Description

Special Needs Technology Assessment Resource Support Team (START) is a group of educators established as a leadership team who formulate and enact initiatives for the implementation of best practices in the educational application of assistive technology.  The resource support team is a key strategy for assistive technology interventions and IPP development that supports students with special needs.

This program and service provides AVRSB educators with an orientation to assistive and adaptive technology for students with special needs that emphasizes process and planning as much as the possible technology solutions.  On-going support is vital in the consideration and use of appropriate assistive technology in the classroom. Information, access to technology, a resource network, extended assessment, professional development and IPP development are all important to the process for the school-based support team and the families when trying to meet the needs of the student with a disability. 

START in partnership with the Technical Resource Centre, provides resources in a wide range of assistive and adaptive technology that promotes professional development and support to the school based program planning process. We would like to acknowledge the continuing support and encouragement of the Technical Resource Centre.

Vision

Through assistive technology, students with disabilities and/or health challenges will achieve learning outcomes.

START Goals

1. To effectively implement assistive technology as part of the program planning process.

Strategies:

• Investigate models of good practice.
• Develop a procedure for referral, assessment, implementation, and monitoring.
• Revise the program planning materials (forms, adaptations, checklists) to ensure the consideration of assistive technology.

Strategies:

• Pursue a memorandum of agreement with the Technical Resource Centre to access professional development, technical support, student assessment, and access to
• the technology lending library.
• Establish a separate budget line for assistive technology.
• Investigate cost-effective software options, ie. site licences, shareware, freeware...
• Establish a credit allocation for START.
• Promote cost sharing between Student Services and schools for assistive technology purchases.
• Develop internet resources to support professional development i.e. web page, listserve, swap shop, links for software and other resources.
• Distribute a CD of shareware resources.

3. To promote the professional development of educators.

Strategies:

• Provide workshops on assistive technology.
• Produce video training materials.
• Compile four resource kits to be used by the START Team for in-servicing, training, and assessment.
• Provide START members with the hardware and software necessary to stay current for training, in-servicing, and on-site assessment.

START Team Members and AVRSB Student Supports Contact List