Overview

Come join the fun as CAST's TA Specialists at the National AEM Center clarify the concepts and relationships of accessible materials, assistive technology, and technology for supporting students with disabilities. Presenters will explore how these components differ and complement each other, and provide examples of how they rely on one another to provide access and accessibility for students who require them. Presenters will also share resources and best practices for implementing them, and facilitate discussions and reflections among participants to help them apply the knowledge to their own contexts.

Content Disclosure: This presentation will focus exclusively on the National AEM Center practices and may not include information on other similar or related projects and centers.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe two different examples of how AEM, AT, and accessible technology work together.
2. Discuss one or more ways AEM, and accessible technology are being utilized in their current environment.
3. Identify three resources to support continuous learning around AEM, and accessible technology.

Strand(s)

Education & Learning: Early Intervention – 12/Higher Education; Mainstream Accessible Technologies

Target Audience

Accessibility Professional; Administrators; AT Specialists; Alternative Media Specialist; Consultants/Trainers; Curriculum and Instruction; Disability Services; Educators; Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education; Family Members; 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

Experience Level

Introductory

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Elementary - Secondary (K-12); Higher Education

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 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM (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:

Michelle Soriano

CAST, Technical Assistance Specialist

Biography

As a technical assistance specialist for the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM Center) and the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES), Michelle Soriano promotes inclusive, equitable, and accessible instructional opportunities for students who receive special education services through the use of accessible educational materials and technologies. Prior to joining CAST, Michelle served as a Regional Education Specialist in the area of inclusive practices for two different Education Service Centers in Texas. During this time, she provided technical assistance and support through professional development, instructional coaching, Professional Learning Communities, and partnerships in creating state and regional documents and training. She has also worked as a behavior specialists administrator, PK-12 instructional coach, general education teacher, and special education teacher.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Kelli Suding, M.Ed.

CAST, Technical Assistance Specialist

Biography

As a technical assistance specialist for the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials (AEM Center) and the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES), Kelli promotes the availability of accessible educational materials and technologies to ensure that all students have equitable and inclusive opportunities for learning. Kelli has keynote, national, state, and regional presentation and training experience. Kelli also has a strong understanding of and ability to connect theory to practice. Her instructional experience has been with students requiring mild, moderate, and intense intervention. Kelli's specializations include autism, accessible educational materials & accessible technologies, accessibility, specific learning disabilities, and Universal Design for Learning.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No

Luis Perez

CAST, Disability and Digital Inclusion Lead

Biography

As the Disability & Digital Inclusion Lead for CAST, Luis promotes the creation, delivery and use of high quality accessible educational materials and technologies to support equitable learning opportunities for all students. Luis is embedded with the Postsecondary and Workforce Development group at CAST which works to increase access to middle- and high-income careers for populations underrepresented in the workforce, including people with disabilities. Luis’s perspective is informed by his own lived experience as a person with a disability and a multilingual learner.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment at CAST, Inc. Royalties for publications through the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and CAST Publishing.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No