TOPIC
Welcome
AT Leadership
Network
2015-2016
AT Leadership
Network Portal
VI Leadership
Network
2015-2016
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
RESOURCES SIGNIFICANT POINTS

Note taking guide
 https://www.escweb.
net/tx_esc_04/default
.aspx
 https://esc4.box.com/
ATLeadership
 http://spednetwork.es
c4.net
Announcements/Information

Introductions

First half of meeting held concurrently with VI
Leadership Network, then AT will move to 105 after break, VI stays in 207

Leadership Network responsibilities o Inform Region 4 staff of issues to explore o Disseminate information discussed and resources provided with appropriate district personnel o Utilize any materials provided




Session ID#: 113295
Participants submitted by the District Superintendent
One participant per district
Dates (one registration for all 3 days): o September 30, 2015 o January 7, 2016 o March 31, 2016

Box- https://esc4.box.com/ATLeadership THIS SESSION

SharePoint Portal - NEXT SESSION

Username: email address provided by your administrator

Password: Leadership4!

Wiki from previous years: http://atadvisory.wikispaces.com/

Participants submitted by the District Superintendent

One participant per district

Click Session ID for registration: o September 30, 2015 Session ID 1128791 o December 4, 2015 Session ID 1128804 o April 7, 2016 Session ID 1128806
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 1 of 9

TOPIC
TATN Conference and
Post Conference
Implementation
Workshop
AEM update
Alice Cogswell and
Anne Sullivan Macy
Act
STAAR Resources
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
RESOURCES
 https://www.escweb.
net/tx_esc_04/default
.aspx
http://aem.cast.org
http://www.afb.org/info/ get-involved/takeaction/12
TETN PowerPoint http://tea.texas.gov/stude nt.assessment/accommod ations/staar-telpas
SIGNIFICANT POINTS

TATN Conference June 14, 15, 2016: Session ID 972909,
$75 until April 1, 2016

TATN Post Conference June 16, 2016: Session ID
1171083, $60

Call for Papers going out in October, check http://www.texasat.net
AT/VI Joint Meeting: National Issues

National Center on Accessible Educational Materials:
Intensive Technical Assistance

New features of the website

National initiatives

This Act promotes and ensures the delivery of high quality special education and related services to students with deafblindness. In addition to specialized instruction, it increases the availability of services and resources by ensuring that all students with visual and other impairments are accounted for.

It increases accountability at the state and federal
 levels.
It establishes a national collaborative resource center: the Anne Sullivan Macy Center on Visual Disability and
Educational Excellence to ensure ongoing professional development, research and best practices.
AT/VI Joint Meeting: State Issues

Updates from STAAR Updates TETN 9/17/15
For more information, please contact Tricia Peters at tricia.peters@esc4.net
or 713.744.6374.
NOTES
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
Page 2 of 9

TOPIC
STAAR
Alternate 2: Updates
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
RESOURCES
2015-16 Student
Assessment Testing
Calendar: http://tea.texas.gov/studen t.assessment/calendars
STAAR Alternate 2
Resource Page: http://tea.texas.gov/stude nt.assessment/specialed/staaralt/
STAAR
Accommodated Focus
Group Meeting http://tea.texas.gov/Stud ent_Testing_and_Account ability/Testing/State_of_T exas_Assessments_of_Aca demic_Readiness_(STAAR)
/STAAR_Statewide_Summ ary_Reports_2014-2015/
Unified English Braille * Texas Unified English
Braille Transition Plan
SIGNIFICANT POINTS
The updated student assessment calendar indicates the following three week window for the 2015-16 administration of the STAAR alternate 2 Assessment:

April 4-22, 2016
Note: Preview window (up to 10-days prior to the assessment window) is tentatively scheduled for March
21 – April 1, 2016. We have not received confirmation on this timeframe, but wanted LEAs to hold the dates for planning purposes.
For more information, please contact Susan Parker at susan.parker@esc4.net
or 713.744.6398.

The STAAR Statewide Summary Reports for 2014-2015 have been posted on the TEA Web site.

Accommodation Resources Web page can be located at http://tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/accommodati ons/staar-telpas .
Contact information is on the same page, in case more information from TEA is needed.

Please contact TEA for questions and/or concerns.

The Texas Unified English Braille (UEB) Transition Plan has been approved by the Texas Education Agency. The plan provides a list of activities to be implemented from
Fall 2014 to Summer 2017.

In Texas, the literary braille code, English Braille
American Edition (EBAE), will be replaced by the UEB.
Nemeth Code, braille code for mathematics and science, will continue to be used.

Professional development on the UEB will start this school year for braillists and teachers of students with visual impairments. Technology is available to transcribe both EBAE and UEB. A meeting to address
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 3 of 9

PEIMS
TOPIC
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
RESOURCES

Updated PEIMS/AT
memo

PowerPoint https://esc4.box.com/
PEIMS
SIGNIFICANT POINTS
UEB and UEB resources has been scheduled from
December 4, 1:00 to 4:00. Please click the session ID
1184151 for registration.

