Free AT Trainings from the AT Coalition

Free AT Trainings from the AT Coalition

• Accessible Museum Exhibits from AccessibilityOnline on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 11:30AM Pacific, 2:30PM Eastern

• Functional Accessibility Evaluator, AInspector Sidebar and Accessibility Bookmarklets from EASI on Thursday December 3, at 11PM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• Funding AT for Blind to Support Work and Independence  from RESNA on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• Section 508 Refresh – Understanding the New Requirements from SSB BART on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern (90 minutes) 

• Digital Accessibility Trends from SSB BART on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern (90 min.)  

Free Webinars - K-12 Educators & Parents

• Acquiring Accessible Digital Materials: What to Look for! What to ask for! from AEM (Joy Zabala) on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

• A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Visual Literacy and UDL from OCALI on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 12:30PM Pacific, 3:30 Eastern (30 min.)  

SETC

 

All sessions start at 3:30PM Pacific, 6:30PM Eastern, except as noted.

 

December 1    Web-based Tool to Support AAC Goal Selection
December 3    The Role of OTs in AAC
December 7    AAC- What SLPs need to know about Access
December 8    Google Apps for AT
December 8    AAC in Story Reenactment (at 5PM Pacific, 8PM Eastern)
December 9    Windows Movie Maker Software    
December 14   AAC in Preschool: Participation and Play with a Purpose    
December 15   Apps for Organization- Tools for Organizing Self & Students!
December 17  Tips for Choosing the RIGHT Mounts for Tablets

 

Recently Archived Professional Development

AbilityNet Archive of recent archived webinars:

-Hearing Impairment and Computing
-Visual Impairment and Computing
-How Computers Can Help Reduce Stress At Work
-Accessible Apps: Building the Barclays Mobile Banking App
-Deep Dive: Building Accessible Forms
-Dyslexia and Digital Design. Websites, apps and more...

CTD Archives:

-iPad as Vehicle for Authentic Musical Expression: Empowered Leadership Through Creative
-Thought and Self – Expression
-Supporting Play and Problem Solving in Young Children in the Context of a UDL Early
-Learning Environment
-Recommendations for Use of Mobile Apps for Children Birth-8

Fundraising Event for SC Spinal Cord Injury Association!

Mark Your Calendar for this Fundraising Event!

Come out and join us at Buffalo Wild Wings
1100 Bower Parkway in Columbia
Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
All Day!

10% of meals that day will go to the SC Spinal Cord Injury Association when you present this admit ticket. Diane and Angela will be there around 6:30, if you want to join us then.

Assistive Technology Workshop

Assistive Technology Teams: What Works? What Does Not? 

Date: December 7, 2015

Time: 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Location: Collaborative Training Center

Register for the Assistive Technology Teams workshop

Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services have been mandated for years through IDEA federal legislation. As a result, school districts are in need of both guidance and tools for qualified personnel to plan, develop, and implement Assistive devices and services. If you are an AT professional looking for ways to enhance your AT team process, while increasing knowledge and skills, you are not alone. This workshop will cover issues around AT such as school district responsibilities, assistive technology policies, procedures, and guidelines, assessment, and compliance. Practical ideas for your team, free materials and resources will be provided. This is also a great networking opportunity for district AT team members.

Speaker: Madalina Tudora is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC Department of Education. She supports school districts in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources and training for local assistive technology teams in SC. She also conducts workshops for teachers, therapists, administrators, and parents on various assistive technology topics. Her undergraduate degree is in Special Education, and her graduate degree is in Psychology. She is nationally certified as an Assistive Technology Professional through RESNA.

Free SC Assistive Technology Expo 2016

SC Assistive Technology Expo 2016

Come see what's new in assistive technology and attend presentations about assistive technology and its use. It’s all free!

You can learn more about the SC Assistive Technology Expo 2015 and see information (and pictures) from past Expos at our webpage: 

http://www.sc.edu/scatp/expo/expo16.html

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 2016 SC Assistive Technology Expo!

Thursday, March 3, 2016

9 am – 4 pm

Brookland Banquet and Conference Center 

1066 Sunset Boulevard

West Columbia, S.C. 29169

(803) 796-7525

Midlands ASD Parent Support Group

For caregivers of individuals with ASD to provide support, education, and encouragement and to share resources to help our children and young adults reach their full potential.

Please RSVP here so we know to expect you!

