Open to the Public

April 1, 2015:  9:30am – 11:30am

Introduction to Microsoft’s One Note/Evernote – The Future of Note Taking

Looking for ways to keep yourself and your students organized? This workshop is designed to explore Microsoft One Note and Evernote and how you can use them in the classroom and beyond.  Storing your audio, text, and photo files in the Microsoft Cloud requires an established Hotmail account. We will review creating a digital binder and demonstrate the various templates that are incorporated into the program. 

May 6, 2015: 9:30am – 11:30am

Switch Access to iPad and tablets

During this workshop, attendees will get a chance to take a closer look at alternative access methods for iOS and other operating systems through the lens of the Universal Design for Learning model. We will explore ways to provide alternative access to iPads and other tablets through various hardware and software available options. Considerations for choosing the right access method will be addressed. We will demonstrate switch access solutions proven successful in various settings, and provide troubleshooting tips for common problems. The main focus will be on increasing access and independence, with special attention given to switch access options, Switch Enabled Program for Limited Mobility, and various resources available for students in all educational and vocational environments.

For more information: http://www.sc.edu/scatp/trainingschedule.html

To access the CDR Library: http://uscm.med.sc.edu/cdr/