ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORKERS: HOW WE CAN PARTNER FOR STUDENT

SUCCESSSUSY WOODS, PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION LIASON

217-638-8411 OR SWOODS@ILTECH.ORG

TOGETHER…AND YET SO FAR APARTWHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON?

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

WE LOVE THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH AND FOR.

WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER….AND WHERE ARE WE DIFFERENT:

WHAT WE DO IS VERY DIFFERENT AT TIMES.

WE ARE TRAINED IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU ARE IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY ALL THE TIME. WE ARE USUALLY NOT.

SO….HOW WELL DO WE KNOW EACH OTHER?WHAT ARE SIX THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND THE WORK YOU DO?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

HOW WELL DO WE DO KNOW EACH OTHER?

SIX QUESTIONS FOR YOU ABOUT THE ILLINOIS ASSISTIVE TECHNOGY PROGRAM: HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN

EXISTENCE? HOW ARE WE FUNDED? WHAT SERVICES DO WE

PROVIDE? HOW MUCH OF THE STATE DO

WE SERVE? WHAT AGES? IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

MENTIONED IN IDEA? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW TECH?

IN SUMMARY:WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT

AND SO IT BENEFITS US BOTH TO

WORK TOGETHER.

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT SOCIAL WORKERS FROM IEPS:

1.

YOU KNOW HOW TO THINK

OUTSIDE THE BOX AND ARE NOT

AFRAID TO DO THIS.

I LEARNED….

2.

YOU GET DISABILITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT

TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS

ARE STILL VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND

HAVE TO BE APPROACHED THAT WAY.

I LEARNED…3.

YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION

BETWEEN SUPPORTING THE STUDENT AND

SUPPORTING THE FAMILY AND THAT

OFTEN YOU CANT DO ONE IF YOU

DON’T DO THE OTHER.

I LEARNED….4.

YOU GET SENSORY ISSUES AND HOW

VERY MUCH THIS IMPACTS SUCH THINGS

AS ANXIETY, BEHAVIOR, AND ANY NUMBER

OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

I LEARNED….5. YOU KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH A

VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND

WHAT PART EACH OF THEM PLAYS IN

WHAT IS OFTEN A COMPLICATED

PUZZLE.

I LEARNED:6. YOU UNDERSTAND LANGUAGE

AND THAT PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE AND

BODY LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTANDING

IDIOMS AND INFERENCES IS A HUGE

NEED FOR BEING ABLE TO FIT IN SOCIALLY.

POOLING RESOURCES

CALL US TO BORROW THINGS. WE MAY

HAVE THE PERFECT SENSORY TOY OR GAME

FOR INDIVIDUALS OR SOCIAL GROUPS OR

WE MAY HAVE MANY OTHER THINGS YOU

CAN SUGGEST TO PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM

POOLING RESOURCES

YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN BORROW

YOU CAN ALSO CALL NIKKI SCHULTZ TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE.

OUR WEBSITE IS

WWW.ILLINOISASSISTIVETECHNOLOGY.ORG

AND OUR NUMBER IS 217-522-7985.

WE CAN ALSO MAIL THINGS TO YOU AND YOU CAN BORROW UP TO FIVE WEEKS AND SOMETIMES LONGER DEPENDING ON WHETHER THERE IS A WAIT LIST.

POOLING….

IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH A STUDENT

WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM AN EVALUATION

FROM US SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS ON

THE TEAM

THIS COULD BE AN EVALUATION FOR AN

AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

OR SOMETHING TO HELP THE STUDENT

ACADEMICALLY OR TO SUPPORT HIS

PHYSICAL NEEDS.

POOLING:WE REALIZE YOU ARE NOT THE TEACHER OR

THE SPEECH OR OT OR PT THERAPIST

BUT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WILL KNOW

WHEN THE STUDENT IS HAVING ANXIETY

OR WITHDRAWAL OR OTHER BEHAVIOR AND

THIS MAY BE TIED TO THEIR FRUSTRATION

THAT AT MIGHT HELP.

AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT WHEN WE DO THE EVAL: THERE IS NO CHARGE WHEN THE SCHOOL REQUESTS IT.

POOLING…

FOR TRANSITION AGE STUDENTS WE CAN

DO A LOT TO HELP WITH INDEPENDENT

LIVING SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT AND

RESOURCES NOT ONLY IN SCHOOL

BUT ALSO IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN

THE HOME.

AND P.S. WE CAN ALSO DO EVALS FOR

EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IN

THE WORKPLACE.

POOLING….YOU ARE A GREAT ALLY AT UNDERSTAND-

ING WHEN THINGS ARENT WORKING AND

NEED TO BE CHANGED.

