The Easter Seals Arkansas Technology and Curriculum Access Center, in collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), will offer professional development workshops on topics of Assistive Technology Hardware and Software for the blind and visually impaired during the summer of 2007. These workshops are intended for special education teachers, vision teachers, related services providers, paraprofessionals, and administrators. The workshops are designed to assist staff in learning some of the basics in working with blind and visually impaired students with Scanning/Reading software (Kurzweil 1000 and OpenBook), the Mountbatten Brailler, DAISY books and other digital books, JAWS, an alternative screen reader to JAWS (FreedomBox), screen magnification systems (ZoomText, MAGic, and iZoom), and accessible personal digital assistants (BrailleNote and PAC Mate).
The format for each workshop is hands-on application, cooperative learning, and some demonstration. Demonstration versions of software will be provided to those in attendance when possible. Seating is limited. There is a $75 per person fee on all-day workshops, and a $50 per person fee for half-day workshops. All workshops will be conducted at the Outpatient Building, Easter Seals Arkansas, 3920 Woodland Heights Road, Little Rock, AR 72212.
For further information, contact Dave Wilkinson, Assistive Technology Consultant with the Technology & Curriculum Access Center (TCC) at Easter Seals Arkansas by phone 501-227-3611, fax: 501-227-3601, toll-free: 877-533-3600, or e-mail, dwilkinson@ar.easterseals.com. Registration materials are available on-line at www.ar.easterseals.com or in the attachments.