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Argentine Woman with Down Syndrome Inspires as Teacher
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Alt+Shift Update
Another Alt+Shift Summer Institute is in the books! Here is what some of our attendees had to say after attending the event:
“Great material. I wish I could have attended more than just one course.”
“Super info plus the chance to talk with other professionals in the trenches.”
“Open and step out of the perceived box. Move forward.”
As we look forward to the rest of the summer and into the fall, we hope the connections made will form strong supportive networks in teaching and reaching all learners. The consideration of assistive technology, effective strategies in math and literacy, and robust communication systems for students with complex communication needs are all areas in which everyone can use the support of a strong network. Stay in touch with one another and share your hurdles and successes as the new school year approaches.
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Partnership Update: Assistive Technology Guidelines Task Force
A group of assistive technology (AT) providers from across the state has formed to draft and support the implementation of AT guidelines. Alt+Shift will partner with this group to support their efforts, share their findings, and disseminate resources designed to assist districts and programs to make informed decisions about:
- AT considerations
- AT implementation
- Assessing the effectiveness of AT on student performance
- Educating individualized education program (IEP) teams on AT options available for students
- Facilitating a collaborative process connected to the student’s area of need
- Making AT staffing recommendations to implement the above considerations
For more information on the group’s activities, contact Jeff Crockett or Laura Griffith.
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Educator Highlight
 Name: Melanie Tervo, M.A., CCC-SLP
District: Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA)
Email: mtervo@maresa.org
Who are you working with? A student who is deaf and blind and has no current way to communicate with others in his daily environment.
What is your connection with Alt+Shift? I have worked with Alt+Shift in the past and continue to work with Alt+Shift as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) at the intermediate school district level, providing services to 13 districts within a two-county area. I have had extensive training and participated in developing training modules for Foundations of Communication with Alt+Shift staff. My focus for the next school year will be to provide assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports to the local districts in Marquette and Alger counties.
What do you believe about students with complex communication needs? Presuming competence was an eye-opening thought that has guided me to presume that every student can communicate and should have the opportunities to do so.
What are you doing right now? Initially, I communicated with the Region 1A assistive technology team, and they were trying to decide where to start with the student. The team decided that core vocabulary would be a great place to start. During a presentation at Oakland Schools by David Kopenhaver and Karen Erickson, I heard about a program of printing three-dimensional objects for students with visual impairments. Continual communication with the Region 1A team led to printing the symbols Karen and David had created. So, I contacted the University of North Carolina to see why they only had 13 tactile core words created. We felt that we needed to create more core word symbols (e.g., the whole set of the core vocabulary). Then, the vision consultant and I worked with the “Maker Space” program at Marquette Area Public Schools. That is a program where students engineer, design, and create three-dimensional objects using a three-dimensional printer. Collaboration between students, the SLP, and the consultant for the visually impaired took place, focusing on creating these three-dimensional objects. Prototypes were made, and the team realized they needed to be smaller and arranged in a consistent manner. The team then decided to create a frame where all the pieces would fit. They redesigned the symbol sets so that the student could scan them like they scan braille. The tiles can be arranged into consistent patterns to optimize motor planning during the learning process. We look forward to providing feedback on progress at the beginning of the next school year. The following pictures are pictures of the prototypes the team is developing to work with the student. The students at Marquette Senior High School have been working hard and have had some very insightful input into the project, which is led by the SLP and the consultant for the visually impaired.
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Funding Tips: What You Need to Know!
Navigating the funding process for an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device can be an overwhelming task. Let our Funding Tips: What You Need to Know! section help you along the way.
Read the blog post: How SLPs can get FREE access to AAC apps, AAC app user groups, funding options, and more!
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Upcoming Events: Michigan
Michigan Reading Association (MRA)
2017 Summer Literature Conference
July 12-13
Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire
2017 MCTM Conference
(Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics)
July 25-27
Traverse City West Senior High School, Traverse City
#TalkingAAC 2017 Conference
November 1-3
Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center,
East Lansing
Michigan POHI/SXI Conference
November 2-3
Macomb ISD, Clinton Township
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