Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Spring 2011 Volume 11, Issue 2 PDF
Assistive Technology Small Changes...Big Differences
Oklahoma ABLE Tech is a federal grant program located at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Inside This Issue:
Accessible Instructional Materials
AgrAbility Partner of the Year
Special Education Resolution Center
Legislative Update
February 2011 kicked off the First Session of the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature and with it came many bills that impact people with disabilities, state agencies that serve them and state employees. To date, a number of them have already become dormant and are effectively dead for this year; however, those that remain of interest and have a potential assistive technology impact include the following.
HB 1655 would require the Health Care Authority to study and recommend Medicaid coverage for orthotic and prosthetic devices. This has been approved by House Public Health Committee.
HB 1684 states that the State Board of Health may establish a schedule of family cost-participation fees for early intervention (SoonerStart) services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Such fees shall include services to be provided to families at no cost pursuant to Part C of the IDEA. Fees shall be based on a sliding scale that includes, but is not limited to: a) adjusted gross income, b) family size, c) financial hardship, and d) Medicaid eligibility. No fee could be established for any family making less than or equal to one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty guidelines in adjusted gross income. All amounts generated by the family cost-participation fees shall be used to cover any costs associated with the early intervention services program. A substitute bill passed the House Common Education Committee.
HB 1994 requires screening and treatment for dyslexia in the public schools. A substitute bill passed the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 2116 directs the State Board of Education to develop a funding mechanism for the disbursement of federal funds to reimburse local educational agencies for the excessive costs of high need students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Requiring that the excess cost funding mechanism must divide the available federal funds evenly between funding for out-of-state residential placements and other excessive costs to the local education agency for high need students. When the costs are at least three times the average per pupil expenditure in Oklahoma and the total excessive costs of all high need students are at least ten percent (10%) of the flow through allocation for the local education agency. Passed House Appropriations Committee and sent to House floor.
Linda Jaco, Director of Sponsored Programs. Legislative information provided by Jean Jones in the DRS Legislative Update.
Accessible Instructional Materials
The IDEA requires school districts to provide accessible versions of instructional materials to students who are blind or have other print disabilities. Students with disabilities should receive materials in accessible formats at the same time as their peers receive their textbooks.
Oklahoma ABLE Tech entered into a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Education in October 2010. The purpose is to provide comprehensive statewide Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) - related information to students with print disabilities who are being served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ABLE Tech’s contractual role incorporates several functions.
• To deliver AIM content to the schools on behalf of the student(s), as well as, coordinate the student’s AT needs;
• To provide short-term loans of assistive technology (AT) to students being served under IDEA;
• To function as a designated Authorized User (AU) to assist in the coordination of Local Educational Agency (LEA) requests to the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC) for textbooks; and
• To provide training opportunities, via alternative formats, to teachers and other appropriate school personnel on selected AT devices to increase effective utilization with students.
AIM are specialized formats of curricular content that can be used by and with students who have a print disability. Print disabilities are:
Braille: A series of raised dots read using the fingers. Images are also presented in a tactile format.
Large Print: Larger than normal type usually defined as 18 pt. or larger.
Audio: Recorded versions of books, which do not provide visual access to the text.
Digital Text: Electronic versions of books most often accessed visually along with synthetic speech.
The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) is a technical specification that publishers must use in preparing files for the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). The NIMAC makes it easier to obtain materials for students with disabilities. The NIMAC collects publishers’ files for printed textbooks and related printed core materials used for elementary and secondary school instruction and required by state or local educational agencies. The NIMAS standard files are used to produce braille, large print, digital text, and audiobooks.
The NIMAC is exempt from copyright law. The materials are only available to elementary and secondary students who are blind, visually impaired, have a physical disability, or have a reading disability resulting from an organic dysfunction. Students also need to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
School districts are responsible for providing Accessible Instructional Materials to students with disabilities who need them, regardless of whether the students are eligible to use NIMAS materials. Schools can investigate purchasing accessible materials directly from publishers, using scanners to create digital versions of books (using copyright exemptions or obtaining publisher permission), or working with materials that are in the public domain (and thus free of copyright restrictions).
The Oklahoma ABLE Tech Accessible Instructional Materials and AT Center offers assistance to schools regarding AIM services and assistive technology.
For More Information:
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
1514 W Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
800.257.1705
Web: www.okabletech.okstate.edu
Focus on New Devices Available for Loan through the AIM Program
Transformer
The Transformer is the most flexible and portable solution for reading, writing and viewing magnified images at any distance. Compatible with popular magnification software and the latest windows operating systems. Transformer’s unique compact design is perfect for school, work or home.
SARA
SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance) is an affordable and easy-to-use solution for those who are blind or low-vision to read a wide variety of printed material including books, mail, newspapers, magazines, and so much more. SARA uses the latest in advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to scan text and then read it aloud in crisp, clear speech in a variety of voices and languages. The low vision user also can attach the SARA to a computer monitor, providing colorful, large print access to complement speech.
