Assistive Technology: The Magic Answer…. Or Is It?

1. Assistive Technology:The Magic Answer…. Or Is It? Laura E. Plummer, MA, CRC, ATP Sr. Rehabilitation Technologist SVRI at UW Stout Menomonie, WI 54751 plummerl@uwstout.edu TCN Meeting

2. A Wave Of The Wand • Reasonable Accommodations: What are they? Who gets them? Why? • From the classroom to the real world • AT- What works. Where to find it. How to fund it. • Hands On • Case Studies: You do the work TCN Meeting

3. Pulling An Adult Out Of The Hat TCN Meeting

4. Legal Differences - Laws High School Post-Secondary American’s with Disabilities Act as Amended (ADAAA) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act • IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act http://www2.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html http://ds.oregonstate.edu/family/secondary.php TCN Meeting

5. Legal Differences - Purpose High School Post-Secondary To ensure no otherwise qualified student will be denied access or be discriminated against • To ensure all students with disabilities receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) TCN Meeting

6. Legal Differences - Eligibility PK-12 Education Post-Secondary Meets requirements to attend the school and has a documented disability Student is responsible for disclosing and providing documentation • Serves ages 3-21 or until regular HS diploma requirements met • School is responsible for identification TCN Meeting

7. Mission of Disability Services The University of Wisconsin-Stoutrecognizes disability as an aspect of diversity. We are committed to creating equal access and opportunityto all campus programs and servicesfor persons with disabilities. TCN Meeting

8. Reasonable and Equal • Reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job, activity, or facility that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity. • Equal opportunity means an opportunity to attain the same level of performance or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges as are available to a similarly situated student without a disability. TCN Meeting

9. Reasonable Accommodation… • Do not have to provide the specific requested accommodation – can choose among options • Do not have to provide accommodations that create undue hardship • Do not have to provide personal use items • Do not have to provide accommodations for someone who is not qualified (entrance req.) • Do not have to remove or lower education standards TCN Meeting

10. Academic Accommodations • Academic accommodations are adjustments to the environment provided to "level the playing field" with respect to the current functional limitations of an enrolled student. Academic accommodations are not remedial in nature, nor do they change or reduce academic standards of a course or degree program. TCN Meeting

11. Common Means of Equal Access • Alternative Testing (quiet/minimal distraction environment, extended time, audio, scribe, etc.) • Audio Textbooks • Note Taking (peer note taker and Smart Pen) • Interpreting • Scheduling/Priority Registration TCN Meeting

12. Becoming a postsecondary student… TCN Meeting

13. Disability Services – Intake Process • Interactive Process • Intake Interview • Plan Development • Discuss Rights and Responsibilities • Notification to Instructors TCN Meeting

14. Models of Disability Medical Model Social Model Disability is a difference. Being disabled, in itself, is neutral. Disability derives from interaction between the individual and society. The remedy for disability-related problems is a change in the interaction between the individual and society. The agent of remedy can be the individual, an advocate, or anyone who affects the arrangements between the individual and society. • Disability is a deficiency or abnormality. • Being disabled is negative. • Disability resides in the individual. • The remedy for disability-related problems is cure or normalization of the individual. • The agent of remedy is the professional. • Carol J. Gill, Chicago Institute of Disability Research TCN Meeting

15. Choosing a Disability Services Office / School • What documentation is required? • How are decisions made regarding accommodations? • Is the student a part of the decision making process? • How are instructors notified of means of equal access? TCN Meeting

16. Documentation of Disability • Student is responsible • Current and comprehensive • Diagnostic Info • Functional Limitations in an educational setting • Severity and / or longevity • Student pays for documentation • Will vary depending on disability and institution TCN Meeting

17. AHEAD Documentation Guidelines • Primary – Student Self Report • Secondary – Observation and Interaction • Tertiary – Information from External/Third Parties • Does not meet high stakes testing • (MCAT, Praxis/PPST, CRC) TCN Meeting

18. The Team • STUDENT • Disability Services Office • Parents, Spouse or other Natural Support • Professors / Instructors TCN Meeting

19. What Can Students Do To Ensure Equal Access • Connect Early and Often • Stay Connected • Ask Questions • Communicate with Disability Services Office Regarding Barriers in Learning Environment • Ask About Signing Releases of Information • Have a Back Up Plan TCN Meeting

20. Remember Disability Services cannot provide accommodations for something it does not know about. TCN Meeting

21. Becoming a worker… TCN Meeting

22. Disabilities… ADA • a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities • a record of such an impairment; or • being regarded as having such an impairment TCN Meeting

