Please answer the following question:
Research and evaluate resources in your community(Atlanta, GA) for parents and service providers of students with ASD, specifically in regard to communication. Select one and summarize what the resource provides, share the website or phone number, and explain why you think it is a valuable resource. Also, describe how you would share this resource with parents and other service providers.
Please respond to student discussions:
(mea) In the state of North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services has a division that helps to provide assistive technology to individuals with disabilities. The division is called the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP) and they work to provide technology, training, modified farming equipment, and so much more to children and adults with disabilities. NCATP will loan out devices for individuals to use and they work to help find funding for the use of a long-term device. There are 9 centers that individuals and families seeking help with assistive technology can visit and receive training.
I am truly schocked that I have never heard about this valuable resource until making this post. I have parents who are struggling to receive AT services through the school system and this is a potential option for them to begin the process at home. I am honestly wondering if they provide services to classroom teachers as well or if they would be willing to come speak with my parents at some point during the next school year. I am definitely going to share this information with my parents in my monthly newsletters. I can easily share this information with service providers that I talk to daily and via email as well. My hope is that more of my students will be able to receive some form of assistive technology and training as a result of this program.
(Mar) The New Mexico Technology Assistance Program (NMTAP) is a program created by the state’s former governor. It is a free service that helps New Mexicans of all ages and all disabilities get the assistive technology they need to be successful in society. They help to improve the accessibility and knowledge of devices that can help all New Mexicans who may need this type of help.
The program is funded through a grant furnished by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Community Living. The main office is in Albuquerque and they provide monthly trainings and a yearly conference. The website offers a vast amount of information on borrowing devices, device demonstrations, and several different links to other sites that can be accessed for help with assistive technology (i.e. for the visually and hearing impaired, those with ALS, multiple disabilities, brain injuries, etc.).
Although a school district is required to find an AAC device for students who require it, this may be a great source in helping caregivers/families get a device of their own at home and/or for use in the community/job settings. This would be a great addition to useful links for parents with children who receive special education services. I would present this in a pamphlet-type handout for parents (along with various other services that can help families and individuals with disabilities).
http://www.tap.gcd.state.nm.us/
(AFT) A resource for parents and service providers of students with ASD, specifically in regard to communication in my community can be referred to as the South Jersey Speech Center. The SJSC provides support from trained speech-pathologists and assistive technology professionals who are dedicated to helping children, adolescents, adults, and their families access high quality and client-centered therapy services for individuals with complex communication needs inclusive of autism(SJSC, 2018). This center specializes in treating a multitude of speech, language, and voice disorders by helping to develop in-depth treatment and therapy plans.
I think this could be a valuable resource for parents and service providers of students with ASD because they offer language therapy and comprehensive evaluations for early communication skills to increase expressive and receptive language (SJSC, 2018). Furthermore, the student receives support in prelinguistic and paralinguistic communication skills that increase abilities in eliminating challenging behaviors, language use, social interactions, joint attention, perspective taking, topic maintenance, and self-calming. Parents and service providers have access to trained professionals who offer recommendations in assistive technology for high or low tech strategies for the development of communication. There are additional means for using AAC treatment to supplement natural speech to help individuals who are non-functional express thoughts, wants and need, feelings, and ideas.
I would share this resource with parents and service providers through email, seminars, and professional development opportunities that will encourage families and providers to seek out these options in hopes of successful outcomes for the student. I will also reach out to parents and providers individually who I think will benefit from this service program and make them aware of the other resources out there based on the individual needs of the student.
Reference
South Jersey Speech Center, 2018. Services offered. Retrieved from http://www.sjspeechcenter.com/
post of 3-5 sentences worth of content and explain how the verse relates to the topics:
Thursday’s verse
How does this verse provide peace to those who educate or provide services for students with special needs?
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
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