Date:

December 2, 2015

Time:

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Venue: 

SCAS West Columbia Office

806 12th Street, West Columbia, SC 29169

Holiday Respite Opportunity!

Holiday Respite Opportunity! 

The SC Autism Society will be hosting a holiday respite opportunity for individuals with Autism at All Star Gymnastics in Columbia. While caretakers have an opportunity to run a few errands or shop for gifts, your loved one can run, jump and play in a safe environment. Registration deadline is November 30. For more information, please contact:christie@scautism.org or call 803-750-6988, ext. 117.

WHEN

Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 3:00 PM to 5:45 PM (EST)

WHERE

All Star Gymnastics - 4046 Fernandina Road, #D. Columbia, SC 29212 - View Map

Click here to register today!

Helping Your Student/Child With the Transition Process

Workshop for Parents of Children with Autism!

Transition services can be very confusing so in this workshop, we will explain how to navigate through the transition process and how to make a smooth transition for your child. We will discuss transition from Baby Net to Early intervention, transition from elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school and high school to work, tech school, or a post secondary institution. We will also discuss Vocational Rehabilitation and what they can offer your child.

Date:

November 18, 2015

10 AM - 12 PM

OR

6 PM - 8 PM

Venue:

SCAS West Columbia Office

806 12th Street

Click here to register online!

Upstate Holiday Party

Annual Upstate Holiday Party! 

Join us for the annual Upstate Holiday Party presented by the AT&T Pioneers!  We will have snacks, visits with Santa, and a Holiday Shop for the kids to "shop" for a gift for their parents.

Drop-in anytime between 2 and 4 pm.  Spaces are limited so that we will be equipped with enough supplies.  

If your child will be "shopping", please be sure to register for a "Shopping Pass".  Individuals with autism should take priority for "shopping", although all family members are invited to the party.

We look forward to seeing you on December 5th!

Thank you to the AT&T Pioneers for their ongoing sponsorship of this event, and to Grace Church Pelham for providing space!

WHEN

Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 

WHERE

Grace Church - Pelham - 2801 Pelham Road Greenville, SC 29615 - View Map

Click here to register today! 

Brain in Hand - Cool New Apps

There's an app for that: how assistive tech changes lives of people with autism

(The Guardian) - Bethan Jones is a teenager with autism and has been going through her ultimate nightmare: transition from school to college with a complete change of routine, bus route and circle of friends. But she is managing to cope with these steps to independence thanks to a high-tech phone app that links her directly to her own support worker when her stress levels become too much.

The 16-year-old from Wirral has been using the cloud-based app Brain In Hand for the past six months to plan her daily activities studying childcare at college in Birkenhead. This includes coping strategies and logging her stress levels according to a traffic-light system. Pressing the red button puts Bethan straight through to her support worker at Wirral Autistic Society so she can get immediate advice and reassurance.

Brain In Hand is one of a range of a products being highlighted at Autech 2015, a conference in Manchester on 1 October to highlight the groundbreaking technologies available to support people with autism. It is aimed at professionals and carers, and highlights the opportunities for improved practice through the use of these assistive technologies (AT).

To continue reading the original article, click here

Oxytocin Love Hormone Nasal Spray Shows Promise in Kids With Autism

Oxytocin 'Love Hormone' Nasal Spray Shows Promise in Kids With Autism

(HealthDay News) -- Oxytocin, the so-called "love hormone," may help improve social skills in autistic children, a small new Australian study suggests.

"The potential to use such simple treatments to enhance the longer-term benefits of other behavioral, educational and technology-based therapies is very exciting," study co-author Ian Hickie, co-director of the Brain and Mind Center at University of Sydney, said in a university news release.

Oxytocin, which occurs naturally in the human body, has been linked to social ties such as romantic coupling or the parent-child bond.

The new study included 31 children, aged 3 to 8, with autism who received an oxytocin nasal spray twice a day for five weeks.

The researchers report that kids who got the nasal spray showed significant improvements in social, emotional and behavioral problems, compared to kids who did not. The most common side effects were thirst, urination and constipation, the researchers said.

According to Hickie's team, this study is the first to show that a drug treatment can improve social skills in youngsters with autism.

To continue reading the original article, click here.

Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

We have almost 91 families statewide nominated for Thanksgiving assistance this year. To date, we have received $840 in donations. To make this happen, we need $1,500 more in donations! Please help our autism friends in financial need this Thanksgiving! 