23. Smarter Work Places… • Universal Design is a concept in which a workplace maximizes ALL people’s abilities • The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities. TCN Meeting

24. Smarter Work Places… • Universal Design includes the physical building, interiors, outdoor space, equipment, and communication equipment • Policies and Procedures provide the rules and infrastructure that support a workforce that is diverse and well trained with flexibility to maximize employee abilities • Company Values that support an organizational culture where behaviors, attitudes and programs support and sustain inclusivity TCN Meeting

25. 7 Principles of Universal Design • Equitable use • Flexibility in Use • Simple and Intuitive Use • Perceptible Information • Tolerance for Error • Low Physical Effort • Size and Space for Approach and Use • The citation for the use of the use of the principles is from the "Center for Universal Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1997." TCN Meeting

26. Equitable Use… • Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not • Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users • Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users TCN Meeting

27. Flexible Use… • Provide choice in methods of use • Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use • Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision • Provide adaptability to the user's pace TCN Meeting

28. Simple and Intuitive… • Eliminate unnecessary complexity • Be consistent with user expectations and intuition • Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills • Arrange information consistent with its importance • Provide effective prompting for sequential actions • Provide timely feedback during and after task completion TCN Meeting

29. Perceptible Information… • Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information • Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings • Maximize "legibility" of essential information in all sensory modalities • Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions) • Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations TCN Meeting

30. Perceptible Information… TCN Meeting

31. Tolerance for Error… • Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded • Provide warnings of hazards and errors • Provide fail safe features • Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance TCN Meeting

32. Low Physical Effort… • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position • Use reasonable operating forces • Minimize repetitive actions • Minimize sustained physical effort TCN Meeting

33. Size and Space for Approach of Use… • Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user • Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user • Accommodate variations in hand and grip size • Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance TCN Meeting

34. Smarter Work Places • Challenge the “status quo” • Just because it has “always been done this way” does it need to be done that way? TCN Meeting

35. Now What? • Reasonable Accommodation • Vs. • Accommodation • Workplace Efficiency • Vs. • Job Restructuring Laura E. Plummer, MA, CRC, ATP Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

36. Reasonable Accommodation… • Do not have to provide the specific requested accommodation – can choose among options • Do not have to provide accommodations that create undue hardship • Do not have to provide personal use items • Do not have to provide accommodations for someone who is not qualified for a position • Do not have to remove essential functions, create new jobs, or lower production standards Laura E. Plummer, MA, CRC, ATP Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute

37. Becoming your own person… TCN Meeting

38. Independent Living Centers • Information/Referral • IL Skills Training • Advocacy • Peer Support • In WI: Wistech Device Loan/Demo TCN Meeting

39. ADRCs • Information and Assistance • Options Counseling • Benefits Counseling • Resources TCN Meeting

40. Long Term Care Services • Family Care (Managed Care Org.) • Partnership (Managed Care Org.) • IRIS TCN Meeting

41. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation • Statewide services supporting employment as the end goal TCN Meeting

42. Community Participation • Social / Connections • Recreational / Leisure • Volunteerism • Responsible use of AT TCN Meeting

43. Tech Trends Apps TCN Meeting

44. Note Taking • Smart Pens • Audio Note Taker • Evernote • Cloud Storage TCN Meeting

45. Hearing Loss Access • Sign Language Interpreters – in person • Remote Interpreting • CART • FM Systems TCN Meeting

46. Vision Loss Access • Screen Readers and Magnifiers • Portable Electronic Magnifiers • Zoom/Speech Reading on iOS devices TCN Meeting

47. Learning Disability Access • Dragon and Speech to Text • Electronic Texts – audio and visual • iOS Devices for organization and memory • Reading / Writing Software • FM Systems • Strategies for Academic Success classes aka: College Survival TCN Meeting

48. ADD/ADHD Access • Electronic Texts – audio and visual • iOS Devices for organization and memory • Reading / Writing Software • FM Systems • Strategies for Academic Success classes aka: College Survival TCN Meeting

49. Physical Disability Access • Housing • Parking • Priority Registration • Lab or classroom assistance • Building Access TCN Meeting

50. Collaboration • Creates an inclusive environment • Professors, faculty, staff, students, etc. • Collaboration with DVR – examples • Collaboration with other service providers or agencies • Follow Up, Follow Through and Follow Along • Accountability TCN Meeting