THE NATIONAL ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE’S “TOP TEN LIST” OF FINDINGS
229 Taylor Education Building
Lexington KY 40506-0001
Day Phone: 659—257—8810
Fax: 859—257—1324
Email: meb@uky.edu
Presenter
#2
John Lowdermilk
University of Kentucky
220 Taylor Education Building
Lexington KY 40506—0001
Day Phone: 859—257-4269
Fax: 859—247—1325
Email: jlowdermilk@uky.edu
The
National Assistive Technology Research Institute is a cooperative agreement,
funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in 2000. We have conducted 5
years of research on the factors related to the planning, development,
implementation, and evaluation of AT services in schools. We will present our
“top ten list” of research findings in multiple areas related to assistive
technology service delivery.
At
the end of this session, participants will describe the goals of the National
Assistive Technology Research Institute, as well as list 10 findings of the institute
that have implications for the field.
The
National Assistive Technology Research Institute was funded by the U.S.
Department of Education with two main goals. The first goal was to examine the
factors related to the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of
AT services in schools. The second goal was to disseminate the findings in ways
that will assist school personnel to improve practices for students with
disabilities. Case study research methodology was used, and both quantitative
and qualitative data were collected on a comprehensive list of topics related
to AT service delivery in the schools. Data were collected from 323 students in
41 school districts across 10 states in the nation. Information will be
presented from data collected from (a) a review of state policy and procedure
documents, (b) online surveys reporting critical incidents, c) online surveys
of school administrators, c) demographic information gathered from over 300
students and 200 teachers using and working with assistive technology, d) audio
taped interviews of 700 parents, students, and teachers using assistive
technology, e) environmental assessments of technology present and being used
in classrooms, and (f) field note classroom observations of over 300 students
using assistive technology.
As a result of our analysis of these data, we will present our “top ten list” of findings following 5 years of data collection. We will present a minimum of 10 important findings from our research on a wide array of assistive technology topics. The findings have direct implications for school districts and professionals providing assistive technology services to students, as well as for parents and students receiving assistive technology services. Topics to be covered will include assistive technology policy and procedures, personnel issues, teacher training, assistive technology implementation, use of assistive technology implementation plans, decision—making about assistive technology issues in the IEP, consideration of assistive technology, status of assistive technology use in the nation, home—school collaboration, assistive technology assessment, funding, access to the general education curriculum, collaboration among professionals providing assistive technology services, evaluation of assistive technology program service delivery, measurement of student progress, and expertise ratings of professionals working in school districts. Recommendations will be made relating to the “top ten list” for improving assistive technology service delivery in schools. Practical suggestions will be offered and sample products will be disseminated. Participants will be encouraged to discuss assistive technology service delivery in their local areas.
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