We need your help! Since 2008, the South Carolina Autism Society and the LUCAS Network have partnered to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to families affected by autism who are going through financial difficulties. Thanks to the community's donations, over 650 families in need have been served since 2008. For 2015, the two organizations will be collecting donations and distributing grocery store gift cards to recipients.

Please consider making a donation today! To make a donation online, click here. You can pay via PayPal, or send a check upon completion. Your donation is tax deductible.

Thank you for your ongoing support of this program! 

2015 South Carolina Down Syndrome Conference

Register Now for the South Carolina 

Down Syndrome Conference! 

The SC Down syndrome conference is an annual event that provides SC families in the Down syndrome community the opportunity for networking while gaining vital information and support.  For the past 28 years, the conference has provided information and resources targeted specifically to topics pertaining to the needs of individuals with Down syndrome.  We strive to support all SC families in the Down syndrome community through education related to the health, wellness, social, and vocational needs of all individuals with Down syndrome.

Date:

November 14, 2015

Time:

8:00 AM - 5:15 PM

Location:

Saxe Gotha

5503 Sunset Blvd

Lexington, SC 29072

Click here for more information and registration!

Assistive Technology Workshop for Math Skills

Register for Assistive  Technology for Math!

As students struggle with basic mathematical skills, the importance of addressing difficulties with math through use of assistive technology has gained the attention of educators and parents. Generalization of math skills is important for the transfer of skills to other settings, including daily living tasks and more. This workshop explores assistive technology tools for classroom use, including free web resources and mobile applications (i.e., apps) designed to facilitate student success in mastering math skills

Date: 

November 12, 2015

Time:

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Location: 

AT Resource Center

Register Here! 

About the Speaker:

Madalina Tudora is an Assistive Technology Specialist for the SC department of Education. She supports school districts in building capacity for assistive technology by providing guidance, resources and training for local assistive technology teams in SC.  She also conducts workshops for teachers, therapists, administrators, and parents on various assistive technology topics. Her undergraduate degree is in Special Education, and her graduate degree is in Psychology. She is nationally certified as an Assistive Technology Professional through RESNA.

Wings For Autism

Wings For Autism

Wings for Autism is an airport “rehearsal” specially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families and aviation professionals. Originated by the Charles River Center, a local chapter of The Arc, Wings for Autism is designed to alleviate some of the stress that families who have a child with autism experience when traveling by air. The program provides families with the opportunity to practice entering the airport, obtain boarding passes, go through security and board a plane. Wings for Autism also gives airport, airline, Transportation Security Administration professionals and other personnel the opportunity to observe, interact and deliver their services in a structured, learning environment. This experience is equally useful for families that have a member with other intellectual or developmental disabilities that are concerned about the ability of their family member to travel.

Click here for more information and to see if Wings For Autism is coming to a location near you! 

For additional information please contact:
Caitlin Davis, Program Assistant
Direct: 202.617.3265
Email: davis@thearc.org

Register Now for Fundable on Friday, Nov. 6

Join us for an unforgettable evening, featuring:
Silent Auction  | Live Music | Cocktails | Heavy Hors d'oeuvres

Able SC's signature event, Fundable, 

celebrates independence for people with disabilities.

Friday, November 6, 2015 at 6:00PM-9:30PM 

701 Whaley St.
Columbia, SC
Ticket are $50 per person
Tickets can be purchased online at
www.able-sc.org/fundable
or by calling 1-800-681-6805

Free Assistive Technology Webinars

Free Assistive Technology Webinars

Free Webinars - General & Adult

ODEP Technical Assistance Centers: Making Workplaces More Inclusive of People with Disabilities from JAN on November 10th, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern


FCC Roundtable Discussion of Closed Captioning for Public Access and Governmental Programming from the FCC on November 10, 2015
at 11AM Pacific, 1PM Eastern


Tweeting Blind - strategies for screen reader users to interact with Twitter, and why they should from EASI on November 12 at 11 Pacific, 2PM Eastern

New Customer Service and Accessible Meetings Resources (Accessible Meetings, Events and Conferences Guide and video) from the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center on November 17, 2015 at 11AM Pacific 2PM Eastern -  NOTE: Must register by 11/16. (90 minutes)


California's Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program: Equipment & Services for Individuals with a Speech Disability on November 18th at 10AM Pacific, 1PM Eastern


Are Smart Devices the Smart Choice for Accessibility? Perspectives on Digital Interpretive Media from ADA Southeast on November 19, 2015 at 11:30AM Pacific, 2:30PM Eastern   NOTE: must register by 11/18.


