August 2019

Program News

Partner Meeting
September 13th, 2019
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
OSU Seretean Wellness Center Auditorium

ABLE Tech will be hosting the 2^nd Partner Meeting of the contracted year on September 13, 2019, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Topics will include interagency loans, upcoming Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) changes, understanding the difference between reporting a demonstration vs. public awareness, and much more. The meeting will take place in the newly renovated Lecture Hall at the Seretean Wellness Center.

Please RSVP by August 16^th to Shelby Sanders with the names of who will be attending for your organization.

shelby.sanders@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University
1514 W Hall of Fame
(405) 744-7606

Upcoming Events 

NewView Oklahoma City Open House
August 27, 2019
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join NewView for an Open House for the newly renovated Oklahoma City clinic and offices. Guests will have the chance to tour the state-of-the-art facility and learn about the products and services NewView offers.

This event is free and open to the public!

14th Annual Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI)
October 7, 2019
-Moore-Norman Technology Center - South Penn Campus, OKC, OK
-Tulsa Technology Center - Owasso Campus, Owasso, OK

This year’s conference will be held on Monday, October 7^th simultaneously in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The plan is to provide a robust lineup of breakout sessions, including, but not limited to:

• Student-led IEPs
• Family involvement
• Collaborative partnerships
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• Pre-Employment Transition Services
• Trauma-Informed practices
• AT for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Session presented by ABLE Tech!)

The Oklahoma Transition Council (OTC) focuses on improving education, planning, and services that lead to successful post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. The council is made up of members representing diverse interests and includes representatives from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma Family Network, Public School educators, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Parent Training and Information Center of Oklahoma, Oklahoma ABLE Tech, and university representatives, to name a few.

One of the goals of OTC includes providing transition education to increase professionals' knowledge and team capacity for building and implementing transition education and providing opportunities for students to attain transition goals. OTC holds a statewide annual conference, OTI, every October to aid in the professional development and implementation plans.

“What Change Can I Make?”

Sign up now for this FREE AT Workshop Series!

ABLE Tech was thrilled to collaborate with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to participate in EngageOK sessions around the state this summer. It was exciting to visit with many teachers who were interested to learn about AT and share about upcoming training opportunities.

The ABLE Tech Workshop Series on AT Assessment is FREE and will provide the knowledge and tools educators need to provide AT for students with disabilities. This 3-part series consists of one full day of training each month over three consecutive months. The series will be offered in Enid during the Fall 2019 school semester and repeated in Shawnee in Spring 2020. School districts can use Project 613 funds to cover expenses for substitute teachers and travel so they may attend.

To learn more about ABLE Tech’s FREE workshop series for yourself or recommend to others, you can visit the ABLE Tech website, Education K-12 page.

Spotlight on Success

Lucia is a 3-year-old girl who attends Early Head Start. She has a diagnosis of Dias-Logan Syndrome; she demonstrates low tone and stereotypical movements. Currently, she uses ankle-foot orthotics (AFOs) and visual guides on a daily basis for AT.

Recently, one of ABLE Tech’s demonstration and loan partners, SoonerStart, collaborated with Early Head Start to accommodate Lucia with visual cues around the school. The Oklahoma County SoonerStart therapist and Early Head Start worked together painting steps in the school entrance and on the playground to increase visual accommodations in her environment. Lucia’s teachers report Lucia is exploring her environment with her friends and becoming more functionally independent entering/exiting school grounds.

Thanks to our partners for submitting great success stories to share!

Assistive Technology Device Feature

Abilitations Weighted Hedgehog

Abilitations Hedgehog is a unique and cuddly weighted stuffed animal that provides a calming effect, known as proprioceptive feedback when placed in a person's lap. Proprioceptive feedback is effective for persons with autism, sensory integration disorders, and many other neurological challenges. The corduroy fabric provides a soft and sensory deep pressure experience. Use with supervision for 20 minutes at a time or as recommended. It is filled with a mixture of plastic and copper pellets to provide even weight distribution. It measures 12 L x 6 W inches and weighs approximately 3 pounds.

To learn more about the Abilitations Hedgehog, including vendor information and cost, or other AT available through the ABLE Tech demonstration and loan programs, visit the ABLE Tech inventory webpage.

All ABLE Tech items are available for interagency loans. Contact Shelby Sanders for more information about this item or others.