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
Voice Dream Reader: A Literacy Deep Dive
Date and Time: October 11, 2023 | 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: There is a reason Voice Dream Reader for iPhone and iPad was the recipient of a 2021 Apple Design Award. It’s simply one of the best digital reading tools ever developed. In addition to reviewing the app’s basic audio and visual settings, this webinar will dive deep and explore Voice Dream’s lesser-known features. You will learn several literacy strategies, such as how to correct text-to-speech pronunciations, read in Pac-Man and RSVP modes, annotate with virtual sticky notes, and translate text to other languages. By the end of the session, you will be able to use Voice Dream Reader like a pro!
Learning Objectives:
Participants will:
- Identify 4-5 sources for reading material that can be imported to Voice Dream Reader.
- Explore 5-10 visual and audio settings in Voice Dream Reader that can make reading easier for people with a variety of literacy challenges.
- Explore 2-3 annotation tools in Voice Dream Reader that can improve reading comprehension.
Register For Voice Dream Reader: A Literacy Deep Dive
Keyboard Options for Symbol-Based AAC Apps
Date and Time: October 17, 2023 | 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: One feature of a robust AAC system is access to a keyboard, however, keyboards vary in their features across AAC apps. This webinar will discuss and compare keyboard options that are available within iOS symbol-based AAC apps, including system keyboards and third-party keyboard apps. In addition to alphanumeric keyboards (i.e., ABC, 123), various keyboard extension apps (e.g., whiteboard, calculator, etc.) will be demoed.
- Learning objectives
- Develop an understanding of the importance and purpose of alphanumeric and keyboard extension apps.
- Identify features of keyboards available within various iOS symbol-based AAC apps.
- Identify features of third-party keyboard apps that can be integrated into one or more iOS symbol-based AAC apps.
Register for Keyboard Options For Symbol-Based AAC Apps
Communicating with People with Disabilities in Crisis Situations
Date and Time: November 2, 2023 | 10:30am - 12:00pm EST
Presented by: Elena Hurlburt, Director of NEAT
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: This presentation will continue to develop mandated reporters’ skills and confidence in engaging with children and adults with communication disabilities. This presentation will include a discussion of interaction and communication strategies to use during emergency situations related to certain disability characteristics (e.g., speech/language disorders, social language challenges, sensory challenges, etc.). Also included is a brief review of the prevalence of sexual assault and incarceration rates for individuals with developmental disabilities. Attendees will be educated on use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and provided with customized low-tech (printable) communication boards that could be utilized in real situations.
Learning Objectives:
- Introduce Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Outline disabilities that may impact communication
- Discuss the prevalence of sexual assault and incarceration for people with developmental disabilities
- Share implications during difficult or emergency situations
- Provide strategies for interacting with people with developmental and/or communication challenges
Register for Communicating With People With Disabilities
Assistive Technology on a Shoestring
Date and Time: December 7, 2023 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Presented by: Maggie Wurm, Certified AT/AAC Coach
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: Discover off-the-shelf products that are readily available at your fingertips and learn to turn them into functional assistive technologies for those with various disabilities! Benefiting individuals with low vision, minimal dexterity, sensory processing, and learning disabilities. These do-it-yourself no tech/low-tech assistive technology supports are affordable and are low cost. This webinar will rekindle your passion, allow you to revamp your toolkits, and encourage you to put them in place right away!
Learning Objectives:
- Identify simple solutions that can help individuals circumvent barriers
- Determine easy-to-access, and inexpensive multi-use supplies that provide creative modifications
- Explore trial-and-error process while building confidence
Register for Assistive Technology On A Shoestring
Using Voice Control on Apple Devices
Date and Time: December 13, 2023 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Presented by: Kristen Gilfeather, AT Specialist
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: Learn the basics about the Voice Control setting on macOS and iOS devices. Voice Control can be used to navigate the device without the use of touch, or a mouse or keyboard. This feature allows users to have hand free access to their devices. See how synthesized speech can be used activate Voice Control; therefore, allowing non-speaking individuals, and those with unintelligible speech to use Voice Control.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to set up the Voice Control settings on a Mac, iPad and iPhone
- Identify up to ten basic voice commands to start using today
- Understand the benefits of Voice Control
Upcoming SDE Webinars and Events
Learning More About Your SDE-Sponsored NEAT Benefits
If you are a part of Cohort A, please sign up for one of the following to learn more about your Subscription for the 2023-2024 school year:
NEAT believes the most sustainable quality assurance plan is one that grows organically within each school district. To support this growth NEAT is offering the following professional development events geared specifically towards the needs of school-based teams. This will provide new information about subscription and membership benefits, explore best practices, and reinforce concepts for districts actively seeking to build their AT capacity.
Live Webinar:
Date and Time: September 28, 2023 | 10:00am - 11:30am EST
Register for the September 28th webinar here
OR
Date and Time: November 7, 2023 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm EST
Register for the November 7th webinar here
If you are a part of Cohorts B or C, please sign up for the following to learn more about your Membership for the 2023-2024 school year:
NEAT Members receive exclusive access to assistive technology resources and benefits. Thanks to generous sponsorship from the CT State Department of Education, all CT LEAs will continue to receive NEAT Membership benefits at no cost to them during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. These resources can help professionals build their own AT skillsets and offer a manageable way for teams to get started with the AT consideration and implementation processes for individual students. Join Elena Hurlburt, Director of AT Services, as she explains the various opportunities available to CT LEAs and the way to get started with accessing these benefits right away!
Date and Time: September 28, 2023 | 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
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):
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.