EASTCONN
Assistive Technology Services
The EASTCONN Assistive Technology (AT) Team offers a wide variety of services for school-age youth as well as for adults. These services are designed to not only match individuals with disabilities with the appropriate AT tools and services, but also to ensure they can effectively use AT to increase, maintain, and improve functional capabilities, and access, participate, and progress in all environments.
Through consultation, coaching, training, and assessment, we will work with you to meet your needs. Our areas of expertise include:
- Alternative ways to access instruction and/or environment
- Tools to assist with reading, writing, note-taking, organization, and executive functioning
- Document Accessibility
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Developing district-wide policies and practices related to the AT process
- Integrating AT into the transition planning process for employment, college, independent living, and community participation
- Tools to support adults with employment, digital access and communication
We will assist you in determining the service or combination of services that best meets your AT needs.
Who We Serve
Services for School-Age Youth
The EASTCONN Assistive Technology (AT) Team helps schools support students with disabilities. We work with districts to choose the right assistive technology tools and services for students, and help make sure students know how to use these tools successfully.
An assistive technology device is defined by IDEA 2004 as "any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such device." (Sec. 300.5)
Assistive technology can help students learn, communicate, and take part in school activities. Our goal is to help students increase their independence and fully access the general education curriculum.
We offer a range of services — including consultation, coaching, training, and assessments — and can support one student, a group of students, a program, a school, or an entire district. Our areas of expertise include:
- Alternative ways to access instruction and/or the environment
- Reading, writing, and note-taking supports
- Organization and executive functioning
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and submitting related insurance or grant funding requests
- Transition planning to maintain access to technology for employment, college, independent living, and community participation
We also help districts develop and update policies and practices related to assistive technology — including AT consideration processes, team development, program reviews, and making documents accessible. We work with you to determine the services that best meet your assistive technology needs.
Parent Testimonial
"I just wanted to sincerely thank you for your hard work, the assessment, and the extensive amount of information shared. You were extremely thorough and detailed, and your work was exemplary. We know that this will be so beneficial for (student), and we can't adequately express our gratitude to you for your role in (student)'s future success and happiness."
What We Offer
Types of Services
Consultation
Our AT and AAC specialist will work with a member or members of the team (students, classroom, school, district) to assist when there are concerns with current practices, considering AT, and determine next steps. We will meet with you to address your concerns, develop a plan and provide guidance on additional services needed, when appropriate. Our goal is to use this time to provide a more immediate opportunity to address issues when they arise and to introduce potential solutions.
Coaching
Our AT and AAC specialist will provide in-depth assistance with the implementation of AT/AAC for a specific student or students by providing modeling, observation and feedback on a routine basis. On-going needs are reassessed to determine if further coaching would be beneficial. Coaching may be requested as a follow-up to a consultation or assessment or based on existing needs to support the student and team.
Training
Our AT and AAC specialist will deliver instruction on how to use AT/AAC as a follow-up to a consultation or assessment or based on existing needs to support the student, team, school and/or district.
Assessment
Our AT and AAC specialist will provide a comprehensive assessment that includes a review of the student record, consultation with the student's team, observation of the student, assessment in the natural environment including trials, written report and PPT attendance. Follow-up services are available for an additional cost and include Training, Coaching and insurance or grant funding requests for AAC.
Level Up
Students aged 16-22
Level Up provides students aged 16-22 with the tools, training and resources to work competitively and to forge a path to independence. This is a free service offered by CT to students who have an IEP, 504 plan, or documented disability. Through CT’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), a Level Up counselor will work with your school system to connect students to various services. EASTCONN Assistive Technology Services is an approved vendor for Level Up and is available to introduce an individual student or groups of students to, and increase their use of, Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services.
To learn how your students can get connected to Level Up, go to:
What is the Level Up program in Connecticut?Basic Talker Training
This short instructional video presents an introduction to the basics of proper AAC implementation including (but not limited to) the difference between modeling and prompting. Modeling is referred to in the research as Aided-Language Input, Aided-Language Stimulation, and Partner Augmented Input. Regardless of what you call it, this strategy can help avoid behavior problems, prompt-dependency, and device abandonment. Take a quick look at how you can best support the individuals using AAC in your life.
