Yesodot’s Y-TECH
(Yesodot's Assisitve Technology Day)
SUNDAY, MAY 21ST, 2006
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Carroll Center Assistive Technology Center
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458
"AT 'Round the Clock:
AT at Work, School & Play!"
Get a first hand look at technology in action. Informative and interactive conference showcasing state of the art assistive technology ("AT"): software, hardware, and "low tech" adaptive products for education, work, recreation and daily living for children and adults with physical or developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, or for individuals who are deaf or blind.
Don't miss these exciting opportunities to learn about the latest and best assistive technology available:
Hands-on experiences with AT! Get a first-hand look at technology in action!
Ask the experts: presentations and Q&A with professionals!
Network with consumers, families, professionals, & AT developers!
Perfect CE opportunity for professionals
REGISTRATION:
Pre-registration is a must - space is limited
Registration by May 1 $35/person. Registration after May 1 $40/person.
Pre-registration fee includes lunch. (Kosher meal available upon request.)
Children under 18 (must be accompanied by an adult) $20/person
Yesodot paid-member discount: $20/person by 5/1 and $25/person after 5/1
Fees non-refundable.
For more information contact:
Alissa Kinney at akinney@jvs-boston.org; (617) 399-3231 or (617) 399-3299
Y-TECH AT Day is sponsored by Yesodot, a program of JVS (an agency of Combined Jewish Philanthropies), which maximizes potential and builds community foundations for Jewish children and young adults with disabilities by strengthening their families. http://www.yesodot.org The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation Special Assistance Initiative has provided generous support for the conference, which is also being held in partnership with the Adapted Activities Library, a program of the MA Department of Mental Retardation.
Parking available at the Carroll Center, which is also accessible by public transportation. Driving directions: http://www.carroll.org. The Carroll Center is handicap accessible.
Session 1A—Technology as an Augmentative
Tool at the Ofer School for Autistic Children, Haifa, Israel:
Vision and Life
Use of technology for the benefit of Ofer students as part
of their education and as a path towards greater inclusion
in their leisure activities. General use of technology at
Ofer; technology for AAC; the computer as a teaching tool;
using the computer for leisure activities; and using the
computer for family support.
Presenter: Shula Friedrich, SLP, Principal,
Ofer School for Autistic Children
Session 1CR-Custom-Made Light Tech Adaptations
to Enable Children to Access Art, Games and Other Leisure
Activities
Samples of adapted scissors, stabilizing devices, crayon
holders, adapted games, fabric books, and other devices
will be demonstrated. Information about workshops and other
opportunities at the Assistive Device Center will be provided.
Sources of materials for do-it-yourself devices will be
shared.
Presenter: Molly Campbell, Perkins School
for the Blind Assistive Device Center
Session 1MR-Higher Functioning Through Innovation
in High-Challenge Sports
AccesSportAmerica is a national non-profit organization
dedicated to the discovery of higher function, fitness,
and fun for people of all disabilities through high-challenge
sports, medically-based individual training, and building
community. AccesSportAmerica invents and fabricates adaptive
equipment and uses innovative techniques in their work with
children and adults. Techniques, equipment, medical protocols,
and success stories from the program.
Presenter: Ross Lilley, Executive Director,
AccesSportAmerica
Session 2A-Seeing Sound, Hearing Images: Access
for Disabled Audiences to Television, Video, Theater, and
the Web
The Media Access Group at Boston public broadcaster WGBH
has long been at the forefront of developing access solutions
to all forms of media, from captioning and video description
for television, videos and DVDs to Rear Window Captioning
and DVS Theatrical systems making movie theaters accessible
during regular screenings, as well as access solutions for
classrooms and multimedia. Demonstration of these efforts
as well as handouts and web-based resources pointing families
to accessible theaters in our community.
Presenter: Mary Watkins, Outreach Director,
Media Access Group at WGBH
Overview of therapeutic recreation as a related service
within IDEA.
Presenter: Matt Frye, Program Specialist,
Northeast Passage Dr. Lou Powell, Professor and Coordinator,
Department of Therapeutic Recreation, University of New
Hampshire
Session 3A-Adapted Access to Music, The Arts and
Leisure Activities Using Macintosh Computers
Fast-paced demonstration of Macintosh applications, all
of which are free! Programs include switch-accessible games,
adapted coloring books, accessible CD and MP3 players, tools
for theater arts and a program that will turn all of your
adaptive computer devices (switches, Intellikeys®, etc.)
into musical instruments. Special emphasis will be placed
on activities that promote peer interaction. All programs
may be downloaded from the Internet.
