Overview

How does a district begin the work of building an inclusive technology system where Assistive Technology (AT) and Education Technology (EdTech) are synergized, balanced, and effective for students? At CITES (Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems) we believe AT professionals lay the groundwork for creating inclusive technology systems. This session will discuss the role of the AT professional in an inclusive technology system and discuss key concepts AT professionals should know to create a more inclusive technology system in their district. We will highlight the teaching practices of the CITES Framework and share district implementation stories.

Session Content Disclosure: This course focuses on the CITES Framework, materials and resources developed by CITES (Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems), a federally funded project based at CAST.  There will be little or no information given about other resources or materials.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the one role of AT professionals as change agents in the wider technology ecosystem of a district.
2. Identify three evidence-based practices from the CITES Framework.
3. Develop the knowledge to create at least one baseline evaluation of the current status of inclusive technology for teaching to aid in district technology planning decisions and setting PD goals.

Strand(s)

Education & Learning: Early Intervention – 12/Higher Education; Leadership

Target Audience

• Administrators
• AT Specialists
• Educators
• Instructional Technologist
• Media Specialist
• Speech-Language Pathologists

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Elementary - Secondary (K-12)

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with recording

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2022 Conference on Thursday, Jan 27: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.

ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: December 15, 2022
End date of ASHA CEUs offering: October 31, 2023

This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA 2022 Virtual Event series. The ATIA 2022 Virtual Event CRC series offering was available from January 25, 2022 through January 24, 2023.

Speaker/s:

Sherri Wilcauskas

CAST, Inc., Director of Federal Relations

Biography

Sherri Wilcauskas is the project director for CISL, the U.S. Department of Education-funded project that has launched and is researching Clusive. In her role as CISL’s Project Director and CAST’s Director of Federal Relations, she works to expand and deepen CAST’s relationships with educational, government and non-profit partners in service of CAST’s strategic priorities, pursuing the shared vision of a future where learning has no limits. This includes direct participation in CAST’s federally-funded centers (CISL, the Center for Accessible Education Materials, and the Center for Inclusive Technology and Education Systems); overseeing federal grant seeking and grants management; and representing CAST’s advocacy agenda with agency and elected representatives. She holds an MA from the University of Pennsylvania, an AB from Mount Holyoke College and is enrolled in the Ed.D. program at Northeastern University.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary for employment with CAST Inc.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Roba Hrisseh, Ph.d Candidate

CAST, CAST ASPIRE INTERN

Biography

Roba Hrisseh, M.Ed., is Ph.D. student at George Mason University. She is focusing her doctoral program on special education and assistive technology. Roba began her special education career in Detroit, Michigan, working with students with high-incidence disabilities in both the nonprofit and private sector. She then spent time working as an educational technology teacher for students with severe autism in Boston, Massachusetts. Roba is currently working as a graduate research assistant on a writing intervention project that uses a technology-based graphic organizer to teach persuasive writing to students with high-incidence disabilities. Additionally, she is completing an internship at CAST’s Center on Inclusive Technology and Education, where she is researching effective methods for comprehensive and sustainable technology usage for students with a range of disabilities.

Relevant Financial Relationship: No

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No