SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

Meeting Notes Date: 11/7/03 

Attendees: Sue Thomas, Darcy Fusch, Terry Pauls, Pat Contor, Diane Delahunty, Toni Clough, Carol Reppun

Absent: Karen Tracy, George Hartnell, Terry Thompson

Topic : Budget – Sue Thomas

Summary : Budget is still uncertain.

Next Steps:

• No big ticket spending until it's been set up.
• Sue will meet with Susan Zoller and Jim Stevens.

Topic: D/HH Assistive Tech Needs – Darcy Fusch

Summary:

•  Darcy has been working to assign current fm systems.

•  More students are being identified as D/HH

•  ESD will provide fm systems later

•  3 old fm systems are being used now with students

•  Sehome student new Phonak MLX fm is working well

•  NH student new Phonak MLX working well

Next Steps: Carol will arrange for purchase of 2 new systems, as money is available.

Topic: Should D/HH budget be separate from Assistive Tech budget so D/HH doesn't need to get approval from Asst. Tech Team?

Summary:

Next Steps: Purchase of 1-2 systems per year shall be made by D/HH program without Asst. Tech. Committee approval.

Topic: Student referral SB pre– Karen Bruun

Summary: Purchase of Vantage $6957 so student can access curriculum. Possible “check out” device owned by BSD.

Next Steps:

•  Carol will arrange for purchase of Vantage.

•  Sue will see what other students are doing with these kinds of requests. What are legal boundaries?

•  Committee will determine steps for subsequent requests

•  Committee will develop a process to guide teams through this.

Topic: Should “student specific” be listed on Asst. Tech. Referral form?

Summary:

Next Steps: Carol will remove “student specific” from Asst. Tech. Referral form

Topic: Dana Show and Tell

Summary: How useful is it for student use?

Next Steps: Carol will talk to Kenn Robinson

Topic: Carl Cozier referral

Summary: Purchase of Go Talk $214

Next Steps: GoTalk that was previously purchased for the SB pre student who has just been approved for a Vantage will be assigned to Carl Cozier

Topic: Carl Cozier referral (#2)

Summary: Purchase of Go Talk $214

Next Steps: Carol will arrange purchase

Topic: Kulshan Lifeskills referral

Summary: Purchase of 2 Go Talks $214 each

Next Steps:

•  Carol will arrange for purchase of 1 Go Talk

•  Carol will check with Karen Bruun re Pocket Go Talk that was on loan to SB Pre last year. Assign to KMS Lifeskills

Topic: Sehome Lifeskills referral

Summary: Purchase of Power Link and Step by Step with Levels

Next Steps:

•  Carol will check out Lending Library Ablenet Starter Kit (includes Big Mac and Step by Step VOCA's) to Sehome Lifeskills.

•  Purchase of Power Link? Sehome Lifeskills currently using OT/PT Power Link

Topic: Geneva Lifeskills referral

Summary: PC Large Track Ball – approx $100

Next Steps: Diane will ask AECC preschool program to loan their Microsoft Easiball to the AT equipment library, and bring it to Carol. Carol will send Microsoft Easiball to Geneva Lifeskills.

Topic: Columbia Jumpstart referral

Summary: Simon Spells & Simon Sounds It Out software $70 each from Don Johnston

Next Steps: Carol will tell teacher that this needs to be requested from Sue Thomas as part of her curriculum budget

Topic: Boardmaker upgrade referral

Summary: Purchase Boardmaker upgrade for preschool and lifeskill classes - $79 for single, $59 each for 5-24 copies.

Next Steps: Tabled until next meeting

Topic: Picture It v4 Purchase

Summary: For Lifeskills program and non-readers in Resource. $295/copy, $198/copy for 5-24 copies, $118/copy for 25 copies (Slater Software)

Next Steps: Tabled until next meeting

Topic: Zephyr Tech Training

Summary: Zephyr Tech will train 2 students on Dragon Naturally Speaking as soon as computer is upgraded to v.7.

Next Steps: Carol will check to see how long it will take for computer upgrade. If too long, go ahead with training on v5 which is currently installed

Topic: BHS Referral

Summary: Parent wants student to be able to bring an Alphasmart home so he'll have computer access at home. Per teacher, he has access to computers before ad after school to do home. Teacher requests Asst. Tech. Team assessment to determine need.

Next Steps: Toni Clough will assess

Topic: Special Ed Tech Center State Purchase

Summary: Discount prices for Asst. Tech. Materials through SETC presented

Next Steps:

Topic: Special Ed Tech Center “Using Technology to Improve Reading and Writing Outcomes for Learning Disabled Students” study

Summary: Presented to group

Next Steps: Carol will make copies of study and distribute to Asst. Tech. Team members.