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.
10 Simple (& Free) Microsoft Strategies To Help Students With Reading And Writing
Date and Time: April 5, 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: In recent years, Microsoft has developed a variety of accessibility tools and features that can be helpful to students with reading and writing difficulties. Those tools can be found in the Windows operating system, the Edge browser, and a handful of Microsoft apps. This webinar focuses on ten strategies that can be utilized by students and teachers of Office 365 schools, including using Windows dictation and word prediction to support writing, using Immersive Reader to support reading, and working on digital worksheets with the built-in PDF Reader and Annotator of Microsoft Edge
Register For 10 Simple (& Free) Microsoft Strategies
AT And AAC For Inclusion - Part 1
Date and Time: April 27, 2023 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Presented by: Kristen Gilfeather-AT Specialist & Maggie Wurm-AAC Coach
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: Team up with the AT & AAC duo as they teach you multiple ways to use technology to increase active peer engagement in the classroom for complex learners. In part one of this two-part series, Kristen and Maggie will introduce you to Feeney Academy, an all-inclusive virtual school designed to show you how to incorporate tools from low tech to high tech and nudge you to think creatively. Join us in mapping out school environments such as Art and Library, where we will honor including building skills students can use both at school and home, setting up your students for long-term success. Leave this session with the confidence to build up student skills, honor inclusion, increase students' level of independence, and show creative ways to inspire peer and family engagement.
Register For AT and AAC For Inclusion - Part 1
AT And AAC For Inclusion - Part 2
Date and Time: May 18, 2023 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Presented by: Kristen Gilfeather-AT Specialist & Maggie Wurm-AAC Coach
NEAT Members, the CT SDE Subscription and CT Birth to Three Providers: FREE
General Public: $25
Description: Team up with the AT and AAC duo as they teach you multiple ways to use technology to increase active peer engagement in the classroom for complex learners. In part two of this two-part series, Kristen and Maggie will reintroduce you to Feeney Academy, an all-inclusive virtual school designed to show you how to incorporate tools from low tech to high tech and nudge you to think creatively. Join us in mapping out school environments such as Music and Gym where we will honor inclusion by building skills students can use at both school and home, setting up your students for long-term success. Leave this session with confidence to build off student skills, honor inclusion, increase the student’s level of independence, and show creative ways to inspire peer and family engagement.
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):
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.
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.
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.