December 1994

Events, Workshops and Trainings in Assistive Technology, Winter 1995

Wonderful Winter Trainings!

ADA Training "Disabilities In The Workplace" This training will address employer concerns on hiring and employing individuals with disabilities in the workplace under Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We will address employer concerns on if, when, and how reasonable accommodation is accomplished at the job site. Effective interview methods will be discussed and class participation will augment employers understanding of the ADA. Instructors: Dee Braver, Project Employ at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore and Janet Parke, MD TAP January 11, 1995 Holly Center, Salisbury 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Daily Living Aids "What's New in Home Gizmos and Gadgets" Many people need small devices to remain independent in their home. Numerous new devices and ideas are now available but are difficult to locate. This training will assist you in locating sources and will give you a sampling of a computer resource known as Hyper-AbleDATA. This training is for consumers as well as professionals who need resources for locating devices for the home. Instructor: Janet Parke, MD TAP February 8, 1995 Holly Center, Salisbury 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sensory Aids I Assistive Devices For Individuals With Hearing Loss: "SA I" Professionals working with and individuals experiencing hearing loss need to equip themselves with the knowledge of what options are available. This is an opportunity for you to become more familiar with and to obtain information about resources available to people diagnosed with hearing loss. Instructor: Pat Relihan February 21, 1995 Suite 402 Potomac Technologies 1 Church Street Rockville, MD 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Sensory Aids II Audio Description: What Is It? Audio description is the art of talking pictorially. With the assistance of trained volunteers and technology, audience members with low vision or blindness can hear what is being seen. Audio description is used to accompany theatre performances, museum tours, television programs, and movies. This training will give you an opportunity to learn more about audio description. Find out how you can enhance the quality of entertainment for blind persons. Instructor: Stacey Snowden, MD TAP January 16, 1995 Essex Community College College Center, Room 201 Baltimore, MD 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Sensory Aids III How Can Students With Low Vision Or Blindness Find Support on a College Campus? The Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) is a national organization of students who have a vested interest in education and integration of blind and visually impaired students on college campuses. Come meet members of the NABS, and hear how the organization is involved in legislation and policy making related to rehabilitation programs, financial aid, equal access to classes, provision of alternative textbooks and new technologies. Find out more about these issues and link yourself with college students with low vision and blindness across the United States. Instructor: Stacey Snowden, MD TAP March 17, 1995 Faulkner Ridge Center Columbia, MD 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Sensory Aids IV Sensitivity Awareness For Dual Sensory Impairment Issues Learn the facts and statistics about persons with dual sensory impairments. Ms. Cynthia Ingraham from Helen Keller National Center will discuss ideology issues, education issues, communication issues plus many other interesting facts. Instructor: Cynthia Ingraham, Helen Keller National Center April 11, 1995 6801 Kenilworth Ave. Suite 100 Riverdale, MD 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Augmentative Communication I Liberator: Liberating the Power of Minspeak The Liberator, using Minspeak, is one of the most powerful augmentative communication devices on the market today. This two day, hands-on workshop will allow participants to experience first hand it's power and flexibility. If you're involved in augmentative communication as a professional, user, or family member, you should consider attending this workshop. Instructor: Nancy Inman, Prentke Romich Company January 24 & 25, 1995 Room T 123 Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. each day

Augmentative Communication II Beyond Pushing Buttons: Really Using Your Alphatalker Learn how to operate your device. Activities will include: selecting and organizing vocabulary, storing functional and powerful vocabulary, discussing specifics for your alpha talker, creating themes to meet a variety of situations, developing implementation strategies, access techniques, therapy ideas. There is no charge as long as you bring your own device. If you need to rent an Alpha Talker, you must make your own arrangements. Call 1-800-262-1984 and ask for Education and Training. The cost is $35.00 plus shipping and handling for a one week rental. Please call at least one week in advance to allow time for shipping. Instructor: Nancy Inman, Prentke Romich Company February 07, 1995 WMTAP Resource Center Hagerstown , MD 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. February 10, 1995 Staff Dining Room Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Augmentative Communication III Enhancing and Expanding the Use of SpeakEasy" Voice Output Communication Aid (VOCA) This teleconference will explore: why there are no prerequisites for using a voice output communication aid (VOCA), how to begin teaching and using a VOCA, programming tips that will ease the process, the importance of motivating, reinforcing vocabulary, innovative applications for voice output communication throughout the day. Instructor: AbleNet January 10, 1995 WMTAP Resource Center Potomac Center 1380 Marshall Street Hagerstown, MD 2:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Augmentative Communication IV Words Strategy for Liberator Words Strategy for Liberator is an updated Minspeak Application Program (MAP). This program is targeted for cognitively intact school age children to adults. Words Strategy has over 4,000 words and phrases. Special functions of the Liberator are utilized on this updated MAP. Instructor: Nancy Inman, Prentke Romich Company January 31, 1995 Room T123 Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Open Lab Tours: MD TAP Demonstration Center

During Open Lab Tours, staff will explain statewide programs and services. Equipment demonstrations and discussions highlight Open Lab Tours. The majority of time is allotted for you to explore, practice and evaluate characteristics of assistive technology for your needs.

