Michigan's Assistive Technology Program
assistive
Technology Connections
Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2007
In This Issue:
- Calendar
- Ann Arbor CIL Adapted Recreation
- Tool Kit for Parents
- Used Assistive Technology Web Site
- Resources Available for Community Groups
- Subscription Information
Calendar:
- March 19-24, 2007 California State University at Northridge (CSUN) Center on Disabilities' 22nd Annual International Conference: Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference Los Angeles, CA Contact: Center on Disabilities, CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Building 11, Suite 103, Northridge, CA 91330; phone: 818-677-2578; e-mail: conference@csun.edu; web site: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm.
- March 22- 23, 2007 Assistive Technology Across the Lifespan Conference Where: The Holiday Inn Convention Center Stevens Point, WI. For general information contact: Mary Chapin mchapin@cesa6.k12.wi.us Phone: (800) 991-5576 or (920) 424-2247
- March 28 - 30, 2007 Bridges to Better Advocacy Co-sponsored by: Advocacy,
Inc., Austin, Texas National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project,
A Project of Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn (An
affiliate of Hilton Hotels, formerly The Capitol Place Hotel) 500 North
IH 35
Austin, Texas http://www.nls.org/2007%20AT%20Conference.htm - June 15-19, 2007 RESNA 2007 Annual Conference Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php.
- October 18-20, 2007 Closing the Gap 25th Annual Conference & Preconference Workshops - October 16-17, 2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.closingthegap.com
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (CIL) Adapted Recreation
The Ann Arbor CIL received funding through the AT Program over the past year (from February 06 - December 06) to build it's ability to provide demonstrations of adapted cycling equipment. Eight new adapted cycles were purchased along with related supplies and a trailer. The CIL has displayed the equipment at it's annual picnic, the Abilities Expo, a Sports-tacular weekend in Milford, the Michigan Recreation and Park Association Therapeutic Institute Conference, with the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame organization, the Eastern Upper Peninsula AT Conference and at many hand cycling events. They also began working with the Program to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC), which works to promote safe bicycles use by people with disabilities. The CIL received a grant from Pfizer which will help them to continue to offer demonstrations and also provide for a series of classes this spring. Classes will cover topics such as selecting a cycle, riding safety, maintenance, training and nutrition. For more information, please contact Glen Ashlock at (734) 971-0277 glen@aacil.org.
New Tool Kit for Parents
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education announced in late January the release of a CD version of the "Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students With Disabilities: Parents' Materials" designed to assist parents and states in their efforts to work together to raise the achievement of all students with disabilities. The Parent Tool Kit compiles materials identified to augment the previously released CD, Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities. These new documents were written specifically for parents and include information they need as they work with schools to ensure that their children are receiving a quality education. To encourage broad dissemination of these materials, the department has launched a new Web site, www.osepideasthatwork.org/index.asp, which includes the materials in the Parent Tool Kit. The Web site will continue to be updated with additional materials as they become available.
Used Assistive Technology: AT Xchange
http://www.atxchange.org is a new Michigan-based website where people can buy, sell or give away assistive technology (AT). Do you have a used AT item in storage that could really help someone who has a disability? It could be anything from a wheelchair, stair lift, Braille reader, or reacher! If so, just post a classified ad AT Xchange.org. Include a digital photo. ATxchange is open to vendors who have used equipment for sale also. And don’t worry about cost, ATXchange is a free service! Maybe you or someone you know is looking for AT? If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can post it as an item wanted and receive an email message telling you if and when someone posts the item you are looking for. You may find the AT you are seeking for a bargain price – even for free!
Resources Available for Community Groups
Michigan's Assistive Technology Program has copies of the DVD "Freedom
Machines" available to community groups to show to the public in
order to
increase awareness of assistive technology. This documentary is a
public television program and national outreach campaign, looks at our
beliefs about disability through the lens of assistive technology. The
program
explores how human experience and technological innovations are outpacing
social policies-and the perceptions that have guided them. The DVD includes:
captioning, descriptive video, Spanish, lesson plans and community group
presentation advice, other resources.
More information about "Freedom Machines" is available at http://www.freedommachines.com/. For information about how to obtain a copy Freedom Machines DVD for your community group, please contact Kathryn Wyeth at kdwyeth@prosynergy.org or (517)333-2477 ext 335.
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