PaTTAN Technology Adventure For Students with Vision & Hearing Needs
Join us for the PaTTAN Technology Adventure for Students with Vision & Hearing Needs -- connecting students, families, education professionals, and assistive technology (AT) representatives at your local PaTTAN office. No need to travel! Are you wondering how to find and pay for assistive technology after graduation? Come explore new technology and chat with vendors, learn about new trends, and ask any questions you may have. Try out the latest assistive technology tools and find what works best for each student. Join our "Q&A" sessions to get the answers to your questions about assistive technology and secondary transition; participate in round table discussions with local transition professionals so you can learn about the supports available for students after graduation, including assistive technology. Don't miss this chance to embark on this adventure, grow your skills, learn, and explore together right in your community. See you there!
Location:
- PaTTAN West September 25th; 9:00 am- 3:45pm
- PaTTAN East October 22nd; 9:00 am- 3:45pm
- PaTTAN Central October 23rd; 9:00 am- 3:45pm
Register on the PaTTAN Calendar (filter by deaf-blind).
The PaTTAN Website Has Changed!
The PaTTAN website has been changed to better align with the mission and vision of the Bureau of Special Education (BSE). Here are some of the BVI changes:
- Most BVI information can be located under Evidence Based Practices
- The "What Is Educational Visual Impairment and "Educational Visual Impairment Eligibility" pages have been combined into Educational Visual Impairment and Eligibility
- The ECC-VI page has additional descriptions for each area that includes links to APH Connect Center pages on the content that include topics such as what it is, how TVI/COMS approach instruction, how instruction can be supported.
- The CVI: A Brain-Based Visual Impairment page has new information and listed resources in the areas of CVI Assessment, CVI websites, CVI books and publications, PaTTAN Trainings on CVI, e-Learning Opportunities on CVI, and Position Papers on CVI.
- The new page Supports for Educators Serving Students with VI has PaTTAN BVI trainings and supports listed that will help Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) TVI and COMS in PA.
- The Pennsylvania Advisory Committee for the Education of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired (PACES-BVI) can be located under "Collaborative Partnerships"
Answering Special Considerations for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
This publication addresses how the Learning Media Assessment is used to help individualized education program (IEP) teams when developing IEPs for students who are blind or visually impaired.
Teacher Desk Reference: Chapter 15/Section 504 Services
This Teachers’ Desk Reference defines the legal requirements for Chapter 15/Section 504 services, explains how students are determined eligible for Chapter 15/Section 504 services, and describes the teacher’s role in educating students who receive these services.
Reminder: LAMP
Did you know that the United States National Library Service (NLS) provides additional supports to individuals with disabilities? Pennsylvania’s program is called the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians or “LAMP”. Registration is free!
Reminder and Tip: Federal Quota Permission Form
Do you have students whose parents have not signed the FQ parent permission? If so, provide information to the family about Federal Quota. If interested, have them sign the Federal Quota Parent Permission. For a quick turn around take it the IEP meeting, or if the COMS drops the student at home after a lesson, ask him/her to take and get signature.
Reminder: PSSA and Keystone Exams Braille and Large Print Orders
PSSA and Keystone Exam braille and enlarged print orders should be made during the enrollment windows. The PSSA enrollment window is September 30 through October 3. The Spring Keystone enrollment window is December 4-9.
- If a student is using the refreshable braille accommodation, the site still needs to order the student a braille booklet. A booklet and the graphics packet will ship and will serve as references for the student during testing.
- If sites do not order braille during the enrollment window, they need to order braille no later than 6 weeks prior to the start of a testing window. If it is ordered closer to the testing window, American Printing House will do its best to provide a printed booklet as quickly as possible, but there is no guarantee on how long printing may take.
- As a reminder all braille booklets will be kitted with a standard print booklet for transcription along with any special instructions.
- Enlarged print booklets also require transcription into a standard print booklet.
- For more details on allowable accommodations, see the Accommodations Guidelines (pa.gov).
Call for Papers - 2025 Penn-Del AER Conference - Harrisburg, PA April 30-May 2, 2025
The Penn-Del AER Chapter is pleased to present the Call for Concurrent Session Presenters and Call for Poster Presenters for the 2025 Penn-Del AER Conference. They invite you to submit a proposal. The conference will be held in-person in Harrisburg. The theme for the 2025 conference is “Sharing our Stories and Continuing Our Legacy.” We encourage all education and related service professionals to share their expertise by presenting their fresh ideas, innovative insights, successful programs, or research results at this well-respected annual event.
Download the call for papers on the Penn-Del AER website. The Call for Papers closes October 31, 2024.
