Oregon Technology Access Program for AT Implementation

The Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) provides resources for educators of students with disabilities from birth to age twenty-one.  When appropriate AT for students with disabilities is determined and provided, educators must have the knowledge and skills to implement AT within the students' educational programs for the AT to have a positive impact (Dell, A, Newton, D. & Petroff, J., 2012).  OTAP offers training, information, and technical assistance regarding the actual use of  assistive technology as well as information regarding AT consideration, assessment, IEP issues, and evaluation.

To gain an understanding of how OTAP seeks to help close the significant gap between the possibilities of AT in the school setting and the successful implementation of AT devices for students with disabilities, I reviewed their "AT Implementation" section.

OTAP's "Assistive Technology Data Plan" includes specific, focused questions regarding changes desired through use of AT, specific AT recommended, environments in which AT will be used, data collection, and documentation of results as seen on the following link:
http://www.douglasesd.k12.or.us/sites/douglasesd.k12.or.us/files/File/otap/at-docs/AT-Data-Worksheet.pdf

OTAP's "AT Implementation Plan" provides a format to document relevant information including student's and parent's names, assessment team names, AT devices used, AT goals, how AT will be purchased and stored, student training, technical support, repair protocols, and staff and home AT supervision as seen on the following link:
http://www.douglasesd.k12.or.us/sites/douglasesd.k12.or.us/files/File/otap/at-docs/AT-Implementation-Plan-Hillsboro.pdf

OTAP has another "Implementation Plan" posted which provides a system to address all of the necessary implementation questions outlined above in the more open-ended format as seen on the following link:
http://www.douglasesd.k12.or.us/sites/douglasesd.k12.or.us/files/File/otap/at-docs/AT-Implementation-Plan.pdf



Link:  http://www.otap-oregon.org/Pages/Default.aspx

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom. Boston:

      MA:  Pearson.