Overview
Advancements in technology have completely changed the way students with blindness and visual impairments are educated in the classroom and accessible materials are created. This session includes not only a discussion of the latest technology that allows students greater access to their curriculum, but also software, hardware, devices, and apps that can enhance learning in fun and meaningful ways and help improve production of and access to accessible media, including tactile graphics. In this ever changing world of assistive technology, it is difficult to keep up with the latest in the offerings and resources available. After a survey of over 100 teachers of the visually impaired, low vision therapists, and assistive technology specialists working in the field, you will hear what they believe to be the most effective AT solutions and must have apps, in addition to new technology, product updates, and resources to enhance teaching, learning, and productivity.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify a minimum of three apps and be able to describe their usages in the education of students with blindness and visual impairments.
2. Identify and describe the usage of at least three software options to enhance learning in the classroom for a student with blindness or visual impairments.
3. Identify and describe the usage of at least three hardware options to enhance learning in the classroom for a student with blindness or visual impairments.

Strand
Vision & Hearing Technologies

Target Audience
Accessibility Professional; ADA Coordinator; Administrators; AT Specialists; Alternative Media Specialist; Caregivers; Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities; Consultants/Trainers; Curriculum and Instruction; Disability Services; Educators; Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education; Family Members; Government/Non-Profit Agencies; Instructional Technologist; Media Specialist; Paraprofessionals; Special Education Educators; Teachers of the Visually Impaired; Transition Coordinator; Visual Impairment Specialists; Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level
Intermediate

Content Area
Professional Area

ATIA 2020 Conference Recording
This course was given at the ATIA 2020 Conference on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:20 AM - 10:50 AM

Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CEUs: ACVREP (General & ATBVI); AOTA; IACET
This course is offered for the following number of CEUs: 1.5 CEU Hours and 0.15 CEU Units.

Speaker/s:
Karen Walker
Allied Instructional Services
The Owner/President of Allied Instructional Services (AIS), received both her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Impairments and Orientation and Mobility and her Master’s Degree in Emotionally Disturbed/Learning Disabled from Florida State University and has been working in the field of blindness and visual impairments for the past 31 years.
In 1997, Ms. Walker founded Allied Technologies, specializing in the sales and training of low vision electronic magnification systems and software. In 2005, she sold Allied Technologies, but continued contracting instructional services, forming AIS in 2010. Since this time, her company has grown to include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Interpreting, Audiology, Speech, and Assistive Technology. AIS currently serves over 100 school districts in Virginia alone, in addition to Maryland, Georgia, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida. In 2017 and 2018, AIS was named as one of the fastest growing private companies in the US by Inc Magazine making the INC 5000 list and in 2018 and 2019 was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies owned by FSU Graduates on their prestigious Seminole 100 list.
Ms. Walker is an adjunct faculty member for the George Mason University Visually Impaired Teacher Preparation Program, a Past President of the Virginia AER and has served on various AER committees at the state and national level. In 2016, Ms. Walker was Governor appointed to serve on Virginia’s Independent Living Council and the Blind and the Visually Impaired State Rehabilitation Council. As the 2015 recipient of the Dominion Award of Excellence, Ms Walker was honored to be recognized for her dedication and leadership to the field of blindness and vision impairments. She is passionate in her endeavor to ensure that ALL individuals receive the appropriate educational services that they need to succeed to become as independent and successful as possible.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
I will continue to receive my salary from employment during the conference, that said, I am the own Allied Instructional Services and Ability 2 Access in which I receive a salary from Allied Instructional Services.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
As the owner of Allied Instructional Services and Ability 2 Access my companies, my companies sell, use and train others to utilize some of the products that I will be discussing.

Dave Wilkinson
SpeedyTurtle
For more than 20 years Dave Wilkinson has been conducting presentations throughout the United States and globally on a wide range of topics related to finding the necessary ingredients to achieve your personal and professional goals. SpeedyTurtle LLC was created to formalize the structure of these presentations.
Dave was the first Director of Sales at the American Printing House for the Blind in its 160+ year history. He is a lifelong Braille reader and advocate for braille. He has a long and successful career in the assistive technology field that includes innumerable presentations and workshops on a myriad of Assistive Technology topics including but not limited to GPS for the blind, refreshable braille and mathematics, utilization of various forms of electronic books, etc.
For several years Dave was the National Training Manager for HIMS. He has also worked as an Access Technology Specialist for several other companies and organizations including World Services for the Blind, HumanWare, and Freedom Scientific.
Jobs outside of the adaptive technology industry include working as a college residence hall director, several clerical positions while working his way through college, and tuning pianos in Iceland.
For several years Dave was a competitive cross-country skier. He was given serious consideration for the 2002 US Cross Country Paralympic Ski Team. In 2003, after moving to the South, he started running as cross-country skiing wasn't a viable sport in that part of the country. To mark his 40th Birthday, Dave did his first marathon and has done over 20 since then. Now that he is in his 50s, he has developed an interest in triathlons which lead to him completing the Louisville Ironman in October 2019 with plans for more.
Dave has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in History and Radio and a Master of Education in Student Personnel Admin
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
I am being compensated by AIS for doing the workshop with them.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No