Assistive Technology
Support Initiative
Parent Training
Toolkit Part 1
This training tool kit is for use in any school
board, learning disability association or
other non-profit organization to train
parents to support students who use assistive
technology.
Background, Tips and Information
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The following slides provide the
background on ATSI.
Tips on coaching.
AT software training can be found in the
ATSI AT Parent Software Training Part 2
PowerPoint.
ATSI is made possible with donations from
Northern Micro donated laptops and
scanners
Micro Computer Software donated
software
Myth or Fact?
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Can learning disabilities be cured?
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True or False
False
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There is no "cure" for learning disabilities.
They are life-long. However, children with
learning disabilities can be high achievers
and can be taught ways to get around the
learning disability. With the right help,
children with learning disabilities can and
do learn successfully.
Myth or Fact?
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Are learning disabilities inherited?
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True or False
True
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Learning disabilities tend to run in families,
so some learning disabilities may be
inherited.
Learning disabilities are more common in
boys than girls, possibly because boys tend
to mature more slowly.
Myth or Fact?
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Is Assistive Technology a “cop-out”?
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True or False
False
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Just as an individual in a wheelchair needs
a ramp to go around stairs, an individual
with learning disabilities needs tools to help
work around obstacle in the areas of
reading, writing, spelling, numbers, memory
and/or organization.
About ATSI
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Volunteers in Education is an Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
community volunteer program that began in 1993.
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Volunteers are recruited from the community, screened,
and trained to support teachers and students in K-12
schools.
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We share the mutual goal of helping educators ensure
academic success for students.
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Educators need AT trained parents and volunteers.
Goal of ATSI
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ATSI aim - enhance support to students
new to AT so they can reap the benefits of
these tools as quickly as possible.
Community Partners in Ottawa
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Students – elementary, high school and post secondary
Parents/guardians
Algonquin College
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Carleton University
Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities
University of Ottawa
Learning Technology Mentoring Centre
Community Collaboration
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Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Ottawa Catholic School Board
Learning Disabilities Associations
Ottawa Carleton Learning Foundation
How you can help
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Volunteer to help students who use AT
Share your own LD experiences
Mentor a student
Make a difference
Give back to the community
Start an AT volunteer program at your
school
Assistive Technology in Education
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Computer-based (AT) is being used
successfully within the education system
to support the learning process.
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The goal for AT use is to allow learners to
use their strengths and participate as fully
as possible in school.
AT Software For Learning
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Text to speech – Kurzweil 3000, TextHELP , Natural
Reader, Premier
Speech to text - Dragon NaturallySpeaking
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Screen readers – ReadPlease, Browsealoud
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Reading and writing – Read&Write GOLD
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Organization, writing, mind map – Inspiration, SMART
Ideas
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, Word Q
AT Devices
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iPod Touch
Talking calculator
Franklin Spell Checker
Electronic Dictionary
Digital Voice Recorders
LiveScribe Echo Smart Pen
Purpose of AT
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Effective tools
Not to replace other students services or
academic accommodations
Augment current support
Extend both academic independence and
academic options
Follow student from post secondary to the
workplace
Challenges
Right fit
Significant learning curve
Technical difficulties
Need for support
Benefits for Students
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Independence
Levels playing
field
Access to
curriculum
Academic
Success
Responsibility to Accommodate
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Required by law
Accommodate
LD students
Equal access to
AT
Inclusion in
mainstream
classrooms
Access to
curriculum
ESL FSL Support
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AT is a powerful tool
to teach second
languages
Can be used in all
classrooms
Accelerates language
learning
AT Training in Schools
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Students are identified for AT through the
IPRC process
Ministry of Education SEA grants provide
equipment and limited training
Students need long term training and
support
Parents and volunteers needed to support
AT students
Types of Learning Disabilities
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Visit http://www.ldac-acta.ca/ to learn more
about learning disabilities
How AT is a learning strategy for some
students
Strengths, weaknesses, challenges
Step One—AT Training
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Watch the Don Johnson video “The Case
Against Assistive Technology”
http://www.donjohnston.com/media/flash/case_against_technology/ind
ex.html
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Watch ATSI Videos and testimonials
www.onfe-rope.ca/at
Walk through website resources
Discuss and answer questions after each
video
Who are the students?
