Services Provided
by the
Technical
Assistance Instructor (TAI):
Marci
McMurray
TAI Services
Feedback Form
- NET-AT Cooperative contact person for
scheduling team evaluations.
- Assist with monthly workshops at
ETSU.
- Assist team leaders with monthly team
evaluations.
- Assist a school-based evaluation team
or assistive technology evaluator with an assistive technology
evaluation and report:
- Some school systems have
assigned an assistive technology "teacher" or team of school personnel
to conduct internal evaluations (without the assistance of the
Cooperative's evaluation team). The TAI can assist the school-based
team in conducting evaluations and writing reports.
- Follow-up on evaluation
recommendations:
- The TAI will contact the school
system team leader or classroom teacher two months and six months
after an evaluation to determine if the devices or software
recommended are meeting the student's needs, and to provide additional
assistance, modifications, or recommendations if needed. Follow-up
information is provided to team leaders for the purpose of assisting
evaluation team members in developing and refining our evaluation
skills.
- Conduct pre-evaluation
observations:
- A pre-evaluation observation is
strongly recommended for students who require a formal assistive
technology evaluation. The TAI can spend a day or portion of a school
day observing a child who needs an assistive technology evaluation.
She can provide preliminary observational data and recommendations to
the evaluation team so that the team is better informed about the
child's needs prior to the actual evaluation, and better prepared for
the evaluation in terms of equipment, devices, and software needed for
the team evaluation.
- Observe a particular student and
provide informal recommendations for use of assistive technology.
- (The TAI does not write a formal
evaluation report except when she is assisting a school-based team or
a Cooperative evaluation team.)
- Provide professional development
workshops to teachers, assistants, and parents within the school
system:
- The TAI can provide a number of
workshops on assistive technology software, devices, and strategies
for AT use in the classroom. Inservice or professional development
workshops can be scheduled during school hours, directly after school,
or in the evenings. Workshops can focus on a particular piece of
software (e.g., IntelliPics, IntelliTalk, MathPad, Boardmaker,
Co:Writer/Write:OutLoud ), or they can have a general focus (e.g.,
using assistive technology to address math skills in the resource
classroom; developing writing skills through assistive technology;
low-tech solutions for developing communication skills ). Discuss with
your Special Education Supervisor the possibility of scheduling a
workshop within your school or system.
- Maintain the NET-AT Cooperative
Lending Library.
- Observe a classroom routine and
provide the teacher, teaching assistants, and related service personnel
with ideas for incorporating assistive technology into daily
instruction.
- Provide one-on-one
instruction/assistance in the use of a device or software to a teacher,
teaching assistant, parent, child, or other involved personnel.
- Assist teachers and team leaders in
researching possible devices and software to meet individual student
needs.
|