Open labs are offered twice a month. One lab per month, Open Lab I, will provide participants with an overview of assistive technology. The other will focus on specific topic areas: augmentative communication, environmental controls and assistive technology devices, kidstech, sensory aids and assistive technology for individuals with learning disabilities.

Open labs are limited to 10 participants. Larger groups must contact MD TAP to make arrangements for a tour specific to your needs.

For specific dates, please refer to the training calendar in the center of this issue (inkprint edition) of Tapping Technology. For registration or if you have questions or need specific accommodations, call 800/TECH-TAP.

Instructors: MD TAP / RTS Staff, consultants, vendors

Open Lab I Overview of Assistive Technology See description above Instructor: MD TAP / RTS Staff January 10, 1995 February 07, 1995 March 07, 1995 April 04, 1995 Room T 17 Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Open Lab II - Sensory Aids Assistive Technology For Individuals With Vision / Hearing Loss Instructors: MD TAP / RTS Staff January 26, 1995 Room T 17 Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Open Lab III - Home Modifications & Universal Design Future Home: A Living Model Of Assistive Technology Integration Instructor: Dave Ward February 23, 1995 Future Home Jarrettsville Pike Phoenix, MD (Baltimore area) 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Open Lab IV - Learning Disabilities Assistive Technologies for Individuals With Learning Disabilities Instructor: Ronnie Uhland March 23, 1995 Learning Assistance Center Building K Catonsville, MD 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Open Lab V - Augmentative Communication Assistive Technologies for Individuals With Communication Disorders Instructor: MD TAP / RTS Staff April 20, 1995 Room T 17 Maryland Rehabilitation Center Baltimore, MD 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Technology for Kids I Kids, Computers & IntelliTools: Custom Access for Custom Kids IntelliTools, formerly Unicorn Engineering, has developed several applications that puts the power of easily designing custom computer access into the hands of parents and teachers. This hands on workshop will focus on ClickIt! - which allows you to turn any software into scanning software, IntelliPics - an easy to use authoring program, and OverlayMaker - which gives you the power to create and save custom keyboards in a matter of minutes. During the workshop we will look at the basics of using the programs as well as how they are being used by students. Sample set ups will be available for participants to copy (they should bring one 3 1/2" disk). Instructor: Rick Metheny, MD TAP Assistive Technology Specialist January 17, 1995 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hagerstown / Potomac Center February 28, 1995 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Baltimore / MRC March 22, 1995 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Huntingtown, Calvert County April 13, 1995 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Salisbury / Holly Center

Funding I Disability Benefits: How To Obtain A.T. for Individual Needs This session will provide a description of the Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits and work incentive programs. Instructor: Pat Ourand, MD TAP Funding Specialist January 19, 1995 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Dining Hall Conference Room MRC Baltimore, MD

Funding II Medicaid Assistance and the Provision of A.T. Devices and Services This session will cover the federal mandates and optional state plan services offered through the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. Instructor: Pat Ourand, MD TAP Funding Specialist February 23, 1995 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Southern Maryland

Funding III Disability Benefits: How To Obtain A.T. for Individual Needs A brief overview of the various strategies for children and adults will be discussed. Case studies will be presented as appropriate. Instructor: Pat Ourand, MD TAP Funding Specialist March 30, 1995 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Conference Room WMTAP Resource Center Potomac Center Hagerstown, MD

Computers, Collaboration, and Change: Using Technology to Restructure Special Education This seminar will demonstrate how to use groupware and instructional technology to help include special education students in the general education classroom. Participants in this session will learn how these technologies can bring the school community - teachers, parents, and administrators - together for collaborative problem solving and how to combine specific instructional software with best practices to promote inclusion and to improve student learning. Instructors: Sarah McPherson, Ed.D. & Lynne Harper Mainzer, M.Ed. February 18 & 19, 1995 Johns Hopkins University Downtown Center 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There is a registration fee for this seminar - Call 410 254-8466 for details.

The Role of Assistive Technology for Students with Autism Using a multi-media presentation, Dr. Burke will share information on the role of assistive technology in educating students with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Advanced methods of furthering the "Curriculum - Wide Integration of Technology" to promote gains in communication, social integration, responsiveness, and academic skills will be presented. Special emphasis will be placed on sharing strategies for building effective school / home teams to promote the understanding and inclusion of students with autism. Instructor: John Burke, Ph.D. March 25 & 26, 1995 Johns Hopkins University Downtown Center 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There is a registration fee for this seminar - Call 410 254-8466 for details.

The M.A.C.A. Family Tech Fair

Sponsored by the Maryland Augmentative Communication Association (MACA) and the Center for Technology in Education (CTE)

March 18, 1995
Forest Knolls School
Silver Spring, MD
1 PM - 4 PM
For additional information, call 301 517-5848.

Unless specified, all MD TAP assistive technology workshops are free and open to the public in accessible locations. For additional details about, or to register for any MD TAP workshop, call 800 TECH-TAP (832-4827).

Home	Newsletter	Calendar	Previous	Index	Next	Contact