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Average or above average intelligence
Unable to show what they know
May have additional stress of being responsible
for learning and using AT independently
Received some AT training from school board
May not have access to AT at school or at home
Role of the Parent
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Importance of understanding
Importance of positive reinforcement—these
students know what they are not good at—your
role is to focus on their strengths
Coaching—not training or teaching
You are not their teacher—you are their coach—
positive energy.
Let them lead—you guide them
Tips to Remember
Keep the communication open with the
teacher
 Offer to scan or prepare documents
 Offer to set up a parent volunteer
program
 Ask to be invited to AT training at the
school
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Step One: Build the Relationship
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Find common ground—use your own
childhood and share stories: “I struggled
with learning to read when I was a child”,
share your challenges, your learning style,
how you learn differently.
Everyone is Good at Something
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Find out what the student likes to do or
what they are good at.
LD students have amazing strengths
(public speaking, being super organized,
creative, gifted athlete, etc.)
Celebrate their strengths at every
opportunity.
You are on their team!
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Build confidence
Above all be positive—comment on
success no matter how small. “I think
you are amazing at” …being organized,
using the keyboard, seeing the small
details, etc.
Let the student know you are on their
team!
Normalize the Experience
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Help the student understand their
learning challenges; they may think there
is something wrong with them.
Reinforce that AT is on their team. It’s a
learning strategy that will let them show
what they know.
Remember—Be Positive
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Some students never hear positive
feedback.
It’s human nature to remember the
negative things you hear about yourself.
Be positive.
You are on their team as their coach!
Step Two: Determining Need for
Support
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Ask the teacher for some background on
where the student needs support. The
teacher may not know if they have not had
the student in their class for very long.
Ask to speak to the resource teacher if
possible. Don’t assume the teacher knows
the AT learning strategies that work for
your student.
Step Three: How to Begin your AT
Support Session
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Start with showing the student the AT
videos and website.
Let the student show you what software
they have on their computer.
Ask the student to show what they know
how to use.
Ask the student where they need help.
Coaching versus Training
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Guide and encourage the student to use
AT to do their schoolwork.
For example they have a writing
assignment: use Mind mapping to create
a writing outline, use DNS to create the
first draft in MS Word, use MS Word
editing software as needed to make the
final version.
Student Actively Engaged
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Remember to keep your student actively
engaged.
Always let your student be in control of the
computer and mouse.
Sit on the side and point and guide—do not
take over the mouse and computer.
Your student may have learned to be helpless
and to rely on others to do their work—it is
your role to encourage their independence
and build their confidence in using AT.
Step Four: Encourage Teacher
Participation
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Key to student success is your
relationship with the teacher.
Encourage the teacher or resource staff
to participate in AT support sessions
(with permission from the student).
Let Them Teach You
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Ask the student to offer “show what you
know” sessions with the teacher and
resource staff to give them a chance to
“teach the teacher” and let them shine.
Remember you only retain 10% of what
you learn but if you can teach it to
someone you will retain 90%.
Be Prepared Provide Feedback
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Ask the teacher for materials in advance
to prepare for the student.
Ask to prepare tests for test taking.
Provide feedback to the teacher on how
well your student is doing using AT.
How You Can Help the Teacher
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Scan and prepare documents in advance
in Kurzweil 3000 or other AT programs.
Edit underlying text in scanned
documents.
Prepare tests for test taking in Kurzweil
3000.
Scan materials not already available on
Ministry website in alternative format.
Find Sources of Alternative Format
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Find books on CD, MP3 format, ebooks,
W. Ross MacDonald library, etc. for the
student and teacher.
Ask for all teacher handouts in MS Word
format or in electronic format to save
time having to scan and format
documents.
Additional Training
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Ask to be included in any school board AT
training sessions.
Offer to set up an AT training session for
parents and staff.
Access to AT
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Many software programs come with a two
site license—you may qualify for a free
copy for your home computer.
Ask your school board what software if
available for home use.
Purchase software or find free AT.
Stay Current
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Visit your local post secondary student
resource centre.
Public Libraries have AT computers—book
time to practice.
Visit the ATSI website Help and Resources.
ATSI AT Training
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Be sure to work through the ASTI AT
Parent Training Part 2 PowerPoint for free
online AT training ideas.
Download the presentation and customize
your own training program.
Stay current—visit often www.onferope.ca/AT
Join online AT communities in Linked In
Spread the Word!!
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Direct teachers, parents, and students to
www.onfe-rope.ca/AT Add your resources
to the ATSI site
Help by filling in the online survey!