Social Media, Accessibility and Disability Inclusion from ADA Online on November 19, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern   NOTE: must register by 11/18.


Functional Firefox Toolbars from EASI on Thursday December 3rd, at 11 Pacific, 2PM Eastern 

Free Webinars - K-12 Educators & Parents

Supporting Play and Problem Solving in Young Children in the Context of a UDL Early Learning Environment from CTD on November 2nd at 4PM Pacific, 7PM Eastern


Science Stimulates: Active Engagement to Arouse Learners from AbleNet on
November 3rd, 2015, 9AM, Pacific, 12PM Eastern


Achieve Inclusion 2.0 with uPAR, Snap&Read, and Co:Writer Universal from GA Tools for Life on November 5th, 2015 at 12PM Pacific, 3PM Eastern


Getting Started with Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) for Your Child from CTD on November 10th, 2015 at 4:30PM Pacific, 7:30PM Eastern


Strategies and Tips for Implementing Apps for Communication and Language from the TATN on November 18th, 2015 at 9:15AM Pacific, 12:15PM Eastern


Beyond Games: Strategies to Engage PreK Learners from AbleNet on
November 19th, 2015, 9AM, Pacific, 12PM Eastern


iPad as Vehicle for Authentic Musical Expression: Empowered Leadership Through Creative Thought and Self – Expression from CTD on
November 19th, 2015 at 1PM Pacific, 4PM Eastern


Learn About Assistive Technology Online: Helpful resources for parents and educators from PACER on November 19th, 2015 at 4:30PM Pacific, 7:30PM Eastern


Acquiring Accessible Digital Materials: What to Look for! What to ask for! from AEM on December 3rd, 2015 at 11AM Pacific, 2PM Eastern

SETC
Most sessions start at 3:30PM Pacific, 6:30PM Eastern, except as noted.
November 2, 2015 - AAC – Progressing Beyond Choice Making
November 4, 2015 - Multi Level Math Supports: Apps and Websites w
November 5, 2015 - Teaching Language Through Literacy: Adapted Books (5PM Pacific, 8PM Eastern)
November 5, 2015 - First Author: Writing For All webinar  
November 9, 2015 - AAC – Integrating Literacy w
November 10, 2015 - Forming a local AT Interest Group
November 12, 2015 - Clicker 6: Supporting Self-Selected Topics for Writing
November 16, 2015 - AT – ECU for Your Life Skills Classroom
November 17, 2015 -   Proloquo2Go- Tips and Tricks for Enhancing Access
November 18, 2015 - Classroom Suite 5: Come explore the updated Classroom Suite
November 19, 2015 - Using the iMovie App to Create Video Modeling Supports
November 30, 2015 - AAC – Tools for Your Low Tech Toolbox
December 1, 2015 -  Web-based Tool to Support AAC Goal Selection


Recently Archived Professional Development

CALL (Communication and AT) Scotland has both upcoming webinars and a group of recently archived webinars. Archived PD with a Gaelic accent(!) includes:
• What's New in iOS9
• Eye Gaze Seminar
• Accessible eBooks for Pre/Early Readers and AAC Users
• Google Chrome Apps to Support Reading & Writing
• Speech Recognition with NaturallySpeaking
• Go Talk Now
• Text-based AAC apps and IOS8 keyboards

Introduction to Sign Language for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Introduction to Sign Language 

for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Date: Friday, December 11, 2015
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Cost: Free, but pre-registration is required
Location: Poplar Building Conference RoomMidlands Center, 8301 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203
Registration: Complete the Sign Language for Parents of Children with Special Needs online registration form
Presenter: Jill Eversmann

Description: This is a fun, interactive workshop for parents of children with special needs. It covers 25 signs, the manual alphabet, and numbers 1-10. Parents will learn and practice the signs and learn tips for teaching signs to their children.  It also covers how sign language can encourage speech and language development, enhance overall communication and reduce frustration for children who are not yet able to effectively communicate using speech. 

About the Speaker: Jill Eversmann is a pediatric speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience and a certified Signing Time Academy instructor. She loves working with young children and their families and also teaching sign language to children and adults. Jill received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from James Madison University and her MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. She is ASHA certified and licensed in SC.

For questions about registration, call Will McCain at (803) 935-5004 or Lydia Durham at (803) 935-5263 or 800-915-4522.