THIS CAN INVOLVE A.T. BUT IT CAN

ALSO INVOLVE MANY OTHER THINGS AND

OFTEN SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THE FIRST

PEOPLE TO REALIZE SOMETHING ISNT

WORKING BECAUSE OF THE STUDENT’S

BEHAVIOR OR WORDS OR ATTITUDES.

POOLING….TALKING AND WORKING WITH FAMILIES IS

WHAT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE WONDERFUL

AT.

THERE ARE TWO AREAS IN PARTICULAR THAT

COULD BE AT RELATED:

STIGMA

COST

POOLING…

STIGMA:

THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE.

THEY DON’T WANT TO STAND OUT OR BE DIFFERENT SO SOMETIMES THEY WILL REFUSE TO WEAR HEARING AIDES OR USE AN IPAD IF NO ONE ELSE IS USING THEM.

THEY DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THE ROOM TO BE TESTED OR DO ANYTHING THAT MAKES THEM STAND OUT.

YOUR SKILLS CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS!

POOLING….. COST:

WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS A.T. THERE CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL COST.

IF THE AT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY THE IEP TEAM THEN THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THIS. HOWEVER IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS SINCE THE OPTIMUM SOLUTION IS FOR THE FAMILY TO OWN THE AT BECAUSE IT IS THEN THEIRS.

YOU CAN HELP BY TALKING TO FAMILIES ABOUT FEASABLE OPTIONS. AND WE CAN ALSO HELP WITH IDEAS ABOUT WHERE TO LOOK.

POOLING….

COST:

INSURANCE MAY PAY

MEDICAID MAY PAY

IF THE STUDENT IS A DSCC CLIENT THEY MAY PAY

IF THE STUDENT IS EMPLOYED DRS MAY PAY

WE HAVE A LOAN PROGRAM THAT IS LOW INCOME THAT PARENTS MAY ACCESS

SOME COUNTIES HAVE GROUPS THAT MAY PAY SUCH AS THE ELKS OR LIONS OR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

POOLING:

FOR YOU AS WELL AS FOR US WORKING WITH FAMILIES IS A LARGE PART OF WHAT WE DO.

OFTEN FAMILIES ARE OVERWHELMED AND FEEL POWERLESS IN DEALING WITH THEIR CHILD’S DISABILITY.

WE CAN PARTNER IN WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND HELPING THEM FIND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP BOTH THEIR CHILD AND THEIR FAMILY.

PRINCIPLES FOR INTEGRATION OF A.T. IN THE CLASSROOM:PRINCIPLE ONE:

A STUDENT-CENTERED TEAM SHOULD ADDRESS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND THIS INVOLVES ALL PEOPLE WHO WILL WORK WITH THE STUDENT.

PRINCIPLES:PRINCIPLE TWO:

ALL STAFF SHOULD HAVE TIME TO

PLAN OUT HOW BEST TO WORK

WITH THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.

PRINCIPLES:

PRINCIPLE THREE:

THE A.T. SHOULD BE AGE-

APPROPRIATE AND MOTIVATING

FOR THE STUDENT TO USE OR

HE MAY REFUSE TO USE IT.

PRINCIPLES:PRINCIPLE FOUR:

ALL STAFF SHOULD HAVE TIME TO LEARN THE AT BEFORE IT IS INTRODUCED INTO THE CLASSROOM ROUTINE.

IF THE STUDENT SENSES YOUR FEAR ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY HE MAY ALSO FEAR LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE FIVE:

AT SHOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

THIS MEANS RELIABLE, EASY TO SET UP AND EASY TO USE.

THIS ALSO MEANS AS EASY TO GET TO AND PUT IN THE STUDENT’S HANDS AS PAPERS ARE FOR OTHER STUDENTS.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE SIX:

SCHOOL STAFF MUST HAVE TIME TO CREATE CLASS MATERIALS.

THESE MATERIALS MUST BE SPECIFIC TO THE CURRICULUM AND WHILE THE INTERNET HAS A PLETHORA OF MATERIALS TO SUPPORT A DEVICE OR CURRICULUM TEACHERS AND THERAPISTS STILL NEED THE TIME TO SEARCH, DOWNLOAD AND PREPARE MATERIAL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE SEVEN:

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT MUST BE READILY AVAILABLE.

WHO SHOULD BE TRAINED? STUDENT, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, OTHER STAFF, STUDENT’S FAMILY.

TRAINING CAN BE DONE BY OTHER AGENCIES (SUCH AS IATP), VENDORS, ETC.

HAND IN HAND WITH TRAINING IS KEEPING THE AT IN GOOD CONDITION.

PRINCIPLES…..PRINCIPLE EIGHT:

STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT FROM THEIR CLASSMATES.

AT CAN EXAGGERATE DIFFERENCES BUT OTHER STUDENTS SHOULD BE MADE PART OF THE TEAM BY UNDERSTANDING WHY THE STUDENT USES AT, HOW IT HELPS AND HOW THEY CAN INTERACT WITH THE STUDENT AND THEIR AT.

