Resources

Below are a number of links outside the WATI website. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, as there are many other sites that have more extensive lists of links. These are just a few that the WATI consultants like.

The Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) website http://natri.uky.edu/assoc_projects/qiat/ includes the work done to date to develop a comprehensive set of quality indicators for effective assistive technology services by school districts.

NATE -- the National Assistive Technology in Education Network -- brings together information from the many fields and disciplines that are involved in assistive technology services in educational settings. www.natenetwork.org.

Communicator Feature Comparison from Enabling Devices. http://enablingdevices.com/files/content/ComparisonChart.pdf

The TAM (Technology and Media) Division of the Council for Exceptional Children offers a variety of information about assistive technology and special education instructional technology. You can learn more about it's publications, conferences, and membership at http://www.tamcec.org.

If you have students who use a single switch to access a computer, take a look at http://www.switchintime.com. This website by the developers of Scan 'n Read is full of cool freebies. It is all for the Macintosh platform. There are outstanding freeware programs that you can download. They include: CD Jukebox, Single Switch Bingo, Scan 'n Read, and Word Search.

Florida Assistive Technology Education Network (ATEN) Homepage has tutorials that can be downloaded on a variety of assistive technology devices. http://www.aten.scps.k12.fl.us/.

Trace Research & Design Center includes software toolkits and many disability related articles and papers. http://trace.wisc.edu//world/computer_access/multi/sharewar.htm

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Exceptional Education Team's hompage includes a variety of information about special education policy, law, technical assistance, and other information related to special education in Wisconsin. http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsea/een

The Family Village is a wonderful website designed to provide information for families with children with disabilities.  It includes medical information, assistive technology devices, funding, and many other topics, all housed in a user-friendly “village” format with a shopping mall, library, school, post office, etc. http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/kennedy/index.htmlx

Closing the Gap is a website offering a variety of articles, resources, and interactive activities related to assistive technology.  It offers the “Question of the Week” to encourage visitors to share their knowledge and feedback with other visitors. The site now has a search capability to allow visitors to search their Resource Directory of computer related products for individuals with special needs. http://www.closingthegap.com/index.lasso

World Institute on Disability promotes access to the internet in K-12 schools for students with disabilities.  They have a new handbook entitled “The Internet: An Inclusive Magnet for Teaching All Students”.  It provides practical tips, general access guidelines, resource listings, and success stories.  It can be downloaded for free from their website at: http://www.wid.org/publications/the-internet-an-inclusive-magnet-for-teaching-all-students/.

YaacK, which stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)connecting Young Kids, is a wonderful site.  You will find it at: http://aac.unl.edu/yaack/toc.html. It begins with what AAC is and when does a child need AAC.  Also on AAC, for great information on creating literacy based communication boards and an excellent resource list on AAC, go to: http://www.aacintervention.com.  Watch this one for Tips of the Month, too.

A Guide to Obtaining Augmentative Communication Devices and Accessories Through Wisconsin Medicaid http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/recpubs/factsheets/phc11065.htm.

WisTech (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/disabilities/wistech/

Equipment Recycling - http://www.usedHME.com is a FREE listing service where people can buy, sell, or find donated Used Home Medical Equipment. Our goal is to get this equipment into the hands of those less fortunate. Assistive Equipment that can be found: mobility scooters, powerchairs, stairlifts, liftchairs, wheelchair accessible vans and much much more.