Assistive Technology

About

The mission of PREP’s Assistive Technology (AT) Program is to provide assistive technology support and training for educational teams, ensuring student access to the learning environment and curriculum. The IDEA definition of AT is, “any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.” PREP’s AT Team seeks to “level the playing field” by providing assistive technology support, training and promoting accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. AT Specialists provide consultation on selecting, using, and integrating AT into classroom instruction and for meeting individual student needs, as well as providing training and resources for school division personnel. PREP maintains a lending library of AT tools and equipment for participating school divisions. PREP facilitates DIG-AT (Development Initiative Group for AT) for key school division personnel to increase their knowledge and skills of AT, Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning.

Services offered

• Consultation: Consultative services include answering questions about assistive technology, teaching team members how to select, use and integrate assistive technology, and troubleshooting problems that may arise.
• Team Assessments: Assessments provide a procedure for the team to follow in order to solve more complex challenges related to a specific student’s assistive technology needs.
• Training and Resources: Assessments provide a procedure for the team to follow in order to solve more complex challenges related to a specific student’s assistive technology needs. The PREP AT facilitators create and provide a variety of assistive technology training and resources related to tools and accessibility considerations.
• Lending Library and iPad rental program: PREP maintains a lending library of Assistive Technology tools and equipment for loan to participating school divisions.
• District Team Collaboration and Support: PREP facilitates DIG AT, the Development Initiative Group for Assistive Technology, consisting of representatives from each division who are interested in themes surrounding Assistive Technology, Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning.

RESOURCES:

Assistive Technology Network: VDOE and TTAC https://atnetwork.ttaconline.org/

Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) http://www.wati.org/

Intelligent Lives resource page