Join us for the San Francisco Net Tuesday on September 9:
Involver: How Nonprofits Can Create Video Campaigns for Social Networks.
NetSquared is an initiative of TechSoup
NetSquared enables social benefit organizations to leverage the tools of the social web.
- Home
- ATSTAR - Assistive Technology: Strategies, Tools, Accommodations and Resources
ATSTAR - Assistive Technology: Strategies, Tools, Accommodations and Resources
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
Our program is aimed at helping K-12 children with disabilities level the playing field in school using assistive technology within the classroom. We empower teachers and parents with a process to help implement AT and keep kids included.
Supporting organization:
Knowbility, Inc.
URL:
www.knowbility.org
City:
Austin
State/Region:
Texas
Country:
USA
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
Federal law and national education policy requires students with disabilities to be educated in the most inclusive setting possible. For many students with disabilities, assistive technology (AT) is a key component to their classroom success. Unfortunately, classroom teachers are typically not trained to assess or implement AT solutions. Instead, they rely on the services of district level AT experts. School districts may have hundreds, or even thousands of students with disabilities and very few AT specialists, often only one or two. As a result, children may wait years for effective AT assessments, or never receive them at all. ATSTAR, an acronym for Assistive Technology Strategies, Tools, Accommodations and Resources, is a series of online teacher training modules developed to empower schools-based teams to effectively assess and implement assistive technology (AT) for their students with disabilities. Originally developed in 2002 with a grant from the Texas Education Agency, the ATSTAR system was piloted in rural and urban settings for the next three years. In 2005, using data collected from the pilots, the system was improved with funding from the Meadows Foundation. The newly rebuilt technology platform is now ready for national dissemination. Students may have different needs in different environments. The ATSTAR system builds teams of school based educators who are able to meet individual student needs, within the classroom setting. Team members include general education teachers and special education teachers, parents and administrators may also be part of a team. As the law requires, AT decisions are collaboratively as everyone contributes to the plan of how to best meet the needs of the student to make him/her successful in the classroom. ATSTAR modules include proven techniques for working as a team and considerations of AT. ATSTAR provides an online curriculum and support system that gives teachers access to problem-solving tools that are proven to improve outcomes for K-12 students with disabilities. ATSTAR is an innovative system that meets a previously unmet need in assistive technology services, increasing the success of children with disabilities in inclusive classroom settings.
Sustainability (financial) model:
The ATSTAR project intends to be self-sustaining by selling subscriptions to the course for $50/participant or $300 per team. The course has been piloted in Texas and Montana, updated based upon feedback and is ready for national dissemination.
In 2005, there were a reported 93,000 public schools. If we could reach even 1% of this market, we would be financially viable.
We will enhance the product by creating a community with online discussion boards and podcasts from industry experts. Additionally, we will build a dynamic, product-feature matching tool for assistive technology needs and products. These value-adds will be available to subscribers and for a nominial annual renewal fee.
Potential obstacles:
The biggest obstacle right now is that funding is running out and we have not built the product-feature matching engine. We seek funds to market, sponsor teams, and further enhance the product.
School budgets are also an obstacle. We have re-examined our sales strategy and modified our pricing to accommodate some of these hurdles.
Resource Needs:
Funding! Also, a podcasting engine and accessible forum software. Our application was developed using Ruby on Rails, and the product-feature matching tool would potentially also be developed using this if we can find resources which fit into our budget.
Key Milestones:
In the next 30-60 days we will continue to market to schools before summer break. We are immediately focusing efforts in Colorado and Texas where we have local presences. Several grant applications are also in the review process.
90 days out we will be evaluating enhancements we would like to make and revising our fall marketing strategies.
Project Summary:
In order to make Assistive Technology integration effective and a national reality, there is a need to raise educator, parent and community awareness and to develop replicable training procedures for assistive technology assessment, integration and data collection. The ATSTAR program addresses this need by developing and implementing training for campus level educators in the areas of Assistive Technology, Strategies, Tools, Accommodations and Resources.The overarching goal of the ATSTAR project is to change the way AT is administered in schools throughout the United States, creating more inclusive classrooms all over the United States. In addition, we expect that effective AT assessment and implementation will improve class participation, improve grades and increase graduation rates for students with disabilities. ATSTAR builds technology-enhanced learning environments and increases assistive technology expertise among educational professionals, parents, and consumers in a way that:
- Builds on a replicable training model to be deployed nationally
- Integrates the national quality indicators of assistive technology
- Targets members of the student support team to increase the impact of services
- Provides just-in-time training and resources to parents and educational professionals
- Fosters team collaboration through leadership and mentorship programs
- Empowers family members and consumers to participate in the team process
- Embeds technology into major curricular subject areas
- Promotes community involvement
Knowbility is a small organization but has a proven history of creating community partnerships to leverage existing resources, creating far-reaching and long lasting impact. By deploying ATSTAR nationally, we will help millions of students with disabilities reach their full potential.
Comments
ATStar is getting my vote!
ATStar is put together and run by an experienced group with an incredible track record for success.
We all benefit from the spread of accessible internet technology and knowledge - businesses, students, parents, society.
Empowerment to local community on Assistive technology
Involvement of the local community at different level is vital
Kids with Disabilities need ATSTAR!
This program combines technology research, Universal Design for Learning, online courseware, online mentoring and social networking to benefit kids with disabilities. Teachers in pilot programs in 3 states were standing in the aisles in praise and gratitude. Let's get this information into as many schools as we can. Go ATSTAR!
_____________________________________________________
Sharron Rush | knowbility.org | disability tech access