AT & UDL News - Winter 2020
Tools for Universal Design for Learning
This quarter we have some great tools you can use to help design instruction and learning activities that are effective for all students. Explore free resources you can download and use to make a difference with your students. And be sure to check-out at the Announcements section!
Learning Designed is the place to connect with a community of educators and resources to prepare today's learners for our fast-changing world. There are free resources you can download and pay resources. You can become a member for free.

Explore these three free resources and learn more about Learning Designed!
Learning Designed Logo with a stylized person and books.
screenshot of a UDL infographic
screenshot of a UDL flowchart handout
screenshot of a handout on 5 tips for fostering expert learners
These UDL Look Fors from the Maryland County Public Schools are great tools teachers can use as they support each other in implementing UDL school wide.
screenshot of the UDL Learning Walks website.
Free UDL resources from the Maryland County Public Schools to guide lesson planning and learning new technology skills.
screenshot of the UDL Planners web page
screenshot of the UDL guidelines

Use these guidelines to help design learning activities and environments where all students succeed.
screenshot of the UDL Ideas page.

An interactive tool based on the popular UDL Wheel, with ideas for enhancing lesson plans based on the UDL Guidelines.
Accessible Instructional Materials & Curriculum Alignment

Here are three tools that schools and districts can use to review their instructional materials and make sure they include supports and features needed by all students.
screenshot of a u d l rubric for reviewing instructional materials

An instructional materials self-assessment from the FLDOE that focuses on accessibility and flexibility.
screenshot of a learning support rating scale

Check your classroom materials to ensure you have learning supports for all students.
screenshot of a curriculum planning tool

Use this district level tool to help align curriculum supports throughout the district for all students.
Announcements

R egional AT-AEM-UDL Professional Learning Communities

The Regional AT-AEM-UDL Professional Learning Community Symposiums bring together assistive technology professionals and educational professionals for networking and collaboration in the delivery of AT, AEM, & UDL services to all Florida school districts. These are held twice a year in each region, in the Fall and in the Spring. The dates and locations are below.

  • Region 1 - Thursday, May 7th - Chipley
  • Region 2 - Wednesday, May 6th - TBA
  • Region 3 - Friday, April 23rd - Viera
  • Region 4 - Friday, April 17th - Tampa
  • Region 5 - Friday, May 1st - TBA

Switches, Mounting, Positioning and Interfaces -"Game of Access"

February 19th, 2020. Location: Family Service Center Annex, 311 N Orange Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266

Explore various switches and mouse alternatives with an emphasis on conquering access to the curriculum. This training will provide an overview of the critical considerations for seating and positioning for educational access and domination. Communication devices, computer and tablet interface alliances and conflicts will be presented and include exploration of a variety of switches and their features.


ATIA Conference

The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) 2020 Conference will be held January 29 - February 1, 2020 at the Caribe Royale Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This conference is an excellent professional development opportunity with hundreds of educational sessions across a wide range of strands. Complimentary CEUs are included in the registration fees and are available for ACVREP, AOTA, and ASHA.
 
Additional events and conference information is available on the Technology & Learning Connections website, events page.


Creative AT in Minutes
Dates: February 11 - 12, 2020

District AT professionals are invited to partner with their local FDLRS Tech Specialist to attend a training-of-trainers event with Dr. Therese Willkomm, known as “The MacGyver of Assistive Technology.” This two-day event will provide an overview of tools, materials, techniques, assembling AT multi-use devices, and making connections to the curriculum and AT in the classroom. Connect with your local FDLRS Technology Specialist to learn more. Time is of the essence and space is limited. To locate your local FDLRS center Technology Specialist, visit our website www.fdlrs.org . 

Technology for Student Success: Tools to Support Reading Comprehension Online Course 
Dates: March 10, 2020 – May 5, 2020
Required Online Group Meeting Dates: March 10 and April 21, 2020, 5:00-7:00 PM (EST)

This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about a variety of technology tools that can be used by students to scaffold, support, and augment some of the cognitive processing that leads to reading comprehension. This course is not designed to provide guidance on how to teach reading skills. The PDA courses, developed by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, are included in the Master In-service Plan in all Florida school districts. Register at fl-pda.org.
Visit the Technology & Learning Connections website for additional tools and resources to help prepare all students for college, career, and life. You can also view past editions of the AT & UDL Newsletter on our Resources page. 
This resource was funded through the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services with IDEA Part B dollars. The information and resources are provided as a free awareness service to the educational community and do not reflect any specific endorsement by any parties involved. Please note that access to some resources may be blocked by individual school districts. 
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