View VideoService Information
Cost & Benefits of Services
At EASTCONN, we use a daily rate for services that our consultants provide. Schools can choose to contract with EASTCONN for individual student services or select a package of services that can meet the needs of various students and staff district-wide throughout the school year. Please contact Dr. Ravit Stein to identify the option that is best for your needs.
Individual Services
Schools can choose to contract with EASTCONN for individual student services.
Service Packages
Packages are ideal for districts that are looking to meet the needs of multiple students, classrooms, schools, or staff district-wide.
Package Benefits
Our AT/AAC specialists will work with your team to identify the frequency and scope of support that would benefit students across the district throughout the school year. Benefits of this option include that our team can begin working with you before the start of the school year, assist with determining needs, develop a plan for the year, and provide priority scheduling.
Lending Library
EASTCONN’s Assistive Technology Lending Library, supported in part by the CT Tech Act Project, offers loans of assistive technology devices to school districts. Devices in the library may be obtained through EASTCONN’s Assistive Technology Specialists. Devices are available for short-term loan based on availability.
Who We Serve
Services for Adults
The EASTCONN Assistive Technology (AT) Team also provides services for adults through partnerships with the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and the Connecticut Tech Act Project. These services focus on using assistive technology to support employment, digital access and communication.
We also offer private-pay services for adults who need help with assistive technology and/or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). These services may include:
- Help using or troubleshooting current technology
- Identifying new technology to meet individual needs
- Consultation and training for adults, family members, and caregivers
We work closely with each person to find the service or combination of services that best meets their assistive technology needs. We use a daily rate for the services that our consultants provide. Please contact Dr. Ravit Stein to learn more.
Partnerships
EASTCONN's Assistive Technology provides Adult Services through partnership with the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and the Connecticut Tech Act Project
EASTCONN has partnered with The Connecticut Tech Act Project to provide Digital Accessibility training throughout the State of Connecticut. Training focuses on creating accessible Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and PDF documents that are shared electronically or via the web. There are several goals participants will walk away with as a result of this training: 1) know how to use the built-in accessibility checkers and program tools to remediate documents, 2) learn how to create new documents using digital accessibility strategies, and 3) gain an understanding of how to ensure better digital accessibility practices within their department. For more information about on-site Digital Training Sessions, please contact Amy Norton at anorton@eastconn.org.
The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) notes that they "give individuals with significant physical and/or mental disabilities the tools, information and support they need to find a job." As part of this support, the BRS Counselor may request Assistive Technology services, including assessment, consultation and training. It is important to note that these supports, and the scope of what the services encompass, can only be requested through the BRS counselor, NOT directly by the consumer. In addition, the counselor and consumer jointly select which AT provider or agency to request services from. EASTCONN is one of the agencies that can provide these services. Assessment may encompass areas including: what a consumer needs in order to manage their morning routine and prepare to get themselves ready to go to work; what AT devices and/or accommodations are needed on the job site in order to perform the essential functions of the job; and more. Training is primarily provided to the consumer.
The Connecticut Tech Act project has been selected by the FCC to provide telecommunications equipment to low-income persons who are deaf/blind. Criteria related to eligibility to participate in this program can be found at CT Tech ACT. As part of the services provided through this program, the CT Tech Act can request Assistive Technology services, including assessment, consultation and training. It is important to note that these supports, and the scope of what the services encompass, can only be requested through the Tech Act project coordinator, NOT directly by the consumer. The Project Coordinator also selects what provider or agency will be requested to provide these services. EASTCONN is just one of the agencies that can provide these services on request to eligible consumers. Assessment encompasses the determination of what devices the consumer needs in order to access telecommunications, such as specialized amplified phones, smartphones, tablets, computers, screen magnification software and so on. Services may also include training for the consumer, family and caregivers. All services and devices provided through the Access Through Technology program are done so at no cost to eligible consumers.
Assistive Technology Team
Ann Bedard, M.S., CCC-SLP
Augmentative/Alternative Communication Specialist
abedard@eastconn.orgView Bio
