SETDirect

Upcoming AT Training in BC

Teachers, therapists, clinicians, and families will want to attend "All Things Visual: Use of Visual Supports & Materials for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders", presented by Dr. Howard Shane in Burnaby on Friday, February 3, 2006.

• Registration is limited, so find out more now and register online for this exciting seminar.

Visit our Upcoming Events calendar for information on other great professional development opportunities, including:

• PRCVI's "Tactile Graphics" workshops at 8 BC sites between January 17 & March 2, 2006.
• Aroga's "Technology Daze" in Vancouver on January 30, 2006
• BC Council for Exceptional Children's "Dealing With Anxiety Disorders In School Settings" in Vancouver on February 3, 2006
• Mayer Johnson's "Yellow School Bus Tour" in Vancouver on February 10, 2006
• Alberta Education and 2Learn.ca Education Society's "Supporting All Learners: Blurring the Lines between Assistive Technology and Instructional Technology", a 2-day conference in Edmonton on February 21 and 22, 2006, Alberta.

PSAP Online Training has started

Online training opportunities for various PSAP software titles have been scheduled for December.  These 30 - 60 minute live and interactive training sessions will focus on specific features and applications of the programs.  It is easy to register for sessions and easy to participate.  If you would like to participate in any of the scheduled sessions, check out the individual PSAP software resources or these helpful links:

• List of scheduled Online Training events
• Online training participant information – including computer and network requirements

Don't forget to check out What's New? for all the latest news about PSAP.

What's new in SET-BC Resources? Focus on AT & ASD

The Learning Centre has a rich collection of resources on the use of assistive technology (AT) to support students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

• Find practical ideas for using AT to achieve goals for communication, interaction, behaviour and academics in Considerations for Using AT to Support the Educational Goals of Students with ASD.
• View an informative presentation and software demonstrations on social stories in Secondary School Solutions through Social Language.
• Check out effective strategies for using voice output technologies in Speaking Out & Joining In: Using Voice Output Technology to Enhance the Social Inclusion of Students with ASD.
• Explore the use of digital portfolios in Using Technology to Create Personal Histories and Roadmaps for Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• See how one team implemented communication and curriculum overlays for an elementary-grade student in Classroom Activities and Recordkeeping Strategies using Boardmaker and the Tech Talk II.
• Review the interesting results and conclusions of a Research Study Investigating the Use of AT with Students in BC.
• Find out more about AT and ASD by searching our Collection of Web-based Resources on Autism.

Other New Resources

• Active Reading Strategies Resources - This list provides recommended professional development materials and webpages for curriculum resources.
• Kurzweil 3000 (v.8): Essential Skills - This tip sheet was developed to introduce the basics of Kurzweil 3000 to new users. The instructions are illustrated with helpful screen shots.

What's new in the Loan Bank for 2005?

We'd like to draw your attention to the following new software titles or major version upgrades for SET-BC's loan bank in 2005-06. You can visit manufacturers' websites for details about new features in these programs.

Something old, something new and something blue!

• Something old! The assistive technology sections on the Apple and Microsoft websites contain not only information about access features built into their products, but also information on third party AT products at:
• Apple's Accessibility in Education site
• Microsoft's Assistive Technology Products site
• Something new! The Imagine Symbols website has 4000 symbols available for free download for non-commercial use.
• Something blue! The IntelliSwitch from Madentec is a new wireless switch interface which works with IntelliTools and Discover software. 

Vision Technologies

• Teacher guides for the PacMate  provide a comprehensive overview of features, step-by-step instructions and useful practice exercises.
• MathTrax is a free graphing calculator software package that has descriptions and sounds so you can hear information about graphs. Blind and low vision users can access math data and graphs or experiment with equations and datasets.

Communication Technologies

• PASS software allows you to create, modify and save vocabularies and then download them to your PRC communication aid. PASS software is now included with every Springboard, Vantage or Vanguard Plus.
• PhoneIt allows augmented communicators using DynaVox speech-output products to hold private telephone conversations.

CAYA Update

CAYA, Communication Assistance for Young Adults, is up and running in its first year.  We have received 63 Requests for Service to date, both from SET-BC graduates and new applicants.  We are busy hiring staff, providing devices and organizing training opportunities.  Please check out our webpage, www.cayabc.org, for further information.

SET-BC is a Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program. We assist school districts in British Columbia in meeting the technology needs of students with physical disabilities, visual impairments, and autism.