Overview

The U.S. Department of Education is releasing a guidance package focused on promoting and ensuring greater access to assistive technology (AT) for K-12 students with disabilities. Assistant Secretary Wright-Gallo will present the core tenets of the guidance and related resources and tools to support students with disabilities and the practitioners, teachers, parents, and caregivers who educate and support them.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe two or more key tenets of a new Federal AT Guidance Package.
2. Discuss two or more ways the AT Guidance package can support and enhance access to educational opportunity for K-12 students with disabilities.
3. Identify two or more new federal tools resources available to practitioners, teachers, parents and caregivers to support access to AT for K-12 students with disabilities.

Strand(s)

Assistive Technology for Physical Access and Participation; Leadership

Target Audience

Accessibility Professional; ADA Coordinator; Administrators; AT Specialists; Alternative Media Specialist; Caregivers; Communication Specialist; Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities; Consultants/Trainers; Curriculum and Instruction; Educators; Family Members; Government/Non-Profit Agencies; Instructional Technologist; Occupational Therapists; Paraprofessionals; Physical Therapists; Speech-Language Pathologists; Special Education Educators; Teachers of the Visually Impaired; Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing; 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 1:00 PM - 2:00 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:
IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Glenna Wright-Gallo

U.S. Department of Education, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

Biography

Glenna Wright-Gallo is the assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the United States Department of Education. In this capacity, she serves as advisor to the U.S. secretary of education on matters related to the education of children and youth with disabilities, as well as employment and community living for youth and adults with disabilities. The mission of her office is to improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes, and to raise expectations for all people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and the nation.
Wright-Gallo has more than 25 years of experience supporting students and adults with disabilities. She served as the assistant superintendent of special education in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington from 2017–2022 and previously as the state director of special education for the Utah State Board of Education for seven years. In her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo provided expertise in the improvement planning, data analysis, and monitoring of public pre-K through 12th grade+ special education programs. Before her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo worked as a classroom teacher and administrator.
Wright-Gallo has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees in special education; special education teacher and administrative licenses; endorsements as a program administrator, principal, and superintendent; and a Master of Business Administration.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No