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Oklahoma ABLE Tech
AT News You Can Use
February, 2018
February 2018 Edition Online Now!
In this issue:
- AT Support Team Training: Spring Training Underway
- Upcoming Webinar: "Creating Accessible Documents"
- Case Study: AT for High School Student with Hearing Aids
- Device Feature: Comfort Duett Personal Amplifier
- Transition: AT for Hearing
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Fall Awards, Spring Training Underway
Approximately 80 educators joined us Jan. 25 at the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman for the first in the series of three AT Support Team Workshops to be held this spring. AT Consideration and AT Assessment Part 1 covered how to consider and assess the AT needs for students on IEPs, and generate potential solutions, utilizing nationally-recognized forms and resources, and guided by the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT).
The workshop included exploration of AT in the categories of computer access; hearing; learning, cognition, and development; vision; seating, positioning and mobility; and speech. Teams are expected to trial devices with students during the interim between this workshop and the next: AT Assessment Part 2 and AT Implementation, to be held Feb. 15. The third workshop, AT Feature Matching and AT Funding, scheduled for March 29, will provide in-depth training and hands-on experience focusing on accessible educational materials (AEM) and augmentative and alternative communications (AAC).
Demand for AT Support Team Training exceeded expectations, resulting in the need to select a different location than originally booked. Unfortunately, we were unable to accommodate about 15 individuals. We do hope those educators who were turned away will be able to participate in our training next year. We will announce training dates and locations on the AT-L LISTSERV as soon as plans are finalized. Not on the AT-L? Email Kimberly.berry@okstate.edu and ask to be added to receive our monthly newsletter, weekly AT device features, and more!
Click to read more about AT Training and other ABLE Tech Services for Educators.
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Upcoming Webinar:
"Creating Accessible Documents"
Mark your calendar to join us February 27th when ABLE Tech Accessibility Coordinator Rob Carr presents:
AT Meets IT: "Creating Accessible Documents"
Tuesday, February 27th
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM CST
Learn how to create accessible documents in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF. ABLE Tech Accessibility Coordinator Rob Carr will show how utilizing proper heading structure, alt tags, and other features can improve access for students who use screen readers and other accessibility tools.
No registration necessary! Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/343403334
Visit our AT Webinars and Video Resources Webpage to view archived webinars. Certificates are available for educators who participate live, and those who view the archived recordings. For information, email Kimberly.Berry@okstate.edu, or call 405-744-8342.
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AT for High School Student with Hearing Aids
This high school student is transitioning to higher education and has moderate to severe hearing loss. He's having difficulties hearing in the classroom and also difficulties with supplemental videos and computer work that is required in the classroom. His hearing aids make it difficult for him to wear headphones for audio output on the computer, and the noise to sound ratio in the classroom makes it difficult for him to hear his peers in group discussion.
Possible Recommendations:
 An AT solution would be a sound amplification device that will accommodate his hearing aids to improve his hearing in group discussions, as well as on the computer or video. Ideally, it would be a unit where the transmitter and receiver are two separate units: the speaker wears a microphone/transmitter and there are also additional microphones in the classroom for peers to speak into. The student wears the receiver that captures the sound coming from the microphone and creates better noise to sound ratio. The most effective receiver would be an ear level receiver, such as a boot receiver that attaches to the hearing aid. If not, the receiver could be used with a neckloop, feeding directly into the hearing aid Telecoil. When a student wears hearing aids, they are always encouraged to consult their audiologist for their best recommendations.
The transmitter can also be used to plug directly into the audio output to receive direct sound from the computer or other source of video replay via the worn boot or neckloop receiver. As always, you will also want to consider the environment: noise, room acoustics, distance, visual access, and lighting, along with assistive technology.
Goals and Outcomes: The student will show increased participation in the classroom with learning topics and peer participation. There should also be increased accuracy in computer use, as evidenced in computer assignments; increased initiative in independently asking for the device, using the device, and returning the device to the primary teacher for charge and upkeep.