PRINCIPLES…..PRINCIPLE NINE:

STUDENTS, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS AND PARENTS NEED ACCESS TO OTHERS WHO ARE USING A.T. SUCCESSFULLY.

EVEN LONG TIME USERS DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS SO THAT EVERYONE BECOMES SUCCESSFUL WITH THE AT.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE TEN:

THE VALUE OF SUPPORT FROM PARENTS AND/OR CAREGIVERS CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.

PARENTS HAVE AN UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO STUDENTS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND THE OPTIMUUM SITUATION IS WHERE EVERYONE AT SCHOOL AND HOME IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

PRINCIPLES…..PRINCIPLE ELEVEN:

REGULAR EDUCATION STAFF MUST HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR STUDENT EXPECTATIONS, ACCOMMODATION GUIDANCE AND MATERIAL PREPARATION.

AT CONTINUES TO SEGREGATE THE STUDENT IF IT IS SEEN AS A TOOL ONLY FOR THE SPECIAL ED ROOM.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE TWELVE:

SUPPORT FROM SCHOOL AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

WHEN PEOPLE AT THE TOP ARE ON BOARD EVERYONE WILL GET ON BOARD.

SOMETIMES SYSTEMIC CHANGES ARE MADE ONE STUDENT, ONE TEACHER, ONE ADMINISTRATOR AT A TIME.

PRINCIPLES….PRINCIPLE THIRTEEN:

AN A.T. TEAM COORDINATOR SAVES TIME, EFFORT, AND DISCOURAGEMENT.

WHEN A DISTRICT HAS THAT POSITION THAT PERSON CAN DO THE RESEARCH, FIND TRAINING, TROUBLESHOOT SOLUTIONS, FIND FUNDING, ETC.

PRINCIPLES…..PRINCIPLE FOURTEEN:

PROCEDURES SHOULD BE SET IN PLACE FOR ONGOING EVALUATIONS AND DOCUMENENTATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.

DATA IS EVERYTHING. NOT ONLY DOES IT SHOW THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT A.T. BUT IT JUSTIFIES THE TEAM’S DECISION.

PRINCIPLES…..PRINCIPLE FIFTEEN:

USING AT IN SETTINGS OTHER THAN THE CLASSROOM IS A POWERFUL WAY TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF LEARNING.

EDUCATION IS ABOUT PREPARATION FOR LIFE AND SO THE A.T. SHOULD BE A NATURAL PART OF THAT LIFE AND BECOME SECOND NATURE TO THE STUDENT USING IT.

REASONS YOU MAY HEAR NOT TO USE A.T. (I’VE HEARD THEM ALL!)1. IF THE STUDENT USES A.T. THEY WILL

BECOME DEPENDENT ON IT AND WILL NEVER LEARN TO TALK, WRITE, ETC.

2. THE STUDENT IS LAZY AND UNMOTIVATED OR WOULD NOT DO THIS.

3. THE A.T. GIVES THE STUDENT AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER STUDENTS.

4. THIS IS TOO COSTLY AND OUR DISTRICT CANNOT AFFORD THIS.

5. THE STUDENT ISN’T READY FOR A.T.

6. NO ONE ON STAFF HAS THE TIME TO BE TRAINED ON A.T.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

AS YOU CAN SEE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE A.T. WORK AND SO ALL OF US NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN BEING THAT VILLAGE FROM THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DAILY EDUCATION TO THE PEOPLE LIKE US WHO ARE AN OUTSIDE ENTITY AVAILABLE TO YOU.

GOOD NEWS AND BADTHE GOOD NEWS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION IS THAT WE ARE ALL USING TECHNOLOGY MORE AND MORE IN OUR DAILY LIFE AND SO KIDS USING TECHNOLOGY DON’T STAND OUT AS THEY ONCE DID.

THE BAD NEWS IS THAT IN SOME PLACES WE ALL STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGES THAT WILL CHANGE ATTITUDES….

AS WE WORK TOGETHER, WHO AT OUR AGENCY CAN HELP?RON MULVANEY, WIPA EXPERT EXTRAORDINAIRE

NIKKI SCHULTZ, DEVICE LOAN COORDINATOR GODDESS

JANE TEETER, REUSE PROGRAM GURU

TOM RIDLEY, CRAFTSMAN WITH FLAIR

ROBIN RICHARD AND LYNETTE STRODE, DEMO CENTER TOURANISTAS

T.J. SCHLOUSKI, DIRECTOR OF AT SPECIALISTS

WANDA PARBS, ILOAN FINANCE MANAGER

SUSY WOODS, EDUCATION AND POLICY

AND FINALLY……THANK GOODNESS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS!!!

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

AND DR. SUESS SAYS IT ALL:UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARESA WHOLE AWFUL LOTNOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTERIT’S NOT!!!