The NEAT team helps people learn more about the benefits of assistive technology (AT). Our excitement soars at the opportunity to demonstrate the powerful impact AT can have on the lives of individuals with different and unique abilities.
Our AT presentations, demonstrations and webinars are innovative and educational in nature. We strive to provide material in an accessible and relatable manner.
Upcoming Webinars
10 Simple (& Free) iPad Strategies To Help Students With Reading And Writing
Date and Time: October 13, 2022 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Presented by: Jamie Martin, AT Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: Since its inception, the iPad has increasingly become one of the best devices to help students who have difficulty with reading and writing. There are plenty of third-party apps that offer assistive technology to those students, but there are also many tools and settings that are built into the iPad’s operation system (iPadOS) that can make reading and writing easier. This webinar focuses on ten strategies that utilize those tools and settings, including Speak on Touch, Live Text, Safari Reader View, Typing Feedback, and Scribble (with Apple Pencil).
Register for 10 Simple (& Free) iPad Strategies
Exploring EquatIO and PDFs
Date and Time: November 16, 2022 | 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Presented by: Kristen Gilfeather, AT Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: EquatIO by Texthelp is a Google Chrome Extension that can be used to make math more accessible for a wide range of students and abilities. With EquatIO there are ways to insert math into a PDF or a word document for when pencil and paper are not the best choice for a student. This webinar will cover the variety of ways that students can write math and demonstrate algebra, and how students with disabilities can use EquatIO to show all of their work right in the PDF! Participants are encouraged to first watch the archived NEAT webinar, “An Introduction to EquatIO,” as a prerequisite to this session.
Register for Exploring EquatIO and PDFs Here
An Overview of AAC Access Methods
Date and Time: November 17, 2022 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Presented by: Liz O'Brien, AAC Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: In order to communicate, we need to be able to access language. For AAC users, it is crucial that they are able access their devices. An access method is the way that a user interacts with a device to control it for communication. This webinar will provide descriptions of two broad categories of access methods: direction selection (e.g., touch, eye gaze) and indirect selection (e.g., switch scanning). Also, tools to support access methods will be discussed.
Register For An Overview for AAC Access Methods
AAC Goal Writing Strategies
Date and Time: November 30, 2022 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Presented by: Margie Hislop, AAC Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: This webinar will discuss strategies for creating meaningful goals for AAC users. We will review the 5 AAC competency areas that comprise overall communicative competence, including linguistic, operational, social, strategic, and emotional competencies. A FREE progress monitoring tool, the Tobii Dynavox Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (DAGG-2), will be demonstrated. The DAGG-2 can be used to track a student’s progress in these competency areas. Suggestions for creating goals that value total communication and build the learner’s autonomy for communicating will be discussed.
Register for AAC Goal Writing Strategies
Using Smart Technology in Schools
Date and Time: December 7, 2022 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Presented by: Ramon Hernandez, AT Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: There was a time when Smart Technology was only for your home and socializing, but now we see needs for smart technology in the school systems. This webinar will cover different devices of smart technology that could assist students with executive functioning and support them in their transition into post-secondary education, the workforce, and/or independent living. We will discuss the Amazon’s Echo Series, Smart Plugs, Smart Lights, and more.
Recently Recorded & Archived Webinars
Our newest recorded 2022-2023 Educational and Professional Development webinars can be found here. This page is password protected. If you are a member and do not have the password, please reach out to CentersConnect@oakhillct.org to get it.
Our recorded 2021-2022 Lunch & Learn webinars can be found here, this page is also password protected.
We have a free webinar page here to view previously recorded classes that are open to the public.
If you are looking for something specific, please visit one of our pages that focus on specialized topics (some of these may be password protected for member-only access):
- Our Lending Library
- Digital Accessibility
- Microsoft For Learning Disabilities
- Special Education
- Tools For AAC
- Chrome For Learning Disabilities
- iPad For Learning Disabilities
- Smart Home
- Transition
- Guide Dogs
Special Guest-Hosted Webinar:
What Is Robot-Assisted Instruction, How It Works, And Why It Is Successful In Times Of COVID
Presented By: Guest representatives from MOVIA Robotics, Inc.
*Tim Gifford, Founder and Chief Scientist
*Rob Parenti, Chief Education Officer
*Lisa Lichtenstein, Therapist
*Yitty Rimmer, Therapist
This webinar will introduce Robot-Assisted Instruction (RAI) and provide information on the research and efficacy behind MOVIA's assistive technology tool. Participants will hear from expert educators and therapists on how the application of RAI in schools, therapy organizations, and homes is helping children and adults shorten the timeline to progress by developing social-emotional, daily living, and academic skills. They will also learn how RAI has been assisting individual during the pandemic by preventing learning loss and aid in remote learning.
2 Minute Tuesdays
NEAT’s “2 Minute Tuesdays” is a YouTube web series, hosted by AT Specialist Ramón Hernández, where he entertains and instructs the general public of new and current Assistive Technology devices and strategies within a 2-minute span, give or take.
Ramón creates videos based on AT within Apple’s upcoming iOS 15, Accessibility in Disney Parks, and 3 Categories of AT: Low-Tech, Mid-Tech, and High-Tech.
Keep up with NEAT’s 2 Minute Tuesdays by following @NEATWithRamon on Twitter and/or checking out his YouTube playlist here to learn about the world of Assistive Technology.
Exclusive Online Resources - NEAT members ONLY
A bank of AT and AAC resources and short, online training videos are provided to NEAT members with a private link. These videos can help you learn and develop your AT skills in short, personalized increments. These are a great way to learn more about AT recommendations provided in an AT evaluation or simply catch up on new features of various AT tools.
Because NEAT offers an annual membership, some benefits are included. To access these videos you will need to 1st, have a membership, and 2nd, register as a member. After your online registration, you will receive a welcome email and a member password to this training video library. These are shorter and more focused that our ongoing webinars. Let us know if you need access here. Follow the links below.
Hire Us for Personalized Services
Let us create a personalized presentation or webinar for you.
- We can provide a general overview of AT or meet the specific needs of your group.
- AT experts can provide information and resources on many topics including learning disabilities, cognitive and physical disabilities, visual and communication impairments, digital and gaming accessibility, smart home, etc.
- Great for college students, parent support groups, school districts, human service professionals, etc.
- Email us at CentersConnect@oakhillct.org for more information.
*Note: If your CT school district is part of Cohort C, as identified by the State Dept. of Education, you have the opportunity for personalized, professional development through your NEAT Subscription, at no cost to you. A list of districts in Cohort C, as well as other benefits.