SETDirect
SETDirect is an electronic newsletter for educators on assistive technology issues and resources. SET-BC publishes SETDirect to provide current information to support the implementation of technology for students with special needs in British Columbia. If you would like to be added to the SETDirect mailing list, click here to Subscribe. If you wish to Unsubscribe from SETDirect, Unsubscribe here
SETDirect - April 2007 Welcome to SETdirect, an electronic newsletter for educators on assistive technology issues and resources. SET-BC publishes SETdirect to provide current information to support the implementation of technology for students with special needs in British Columbia. Please forward SETdirect to other people who may be interested in this information. Universal Design for Learning 2007-08SET-BC is excited to launch this collaborative initiative - an exciting partnership between BC school districts and SET-BC for the 2007-08 school year. Application forms have been sent to all district special education administrators. The deadline for project applications is May 11, 2007. What is Universal Design for Learning (UDL)? Drawing on brain research and innovative media technologies to respond to individual learner differences, UDL is a new paradigm for teaching, learning and assessment. UDL is the process of designing and delivering curricula, materials, and environments in a manner that makes them flexible, accessible, and usable by individuals with wide differences in their abilities. Online information sessions about the UDL project have been held with school district personnel from around the province. The final online information session will be held on April 26 from 10:00 -11:00 am. To register for this session and for complete project information, go to www.setbc.org/go/bcudl. For more information, contact Constance McAvoy at 250-686-8960. Virtual Voices 2007The Easter Seal Camping Program and SET-BC are pleased to announce that we will once again host Virtual Voices, a summer program for augmentative communication device users who are 8 to 12 years old. This 5-day program of recreational and communication activities will be held at Camp Squamish from August 28th to September 1st, 2007. Campers will have a chance to connect with old and new friends, learn and practice communication strategies using their voice output communication aids, and enjoy activities from arts and crafts to outdoor recreation and games. For more information, go to http://www.setbc.org/virtualvoices, or download the registration forms at www.lionsbc.ca/programs/camps/forms.shtml. Making It Work: Effective Implementation of Assistive TechnologyDSET-BC has recently completed a guide and workshop package designed to help schools and school districts implement assistive technology more effectively. This workshop will be hosted regionally around the province this spring and fall and is designed for anyone interested in learning about tools and strategies that can help those at various levels - classroom, school, or district - when implementing technologies with a variety of students. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please contact the SET-BC Consultant for your school district for more information. Linda Burkhart Presents!SET-BC is pleased to host 2 full-day presentations by Linda Burkhart in May 2007. Linda is a well-known pioneer in the field of simplified technology for children with severe disabilities and augmentative communication needs. She is an experienced teacher and a highly-regarded presenter on innovative applications for using these technologies in the classroom. She will be presenting: PSAP is Spring Cleaning!As we head into the final three months of another successful year with the Provincial Software Acquisition Plan, we are taking stock and determining what software titles will be continued for next year. This is a good time for schools and school districts to place orders for PSAP software to take advantage of current pricing and to ensure quick delivery on stock items and delivery on network versions of Kurzweil 3000 before the end of June. Placing orders online is the most efficient method of ordering and the online catalogue can be viewed <here>https://setpartners.setbc.org/psapcatalog.aspx. If you have any questions about ordering PSAP software, please contact us at PSAP@setbc.org. Time for Transition PlanningThe approach of the end of grade 12 highlights the need for future planning for students with disabilities. In particular, students who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can now benefit from a new transitional support project, Communication Assistance for Young Adults (CAYA). CAYA speech language pathologists are available to participate in transition planning with school teams for graduating students using AAC. The goal is to ensure that the student retains communication abilities and devices to pursue an adult life plan. A recent example of this transition collaboration is a young man named Ryan, who communicates through vocalizations, gestures, occasional words, and a DynaVox DV4. Ryan was referred to CAYA by his team early in Grade 12. CAYA staff met with Ryan’s resource teacher and school AAC consultant to begin planning his transition from high school. There were several issues to be addressed: moving to a new group home and training new staff about his communication system; creating an appropriate communication book and dictionary to help group home staff understand Ryan’s vocalizations and gestures; updating DV4 pages and messages; and remounting technology to accommodate changes in seating posture. The collaboration of Ryan’s school AAC consultant, resource teacher, and CAYA were invaluable in planning a successful transition from school to adult life. CAYA encourages you to refer students who use AAC early in their final year of school. As this school year draws to a close, the time for referral is NOW! Simply go to www.cayabc.org , print the Transition request form, complete and fax or mail the form to CAYA. CAYA staff will then arrange to meet with you and your student to learn about your student’s strengths, identify his/her communication needs, and plan for a successful transition into young adult life. vvvillage Digital Publishing Contest Winners Announced!The theme of our recent contest was "My Dreams for the Future." Congratulations to all of our winners and special thanks to all participants. Everyone did great work, and some very difficult judging decisions were made by the student editors. - Winners in the Written Category are; 1st place Daniel from Penticton, 2nd place Lucas from Parksville and 3rd place, Rihanna from Campbell River. Prizes & certificates will be awarded to all those who entered. 1st place prizes are iPod Shuffles, 2nd place prizes are Flash drives, and 3rd place prizes are 2010 Legacies Now baseball hats and water bottles. SETinstitute & UBC Host Summer CourseThis July, SETinstitute, together with UBC, will be hosting a three-credit course, EPSE 410: Assistive Technology in Special Education. This online course had limited registration to allow students the best possible learning experience. As a result, registration was brisk, with the course filling up very quickly. This course will be offered again in the future - if you are interested in taking the course at a future date, you can email us at SETinstitute@setbc.org to be placed on a waiting list. For any other information on SETinstitute courses, please visit our website. What’s New and Interesting in the SETBC Loan BankNew or upgraded items added to the student equipment list: Communication Access Vision |