RUBY Handheld Magnifier
This 4 inch full color high brightness magnifier is great for writing letters and checks. It can easily be put in a pocket or purse. Turn on with one button, place over an object & adjust magnifier to your preference with the easy zoom button. The Ruby can lay flat on the table or be held over the reading material with the foldaway handle. It features full color mode along with 4 contrast modes; black on white; white on black; yellow on blue; yellow on black.
Fusion
The Fusion is unlike any portable keyboard you’ve seen - it has both Text to Speech and Word Prediction. It offers the support programs and features that special needs students rely on the most: text to speech, word prediction, large LCD display with adjustable font sizes, math facts practice, and a wide variety of other writing supports all in an easy to use, low-cost platform. Functions that students use most frequently like the thesaurus, font size adjustment, and word prediction all have dedicated keys for one-button access.
Oklahoma AT Center Locations
Oklahoma ABLE Tech and partners operate assistive technology (AT) device demonstration and short-term loan programs to increase accessibility to AT. The assistive technology inventory is available and searchable online at http://oec.okstate.edu/loan/. Oklahoma ABLE Tech allows individuals to borrow devices for six weeks at no cost.
Hearing Loss Association, Oklahoma City
405-717-9820
Total Source for Hearing Loss & Access, Tulsa
918-832-8742
Oklahoma ABLE Tech, Stillwater, OK
800-257-1705
Mary K. Chapman Center for Communicative Disorders, Tulsa
918-631-2913
Visual Services Center and Low Vision Clinic, Oklahoma City
405-522-3442
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Stillwater
405-743-5162
Developmental Disabilities Services Division, Tulsa
918-794-7632
NewView, Oklahoma City
405-232-4644
AgrAbility Partner of the Year
The Oklahoma AgrAbility Project recently held its third AgrAbility Day at the Capitol on March 28, 2011. The purpose of this day was to make an opportunity to explain to state legislators the positive employment impact, which the program has on the lives of agricultural producers with disabilities. Exhibits and demonstrations showcasing the services and accomplishments of Oklahoma AgrAbility were available on the fourth floor rotunda of the Capitol building, as well as, the South lawn.
A special highlight of this year’s event was the selection of the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) as the Partner of the Year. Dr. Mike O’Brien, Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the agency. This unique partnership has provided an excellent example of two entities working together to create successful employment outcomes for farmers/ranchers with disabilities and has been cited as a national model.
Special Education Resolution Center
The Special Education Resolution Center (SERC) works collaboratively with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to help parents and school districts resolve disputes regarding the special education of students. Through innovative programs, SERC assists parties to resolve their differences at the earliest stage possible during disagreement. SERC provides highly trained mediators to assist the parties in coming to agreement.
In those instances where the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, SERC provides a fair and impartial hearing system. Fair, impartial and knowledgeable hearing officers conduct administrative hearings to settle the differences of the parties in a timely manner. These processes are in place so that Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment will be available to Oklahoma children.
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Consortium of Appropriate Dispute Resolution (CADRE) have identified Oklahoma as one of four exemplar alternative dispute resolution programs in the United States. Visit http://serc.okstate.edu for more information on the Exemplar Project.
Assistive Technology Success Story
The Mary K. Chapman Center for Communicative Disorders partners with Oklahoma ABLE Tech and provides an assistive technology (AT) loan program to Oklahomans with disabilities. A Tulsa county child, Diego, is a non-verbal communicator. He attempts to use gestures and facial expressions to communicate his needs and wants. Due to his limited abilities to communicate he is unable to engage in many opportunities to discover, explore, learn or interact with his environment. The AT loan program provided Diego the opportunity to borrow the Vantage Plus and try this device in his home, with successful results.
Diego is now able to initiate and engage in interaction with his family and clinicians because of the Vantage Plus. According to his mother he asks for the device every morning when he wakes up. A request for funding has been submitted for the Vantage Lite and while he is waiting for his own device he will continue to utilize the Vantage Plus, which is part of the Mary K. Chapman loan program inventory.
Oklahoma Equipment Exchange
The Oklahoma Equipment Exchange is a free program to help Oklahomans with disabilities acquire affordable equipment. Log onto the Equipment Exchange website, http://oec.okstate.edu, or call ABLE Tech to list your devices or inquire about products at 888-885-5588. Below is a list of items currently for sale or FREE.
