Assistive Technology and AAC
Mission
The Mission of the CASE CETT Team is to support the use of Assistive Technology (AT) and Alternative-Augmentative Communication (AAC) for students from the CASE Collaborative communities and local school districts.
The CETT Team strives to provide guidance, support and consultation to educational teams in the selection and use of appropriate assistive technology and AAC systems, with the goal of helping students access the curriculum, meet individual educational goals, and communicate functionally and meaningfully.
Classroom Consultations
The CETT Team provides AT and AAC services to all CASE classrooms. The CETT Team assists special educators and therapists in the selection of, and training for, various AT/AAC equipment, and acts as a resource for sharing tools and tips. This support is individualized, based on the needs of each classroom.
Examples have included: Coaching teams to help students access digital text and Voice Recognition, and supporting teams in implementing and generalizing use of AAC systems across environments. Assistance may take place in a single brainstorming session or ongoing monthly meetings to discuss assistive technology solutions. The CASE CETT Team is available to all CASE classrooms.
AT and AAC Evaluations, Assessments, & Coaching
The team provides AT and AAC evaluations on a timeline, assessments with trials and hourly coaching for individual students and classroom programs. The CETT Team's AT services address needs in many areas, such as reading, written expression, and physical access to curriculum. AAC services address communication needs in conjunction with the team to help determine the most appropriate AAC system for students; this includes programming and implementation, facilitating device rentals for trial periods, and helping families obtain private funding for the purchase of devices as needed.
Evaluations and assessments often include observations, meeting with the special education team to discuss possible AT/AAC interventions, training when necessary, field testing with a student and a written report summarizing recommendations. Coaching sessions are guided by the needs of the student and the team. They often include observation of the student, a loan from our lending library if needed, training and brief notes of each meeting.
CETT Team Lending Library
The CETT Team has an assortment of both low- and high-tech Assistive Technology tools in their lending library. The library has a range of software and hardware, including AAC devices that are available on a short-term loan basis. The purpose of this lending library is to provide educators and students with the opportunity to try these products prior to purchasing them. The CETT Team is continuously reviewing new equipment on the market and making purchases, as appropriate, to ensure that current assistive technology tools are available for loan.