Sample solutions available in the ABLE Tech Short-Term Loan Inventory:
ABLE Tech provides case studies as examples for educators considering assistive technology (AT) for students with disabilities to help them reach their educational goals. Visit AT Discovery for feature matching solutions based on the Student, Environment, Task and Tools (SETT) framework developed by Dr. Joy Zabala.
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Comfort Duett Personal Amplifier
 "The compact multipurpose personal amplifier."
The Comfort Duett is an easy-to-use hearing amplifier that helps you get more involved in almost any situation, whether you’re at a lively family dinner, chatting on the phone or watching TV. Clever technology inside the Comfort Duett catches important sounds, like people’s voices, and sends loud, crisp audio to either headphones or a hearing aid. The Comfort Duett can be used with headphones, earbuds, or a neckloop for those who use hearing aids with a built in T-coil. And with its compact design, it discreetly tags along anywhere you go.
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $169
Purchased from: Comfort Audio.
Click to see Comfort Duett in ABLE Tech Device Loan Inventory.
Watch our Comfort Duett Video on YouTube!
Each week ABLE Tech features one of the many assistive technology devices available for trial through our short-term loan program. Our inventory offers a wide range of AT for communication, computer access, hearing, vision, daily living, environmental adaptations, learning/development, health, safety, and recreation.
Search our Device Loan Inventory!
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Transition: AT for Hearing
To ensure successful transitions for students aging out of school services, it is important that any assistive technology (AT) the student is currently using or may need to pursue employment outcomes be incorporated into the student's Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). IPEs are developed through collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) using a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR/VS) Counselor. Through training, consultations, device loans and demonstrations, ABLE Tech can help educators find AT to meet the needs of a student in the various environments he or she will be transitioning to.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech provides technical assistance and guidance on all AT categories – 1) hearing, 2) seating, mobility and positioning, 3) vision, 4) computer access, 5) daily living, 6) speech communication, 7) vehicle modifications, 8) environmental controls, 9) recreation, and 10) learning, cognition and development. Let’s take a peek at Hearing AT and how that impacts students in transition services.
Hearing Assistive Technology - the Why, What, When, and Who
Why aren’t hearing aids/cochlear implants enough? Whether someone already has hearing aids or cochlear implants, or not at all, there can be environmental factors that further compromise their hearing: distance from the speaker, background noise, size and acoustics of the room. Finding Hearing Assistive Technology to aid in their listening can be of great value in the classroom, in the community, and in the work environment.
What is Hearing Assistive Technology? Many devices have been designed and developed for people with hearing loss. Such technology enhances sound, or substitutes sound with visual or tactile signals. Hearing AT can be helpful anywhere that effective communication is needed including at home, in school, movies, theater, the workplace, hospitals, on the telephone and other extracurricular activities.
When does one need to use them? Listening needs vary with the situation and the level of hearing loss. Some challenging environments might be: restaurants or cafeteria, meetings, classes, gymnasium, houses of worship, social gatherings, public presentations, lectures, theaters, and home environments – TV, telephone, doorbell, smoke alarm, etc.
Who needs Hearing AT? Anyone who needs help with: face-to-face communication with others, enjoyment of electronic media such as the radio, stereo, television, movies, telephone, and awareness of environmental sounds or similar situations.
To find out more about Hearing AT and other categories, you can visit ABLE Tech’s AT Discovery page at http://okabletech-atdiscovery.org/ - email abletech@okstate.edu - call 800-257-1705.
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Need funding to assist in the purchase of assistive devices? Oklahoma ABLE Tech offers a comprehensive online guide for Oklahoma Funding for AT. Additionally, ABLE Tech, in partnership with Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation (OkAT) and BancFirst of Stillwater, offers Financial Loans to purchase assistive technology. Several programs of funding are available, all with LOW interest rate and flexible repayment terms, as well as special qualification opportunities for applicants who might not qualify for a traditional bank loan. For questions on the Financial Loan opportunities, call Shelley Gladden for more information at 800-257-1705.
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| Linda Jaco, Director
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800.257.1705
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Kimberly Berry, Assistive Technology Teacher
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800.257.1705
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