NEAT Center's 2nd Annual Assistive Technology Summit Join us for a workshop designed to help K-12 educators and professionals explore accessibility solutions and assistive technology to better support students with disabilities. ADDITIONAL INFO: 33 Coventry St, Hartford, CT 06112 Friday October 18th, 2024, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Doors will open and light refreshments will be served at 8:30 am REGISTER NOW at http://oakhillct.wufoo.com/forms/m6snbge10mwwod/ It’s FREE but Registration is required!

NEAT Center's 2nd Annual Assistive Technology Summit EVENT SCHEDULE 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Doors Open Light refreshments will be served 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Opening Remarks Tom Boudreau - Education Consultant/IDEA Fiscal Manager for the CT State Department of Education Bureau of Special Education Nicole Feeney - Senior Director, Oak Hill 9:15 AM - 10:15AM Presentation by Jamie Martin Help Students Use Their Devices Effectively: Built-In Accessibility Tools of Chromebooks, iPads, and Windows Computers 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Break 10:30 AM - 11:30AM Panel Discussion: AT in Theory & Practice NEAT AT Specialists will moderate a panel of educational professionals from schools districts across CT who have personal experience implementing AT. Their backgrounds in the areas of: SLP, OT, AT, AAC, and Special Education. 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Hands-On Exploration Creative low-tech solutions Accessibility settings and features built-in to various devices, Innovative AT and AAC solutions that promote inclusion. Demo of new eye gaze access built-in to new iOS devices, AAC tools and features to support vision and motor needs, Investigate NEAT memberships, services, and benefits available to you Explore information about our AT Champions program and the SCSU grad program

The NEAT Center held its 2nd Annual AT Summit on Friday, October 18, 2024.  With 170 educational professionals in attendance, the NEAT team provided guidance around accessibility and best practices in assistive technology for students with disabilities. Attendees traveled across Connecticut and some from Massachusetts to learn, network, and explore our unique offerings.

Some of those highlights included:

  • Opening remarks from Tom Boudreau – Education Consultant/IDEA Fiscal Manager for the CT State Department of Education Bureau of Special Education (and generous sponsor!) large group of people in attendance of AT Summit
  • Opening remarks from Nicole Feeney, Senior Director of Oak Hill Centers, with a highlight on NEAT offerings, expectations for the day, new initiatives and a highlight of the CT Tech Act Project’s resources and critical sponsorship
  • Presentation by Jamie Martin, NEAT AT Specialist, titled “Help Students Use Their Devices Effectively: Built-In Accessibility Tools of Chromebooks, iPads, and Windows Computers.
  • Panel Discussion: AT in Theory & Practice: NEAT AT Specialists moderated a panel of educational professionals from school districts across CT who have personal experience implementing AT. Their backgrounds included the areas of: Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Assistive Technology, Assistive and Augmented Communication, and Special Education.
  • Hands – On Exploration: Demonstration of various technology led by our AT Champion volunteers. Tables included 1) Creative low-tech solutions 2) Accessibility settings and features built-in to various devices 3) Innovative AT and AAC solutions that promote inclusion 4) Demo of new eye gaze access built-in to new iOS devices 5) Accessible Gaming 6) Alternative access through joysticks 7) NEAT Information including memberships, services, and benefits 8) AT Champions program and the SCSU grad program

panelists posing for a photo The engagement from the community was exciting and demonstrated a continued need for education around the importance of technology and how it can transform the lives of students and create stronger learning environments.

Overall survey ratings were very strong, and we saw a slight increase from the last AT Summit (2023 – 93%). This year, 94 % of attendees described the AT Summit as “Extremely Valuable” or “Very Valuable.”

Attendees found the following to be the most valuable elements of the event:

  • Jamie’s presentation and access to see technology for different purposes. I was able to troubleshoot individual questions from my district as well.
  • I absolutely think that handing the hands-on experiences with the apps and various AT products were beneficial; it is with this technology that we are able to support our students in their learning.
  • Learning about websites, programs, & grants.
  • Opportunity to see apps in action and explained how to access.
  • What an AMAZING summit this was! I thoroughly enjoyed the morning sessions!
  • As always, it was an amazing event! I also appreciated the opportunity to explore the gait trainers (in the Adaptive Equipment Reuse program).