State AT Act Program Directors National Meeting

May 2013

WY AT ResourcesCollaborations

Wyoming Department of EducationUniversity of North Dakota at Casper College

WY AT ResourcesCollaborations with

Wyoming Department of Education

Accessible Instructional MaterialsIncreasing Awareness

Building CapacityStudent Transitions

Wyoming AIM

Timeline of activities • 2007 Initial contract from WDE, Ongoing• CAST-AIM Consortium• Training/Technical Assistance• Conversion of Materials

Wyoming AIMMember AIM Consortium• Develop data management tracking system• Modify state/LEA systems• Support students transitioning to community

colleges• 2012 Professional development to LEAs – online

training modules• TA to LEAs for identifying students• Increase awareness about AT Act Program, WATR• Increase use of WY Clearinghouse for AIM

Wyoming AIM

Total AIM Funding: $1,013,776• WDE @ $730,602• Cast-AIM Consortium @ $166,666• Training/TA/Fee for Service @ $116,508

Wyoming AIMProducts and Trainings• Memorandum Series: Principals, Special

Education Directors, Curriculum Directors• Training Series/Regional Workshops• WY Procedures for Providing AIM• A Guide for Decision-Making Teams

Assistive Technology Collaborations with the

Wyoming Department of Education

Accessible Instructional MaterialsIncreasing Awareness

Building CapacityStudent Transitions

Wyoming AT Resources

Need Increase use of AT by students with disabilities

Some: 100% of students with disabilities can benefit from the use of AT

WATR: 40% of students with disabilities as goal Track academic outcomes that may be associated with

increased rates of AT use

AT Implementation for WY K-12 Students

Building Capacity for AT

• Growth is just beginning• WIND proposal to WDE:– Intensive AT Institute for Educators• 2 weeks in Laramie x 2 times per year• Training by nationally recognized experts in the field• Significant cost

– WDE requested “part of the institute @ less cost”

Building Capacity for AT in WY

Growth just beginningNeed

Build awareness about AT throughout the state Train selected educators/leaders

Approaches 2011-2012 WATR AT Demo Days 2012-2013 Professional Learning Community in AT

2011-2012 WATR Demo Days

• Increase AT awareness • WY community events• Target: educators,

students, families, community members

• See and use devices• Meet with credentialed

AT professionals

2011-2012 WATR Demo Days2011-12 WATR Demo Days

• 11 Demo Days Events• All regions of the state

– Casper, Rural communities, WRIR• 401 attendees

– 58% professionals; – 25% individuals/family members– 75% responded to survey

• 75% response rate to survey– 97% ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’– 87% increased awareness – 93% will use info they learned– 100% received info they wanted

WY Professional Learning Community in Assistive Technology

WY 2012 PLC - AT

8 members selected:• Interested• Achievements• Leadership potential• AT experience• Enthusiastic

WY 2012 PLC - AT

Provided:• Stipend• Training• Resources• Built “community”• Ongoing activities• Expectations

WY 2012 PLC - AT

Expectations:• Personal action plans– Trainings– Technical assistance– Policies and procedures– Collaborative processes

• Input to WDE– Continuation– Data collection, reporting

• Listserv• Monthly contact logs

What we are trying to teach them is not the 70,000 things related to AT but how to think about and assess the need and value of AT. Gayl Bowser, Trainer

2012 PLC - ATMembers Report

• Overwhelmed during training, but that was okay

• PLC was the best training I have ever been to

• Listserv has been so beneficial; before PLC, I had no clue whom to ask AT questions

• Finding someone who is in the same boat as me trying to create an AT process in a very remote district

• Students have improved outcomes from simple AT interventions

2012 PLC - AT

WDE contracted for 2nd year activities– Build larger community– 2013 cohort

• 12 members selected• Similar first year training, resources

– 2012 cohort • All members returning• Advanced training • Help train 2013 cohort• Present about AT, Education Leadership Symposium, Summer

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WY AT ResourcesCollaborations with the

Wyoming Department of Education

Accessible Instructional MaterialsIncreasing Awareness

Building CapacityStudent Transitions

Improving Student Transitions

Need WDE data indicates need for improved transitions

for students receiving special education, services: Early childhood Secondary Out of and back to least restrictive environments

AT within all three transition communities

Community of Practice - Transition

Improving Student Transitions

Approach Based upon success of

community-building with PLC

Develop 3 communities of practice to identify improved practices for student transitions

CoP-T

• Members selected• Phone meetings• In-person meetings

Early Childhood

CoP-T

Social, Emotional, Behavioral Health Secondary

CoP-T

• All 3 communities– Building community– Engaged– Identifying issues– Identifying best-practices

• Ideas to WDE June, August

• Guidance to WDE December

Future Collaborations with

Wyoming Department of Education

• AIM Contract• District request to fund local Demo Days• Potential continuation of PLC– Consideration through school districts

• Potential continuation of CoP, 2014– Proposal submitted

WY AT Resources Collaboration with

UND/Casper CollegeOccupational Therapy MOT, OTA

WY AT Resources Collaboration

• University of North Dakota at Casper College– Occupational Therapy Programs of Study• MOT• OTA

– Faculty– Student Organization

WY AT Resources Collaboration

• WATR provides– Device loans for 6 weeks x 4 themes per year– Training about devices– Technical assistance as needed– Contract funding

WY AT Resources Collaboration

• Win/Win– Serve a high population area without travel– Students leave program with AT experience– Ongoing student interest, work

WY AT ResourcesCollaborations

Wyoming Department of EducationUniversity of North Dakota at Casper College

UWYO.EDU