Session 3B-Guidelines for Selecting Appropriate
Communication Systems: Making it Work for You
This presentation will help you select the appropriate communication
system to meet your individual needs and will provide you
with guidelines for evaluating current systems. Comprehensive
list of resources will be provided.
Presenter: Ruth Bluestone, Speech Language
Pathologist
Location: Lab B
Session 3MR-Northeast Passage
Presentation of an innovative inclusive recreation program
and state-of-the-art adapted recreation equipment. Presenter:
Matt Frye, Program Specialist, Northeast Passage.
Presenter: Matt Frye, Program Specialist,
Northeast Passage.
What makes a website accessible for all users? What features
are important in creating and using accessible sites? A
non-technical workshop on accessible websites with opportunities
for questions and answers.
Presenter: Cindy Bittker, Small World Graphics
Web Design
Session 4CR-Adaptive Sports, Arts and Leisure:
Teaching Equipment Designers About the Needs of Individuals
With Disabilities
Many products on the market address the "daily living needs"
of people with disabilities, however much less time and
product development has gone into creating adaptive equipment
for sports and leisure, areas critical to a person's sense
of well-being and a healthy lifestyle. Learn about the work
of the Lemelson Center, Hampshire College, where undergraduate
students learn how to design equipment to be used in sports
and recreation.
Presenter: Lauren J.Way, Associate Director,
Lemelson Assistive Technology Center, Hampshire College
Session 5A-We Can Go To School And Work: Now Let's
Have Fun
The ADA and other civil rights laws intend for people with
disabilities to have an "equal opportunity" to participate
in all aspects of life including recreation, the arts and
other fun activities. We will discuss what the law requires,
how to request what you need and what to do if you don't
get it.
Presenter: Kathy Gips, Director of Training,
New England ADA and Accessible IT Center
Session 5CR-Come Out and Play: An Action Agenda
for Inclusive Community Playgrounds
Answer the question “Why does play matter?”
Learn how the Boundless Playgrounds philosophy translates
into uniquely designed environments that support inclusive
play and remove barriers that limit childhood exploration
and development. Learn creative approaches to forming community
coalitions that can benefit children of all abilities.
Presenter: Naomi K. Cohen, Director of
Public and Private Partnerships, National Center for Boundless
Playgrounds
Come learn about an accessible program to enjoy the trails
of the state parks and beyond, a program sponsored by Venture
Into Well-Being and Universal Access Program of the Department
of Conservation and Recreation. Various forms of equipment,
including mountain bike wheelchairs, will be available.
A demonstration of how trails are assessed for accessibility
will be provided and accessible maps will be available for
various state parks.
Presenter: Brenda Kennedy, OTR/L, Venture
Into Well-Being
Session 6A-Digital Tools for Reaching Individual
Learners
Brief overview of the neuropsychological base of Universal
Design for Learning, an introduction to the Universal Design
for Learning curriculum framework, and demonstrations of
some of CAST's computer-based tools for meeting the needs
of individual learners.
Presenter: Jeremy Price, Research Associate,
CAST
Contact: (781) 245-2212 x287 jprice@cast.org Location: Lab A
Session 6B-Freeware and Shareware for Funs
Participants will view a number of freeware tools and programs
that are available on the Internet and will explore the
differences between freeware, shareware and adware.
Presenter: Jeff McAuslin, M.Ed. Assistive
Technology Specialist, Easter Seals
Session 6CR-Universal Design in a Contemporary
Art Setting: Lincoln's DeCordova Museum
The DeCordova Museum has adopted a universal design approach
to interpreting contemporary art. From high tech to low
tech, the array of family-friendly approaches makes this
regional museum an important resource for introducing children
to artworks and museum going.
Presenter: Claire Loughheed, Director of
Education, DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Session 6MR-Affordable Adaptive Solutions for
Outdoor Recreation
Many individuals with disabilities feel that they have limited
choices for outdoor recreation because of the prohibitive
cost of most adaptive equipment. For some activities, however,
off-the-shelf equipment can be adapted to meet the individual's
needs. Using kayaking and canoeing as examples, we will
discuss the process of using and adapting conventional products.
Presenter: Elizabeth Dunaway-Smith, Executive
Director
Megan Briggs, Program Director, All Out Adventures, Inc.