Nationally, the UEB will be implemented in January,
2016. The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has more information about the UEB at www.brailleauthority.org
.
For further information, please contact Cecilia Robinson at
713.744.6379, cecilia.robinson@esc4.net
or Sheryl
Sokoloski at 713.744.6315, sheryl.sokoloski@esc4.net
.

Multi-year comparison data

Benefit of documenting AT

District Action steps

AT Data standard

FAQs
AT/VI Joint Meeting: Region 4 Issues
AEM Intensive
Technical Assistance
ATIA Professional
Development

AEM Intensive
Technical Assistance
Criteria for Selection of Five States
Live webinars: http://www.atia.org/i4a/ member_directory/feResu

Texas (through TATN) will be a part of the AEM
Intensive Technical Assistance (ITA) project through
CAST’s National AEM Center (Joy Zabala)

Conduit to get TEA staff, ESCs and regions to better communicate, share and address concerns and solutions in regards to accessible instructional materials in Texas.

We will one of 5 states receiving these services from the National Center on Accessible Education Materials
(AEM) as part of CAST. Our responsibility as TATN will be to convene a core AIM team focused on accessible content and technologies.

Districts will be provided access to ATIA webinars

Contact: Kirk Behnke at 713-744-6559 or kirk.behnke@esc4.net.
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 4 of 9

TOPIC
Subscription and
Access to Webinars
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
SIGNIFICANT POINTS RESOURCES ltsListing.cfm?directory_id
=8&viewAll=1
Archived webinars: http://www.atia.org/i4a/ member_directory/feResu ltsListing.cfm?directory_id
=10&viewAll=1
Development of an
AAC Eye Gaze Scale
Steve Gleason Act
QIAT Book
 http://motorgrowth.c
anchild.ca/en/gmfcs/r esources/gmfcs-er.pdf
 http://cfcs.us
 http://www.scpenetw
ork.eu/assets/SCPE-
Tools/VSS/Viking-
Speech-Scale-2011-
Copyright..pdf
 http://www.sussexco
mmunity.nhs.uk/getinvolved/eating_drinki ng_classification.htm

Draft Eye Gaze Scale-
(reviewed per table
but not provided)
 https://www.govtrack
.us/congress/bills/114
/s984
Quality Indicators for
Assistive Technology: A
Comprehensive Guide to
AT National Issues and Topics

The scale has been developed by staff in the department of Language and Cognition, University
College London, and members of the Neurodisability
Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for children,
London.

The aim is to establish a valid and reliable method of describing and categorizing looking behaviors related to eye-pointing in young non-speaking children with cerebral palsy (CP) affecting their whole body.

Has been informed by other classification scales that are used in clinical practice and research, including the
Gross Motor Function Classification System

Because the classification scale is work in progress, please do not circulate it to others.

This research activity has been reviewed and approved by UCL Research ethics committee (Project ID
1328/007).

Medicare will fund “unlocked” devices

Added eye gaze access technology

Eliminates rental “cap”

Rental of “accessories” included
 http://www.castpublishing.org/qiat/
 http://qiat.org/
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 5 of 9

TOPIC
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
SIGNIFICANT POINTS RESOURCES
Assistive
Technology Services
NOTES
Additional PEIMS discussion?
Additional STAAR
Discussion?
PODD 15-16
Legal Framework:
Notice of Procedural
Safeguards: Rights of
Parents of Students with Disabilities
(Procedural
Safeguards)
 https://www.escweb.
net/tx_esc_04/default
.aspx
Web links:
 TEA Guidance on ARD
Guide and dissemination http://tea.texas.gov/i ndex2.aspx?id=21474
96922
 Notice of Procedural
Safeguards
AT State Issues and Topics




Any additional comments or thought from the PEIMS memo

Any additional comments or thought from the STAAR
Accommodated and Alt 2 discussions

Information and resources from TETN 9/17/15

PODD Session last May and this November- 80 trained plus two PODD sessions in previous years
Session ID#: 1176188
PODD- 11/11-12/2015, 12 and 70 Books included
Possible Advanced session in Summer 2016 (June 25-29,
2016) or Summer 2017 o Over $25,000 to host the training o How many participants would your district send? o Could your district pay $300 fee- would include lunches every day plus a PODD 12 and a PODD 70 book o Only 40 slots and would be open to a
“national” audience, so timely registration is required
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) posted the Notice of
Procedural Safeguards: Rights of Parents of Students with
Disabilities (Procedural Safeguards) to the Legal Framework on the Region 18 ESC website.
In addition, the new Special Education Information Center contact information is printed on the back page. The
Special Education Information Center provides information related to special education to parents, school personnel,
Legal Framework: Notice of Procedural
Safeguards: Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities (Procedural Safeguards)
Page 6 of 9 AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net

Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
AT Flyer
TOPIC
AAC Boot Camp
Understanding and
Nurturing the
Communicative
Competence in Young
Learners with
Significant Disabilities
Standards-Based IEPs:
Revised Online
Training Available!
RESOURCES http://framework.esc1
8.net/display/Webfor ms/LandingPage.aspx
 Translations of Notice of Procedural
Safeguards and ARD
Guide http://www.spedtex.o
rg/resources
 https://esc4.box.com/
ATFlyer
 https://www.escweb.
net/tx_esc_04/default
.aspx
 https://www.escweb.
 net/tx_esc_04/default
.aspx
Standards-Based IEP
Online Training registration flyers
SIGNIFICANT POINTS and other members of the public. The contact number is 1-
855-773-3839 (1-855-SPEDTEX).
Region 4 Parent Coordination Network Representative:
Karen Pepkin, Education Specialist, 713.744.4470 or kpepkin@esc4.net
Local Issues and Topics

Region 4 Professional Development Site ALWAYS the most up-to-date resource

Session ID#: 1176662

December 15-16, 2015

$600 in materials and equipment

Session ID#: 1176058

February 2-3. 2016

Communication Matrix and Tangible Symbol Systems
New Standards-Based IEP Online Training is Posted!
Education Service Center, Region 20, in conjunction with
TEA have updated the online training and it is now posted and available. It has been updated to reflect new guidance, state assessment changes, as well as a more robust PLAAFP section. This training is free and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. See the attached flyer for enrollment information. This valuable resource allows for all districts
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 7 of 9

TOPIC
Motor Sensory Labs and Classrooms:
Concepts, Strategies, and Applications for the School
Environment
Assistive Context-
Aware Toolkit (ACAT)
Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
RESOURCES SIGNIFICANT POINTS throughout the state to be on the same page and receive the same guidance.
For further information, please contact: Kirsten Omelan,
Ph.D.
kirsten.omelan@esc4.net
or 713.744.6361
Session ID: 1143999 Do you have students who seem to hunger for movement and physical support? Ready Bodies, Learning Minds was created to support the developmental, motor, sensory, and academic growth of all students. The Ready Bodies Motor
Labs are designed to be implemented as an individual activity, as a classroom center or activity, as adaptive physical education, or as part of a campus-wide curriculum.
In this two-day training, participants will 1.) learn of the essential connection between motor/sensory development and the ability to perform tasks necessary for independence, behavioral control, and academic achievement; 2.) receive information regarding the research base for the program; 3.) see multiple demonstrations of lab set-up and activities; and 4.) practice lab activities. Participants will also receive the curriculum guide for the motor lab: Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: A
Key to Academic Success©,Ready Bodies, Learning Minds
Activity Guide©.
Dates: October 6 & 7, 2015
Time: 8:30 – 4:00
Fee: $90
Contact information: Cathy Williams, cathy.williams@esc4.net, 713.744.6801

User Guide: https://01.org/sites/d efault/files/document
Technology Update

ACAT is an open source platform developed by researchers at Intel Labs with the goal to benefit people with motor neuron diseases and quadriplegia.
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
NOTES
Page 8 of 9

Region 4 Education Service Center
AT Leadership Network Meeting (formerly AT Advisory), September 30, 2015
TOPIC RESOURCES ation/acat_user_guide
.pdf
Adaptive Switch Labs
 http://www.asl-
BJOY Ring
AT as a Special
Education, Related
Services, or
Supplementary aids and services
STAAR
Accommodated
Group Activity inc.com
 http://www.bjadaptaciones.com/en/ products/bjoy-ring
SIGNIFICANT POINTS

New equipment in ATRC

Turn the joystick of your wheelchair into a mouse to control your computer, compatible tablets and
smartphones.

BJOY Ring is placed over your wheelchair's original joystick in a non-invasive way.

Choose between the two versions available: BJOY Ring and BJOY Ring wireless.
 http://idea.ed.gov/ex plore/view/p/%2Croot
%2Cregs%2C300%2CB
%2C300%252E105%2
C
 http://www.texasat.n
et/users/0011/Consid
%20Res%20Guide%20 rev_%2012_10_08.pdf

IEP Software

PEIMS



Open Forum
Frequency, location, and duration
Communicating with administration
Communicating with software vendors

Concerns and issues

How are you providing classroom experiences with technology that will mimic the test?

At you table groups, identify 1-2 “Hot Topics”

Write each topic on a chart page

Rotate to a topic/chart you are concerned about

Discuss with peers

Share out in large group
NOTES
AT/VI Leadership Network Portal: http://spednetwork.esc4.net
Page 9 of 9