Items Available
Daily Living
Full Body Large Mesh Sling, Invacare, Never Used
Hospital Bed - Elec, Invacare, Remote controlled
Hospital Bed – Electric
Hospital Bed - for youth – FREE
Hydraulic Lift - In-home lifting system
Mattress-Demafloat Low Air Loss Bed Cushion
Mic-Key button low-profile gastrosomy feeding tube
Offset Trapeze Bar-Octagon Tube, Invacare
Patient Lift - Electric for large person, Invacare
Portable Commode Chair – FREE
Swivel Clamp & Bracket, Invacare
Mobility, Seating & Positioning
Power Wheelchair/Scooter, Sunfire Plus GT
Pedal Wheelchair, EZ chair
Power Chair - (Alante)
Scooter - Go-Go Elite Traveler
Scooter - Golden Companion 3 wheeled
Stander - Prime SuperStand Youth – FREE
Standing Frame - Easy Stand (Adult)
Standing Power Chair – Levo
Wheelchair - Elec. Hoveround
Wheelchair - Power Jazzy Select – 3
Wheelchair - Power Pronto – 2
Wheelchair - Power Z11
Wheelchair - Quickie Q7
Wheelchair Power Permobil Brand
Wheelchair Recliner - Tracer
Wheelchair-Tilt Recline - Power
Recreation, Sports, and Leisure
Wobble Switch (blue) – FREE
Speech Communication
ZAM Communicator, Astra Zeneca - FREE
Vehicle Modification and Transportation
Hand Controls (Portable) for Vehicle-Price
Lift ONLY - Hercules 3000 Lift, Pride Mobility
Van - 2006 Gold Town & Country, Chrysler
Vehicle-1997 Ford Crown & Bruno Turnout wc
Van- w/lift 2004 Ford E250 Full Size
Van - w/ lift 2006 Dodge van
Vision
CCTV MagniSight 20” Color
Items Needed
Daily Living
Hospital Bed, with remote
Medline Supra Low Air Loss Matress
Recliner - new or used
Transfer board
Environmental Adaptations
Large Lift Chair
Hearing
Cochlear implant compatible phone
Learning, Cognitive, & Developmental
Picture board communication device
Stander - stander or standing wheelchair
Mobility, Seating & Positioning
Golf Cart- 4 wheeler-Gator
KidWalk – 3
Kidwalk Powerchair (Adult) Small
Transfer Lift for home
Travel bed for infant
Walker for child
Wheelchair - High Back
Wheelchair - Power (LARGE)
Wheelchair - manual w/removable arm rests
Bath sling – medium size
Kaye walker- child
Recreation, Sports, and Leisure
Swing frame
Tricycle(Adult) for paraplegic
Recumbant children’s bike
Speech Communication
7 level communicator or higher
Vehicle Modification and Transportation
Lift for a vehicle, Have a 96 contour Ford
Turny Seat (Driver’s Side)
Van - w/manual fold out ramp
Van w/lift, van with wheelchair access
Van w/wheelchair lift & a sit to stand electric lift
Hand Controls for Vehicle
WheelChair Lift (Pickup Bed)
Wheelchair lift or ramp for mini-van
Conversion van, 2008-2009
Vision
CCTV Smartview 3000
Calendar of Events
Oklahoma ABLE Tech AT Demo and Loan Program, http://okabletech.okstate.edu AT Equipment Exchange Program, http://oec.okstate.edu
May 4-6 - Workforce Oklahoma Conference, attended annually by over 450 individuals across Oklahoma. It is an educational training for employees working in the employment and training sector. For more information contact Harold Craun at hcraun@sbcglobal.net.
May 10, 9 :00 - 4:00 - State Web Day at the Capitol, Oklahoma State Agency online webservices showcased at the Oklahoma State Capitol. For more information contact Brenda Dawes at brenda.dawes@okstate.edu.
May 10-12 - 36th Annual Aging Conference “Real World, Real Aging”, Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, Norman. Contact Paula Cockrell at 405-522-6916 or paula.cockrell@okdhs.org for more information.
May 16, 10:00 - 12:00 - Transition from Early Intervention to School Workshop by Oklahoma Parents Center, Autism Center of Tulsa. For more information contact Oklahoma Parents Center at 877-553-4332 or http://www.oklahomaparentscenter.org.
June 25, 8:30 - 12:45 - Seating and Wheelchairs: The Bottom Line (Part 1). This session will cover the basics of assessment for individuals needing wheelchairs and wheelchair seating/back support. For more information contact Rondel Youngblood at 405-271-2131 or rondel-youngblood@ouhsc.edu.
Staff
Robin Purdie, Director of OSU Seretean Wellness Center
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Linda Jaco, Director of Sponsored Programs OSU Seretean Wellness Center
Milissa Gofourth, Program Manager
Brenda Dawes, AT Program Specialist & Marketing/Web Coordinator
Diana Sargent, Senior Administration Support Specialist
Shelby Sanders, AT Project Specialist
Tessa Stinnett, AT Project Specialist
Lindsey Davis, AFP Loan Coordinator & Marketing Coordinator
Sandra Stevenson, AgrAbility Program Specialist
Stacy Bauter, AgrAbility Assistant
Jo Anne Pool-Blades, SERC Program Manager
Shannon Esmeyer, SERC Administrative Assistant
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Seretean Wellness Center
Oklahoma State University
1514 W. Hall of Fame
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 800-257-1705 V/TDD
405-744-9748 V/TDD
Fax: 405-744-2487
INFO-Line: 888-885-5588
We’re On The Web! http://okabletech.okstate.edu
This publication is available in alternative formats; please call 1-800-257-1705 V/TTY for more info. The Oklahoma State University Seretean Wellness Center is the lead agency for Oklahoma ABLE Tech. The program is funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration(RSA) of the U.S. Department of Education. Grant #H224A050036. This publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the policy of RSA/ED, and no official endorsement of the material should be inferred.