Overview

More than ever, it is important for us to be aware of the Mental health needs of ourselves as practitioners as well as supporting the mental health of our clients. Alongside evidence-based therapies with a licensed therapist, using AT to manage mental health helps in a multitude of ways- from mindfulness practices, to exercise including yoga, to gratitude practices, meditation, to journaling, and presentation anxiety, we have you covered! Join us in a journey of mindfulness, exploring the importance of Mental Health in your AT practice and AT Tools to support Mental Health.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe at least three AT tools to support Mental Health.
2. Discuss the role of educators in supporting mental health in schools.
3. Develop your own AT for Mental Health toolkit that contains at least three to five tools from the session.

Strand(s)

Education & Learning: Early Intervention – 12/Higher Education; Aging & AT

Target Audience

ADA Coordinator; Administrators; AT Specialists; Caregivers; Communication Specialist; Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities; Consultants/Trainers; Curriculum and Instruction; Disability Services; Educators; Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education; Family Members; Government/Non-Profit Agencies; Instructional Technologist; Occupational Therapists; Paraprofessionals; Physical Therapists; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists; Special Education Educators; Teachers of the Visually Impaired; Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing; Transition Coordinator; Visual Impairment Specialists; Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level

Introductory

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

All

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with live-stream

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Friday, January 26 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

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

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

Speaker/s:

Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Assistive Technology Specialist

Biography

Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, PhD ATP, is a nationally certified Assistive Technology Professional, providing consultation, training, and evaluation services to educational and other institutions in the areas of Assistive Technology (AT), Accessible Educational Materials(AEM), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in her own private practice. She is the Assistive and Inclusive Technology Lead for Empower the Learner. She also works at the Kennedy Krieger Institute as an Instructional Design Specialist. She is also an adjunct faculty member and subject matter expert in Inclusion, AT and UDL at the University of New England's Graduate Programs in Online Learning, as well as the University of Maine at Farmington. She has presented across the country on a variety of topics, including accessibility, AT, AEM, UDL, iPads and apps, and Chromebooks and apps. Prior to this, she has served as an Intervention Specialist and Special Educator with 25 years of teaching experience. Hillary is most passionate about educating others about the importance of ensuring that the curriculum is accessible to all students first, rather than after it's been developed. Home is where her heart truly is-with her husband, son, and stepson in Saco, Maine.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment; Consulting fee from independent contractor work

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Jennifer Edge-Savage, MS, EdS, OTR/L

Assistive and Educational Technology Specialist

Biography

Jennifer is an Assistive and Educational Technology Specialist in the Boston area and has been working in the field of Assistive and Educational Technology for over 25 years, wearing many hats during that time on a mission to ensure that all students have access to education. She is the former Director of the Simmons University Graduate Program in Educational Assistive Technology and remains an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Practice supporting Teacher Preparation in the areas of AT, UDL, and AEM. She has taught courses in Universal Design for Learning, Differentiating Instruction using technology, Advanced AT Applications, and Technology to support Literacy. She continues to teach introductory and seminar AT courses at Simmons and through their Programs with NECC US and NECC UAE internationally. Through her private practice over the years she has supported multiple educational agencies in building their Assistive Technology competence through individual Assistive Technology evaluations, District Level professional learning opportunities, coaching, and developing State Level supports, courses, and other resources. She explored the corporate side of AT as the Director of Implementation Services for Kurzweil Educational Systems and IntelliTools and as an AAC Assistive Technology Consultant with PRC-Saltillo. She is an early adopter of technology and has been developing courses and teaching online for nearly 20 years. She is a Past President and board member for ISTE’s Inclusive Learning Network.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No