Dreams For Kids is an organization that offers unique ways to approaching recreational activities for children (and adults) with disabilities. Their goal is to help children to be able to self-advocate for themselves, and give them the power and tools to be able to do so. What struck me was some of the testimonials from the parents that mentioned how the program and opportunities given to their children helped them focus on what they could do, not on what they couldn't do because of their disability. As a special educator it is important to be aware what technology is available to be able to include all children. Dreams For Kids offers adaptive sports resources. We can't forget about the goals and dreams of our students and children with disabilities. It is important that we know what's available and out there for them.

The New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center provides opportunities to learn about new assistive technology products and services, as well as the experience of learning how to use the assistive technology at their facility. It works to find solutions, excellent services, and advocates for people with disabilities. NEAT is located in Hartford, CT. As a special educator I would want to take advantage of the professional development that they offer: product demonstrations, vendor days, speakers and seminars. Since they offer specialized workshops, it might be something to suggest to a special ed. department about setting up and visiting as a group.

This link offers a list of organizations that parents can contact in search of grant  money or other funding to help get the assistive technology that their child needs. It can be a place to start in to order to "improve a child's mobility and educational opportunities." As a special educator I want to be able to offer whatever support I can to the families I work with. If a family is struggling to help their child once they leave school, I hope to be able to point them in the right direction in improving their child's way of life.

Closing the Gap was started by a family who raised a child who was deaf. Because of their experience of being parents of a child with learning disabilities, they wanted to share their knowledge and insight with others. "Closing The Gap, Inc. provides assistive technology resources and training opportunities through its bimonthly (print and online) magazine, Webinars and annual international conference." As I was researching assitive technology, Closing the Gap came up a few times. They hold international conference and provide information to educators, parents and professionals from around the world. I would like to subscribe to their magazine to read about the latest developments in assistive technology.

This is a great website to visit when helping a student begin planning for college. It offers video clip interviews, activities, and resources to help students (and their families) prepare for life in college. It begins by first getting students to think about their interests, getting students to think about their disability and self-advocacy in college, and finally, students then put together a plan that is enacted in high school in order to get into college.   This is an easy way to introduce college life to students with disabilities who do want pursue a postsecondary education. It is very straightforward and a good place to start, especially, since students will be able to hear what other students with disabilities have to say about college, and students initiate the steps in planning for college.

The ATTO: Assistive Technology Resources website offers resources about assistive technology. There are six categories that the information is broken down into: Government, Education, Organizations, AT Products, Web Design, and AT Guides. It is a very user-friendly website and offers families, students, and educators a wealth of information about the latest news and uses of assistive technology. As a special educator I am particularly interested in assistive technology in the schools. Clicking on the Education link it takes you to a page that offers curriculum design for teachers and parents on using assistive technology in the classroom, as well as how to provide educational activities at home to encourage self-determination with children and adults with special learning needs. I could definitely use this when designing unit plans in the classroom for my students.

This blogger uses assistive technology to read and write to post about the latest assistive technology products. The products reviewed are the newest assistive technology devices on the market. You can listen to podcasts about the products, as well as send an email requesting that a new product or app be reviewed. Coming from the point of view of someone who does not require assistive technology, I think it would be good to hear the opinion of someone who does use it. As a special educator I don't want to miss something, and risk setting a student up to fail because I didn't take something into account.

Description: The Agrability Project offers assistive technology and resources to farmers, their families and their communities, which allows agricultural workers with disabilities to be successful and live independently.  Those eligible for services may have blindness, deafness, developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, amputations, arthritis, stroke, or spinal cord injuries. The Agrability Project works with groups like 4-H clubs to encouraged students to participate in making modifications to farms, and eliminating accessibility barriers, etc. It currently serves 24 states.From the Home Page, if you click on "Communities of Interest" it will list different groups that discuss the latest issues about disability in agriculture. Topics include: Arthritis and Agriculture, Assistive Technology, Ergonomics, Mental/Behavior Health, Peer Support, and Vocational Rehabilitation. From the Resources Page you can click on "Youth" and be taken to a page that offers lesson plans about assistive technology and Inclusive 4-H resource materials. As a special educator it is important to be able to think "outside-the-box" sometimes when it comes to helping a student meet their goal. Knowing the area that we live in and the interests of my students, there is definitely a pull to the agriculture industry. This website is a good resource to use when trying to assist the students with this particular career interest in mind for the future.