What's Inside . . . Volume 12, No. 4, Fall 2004

$1.7 Million AT Loan Program On the Horizon
In Delaware, most families have nowhere to turn to get help in paying for assistive technology (AT) such as home and vehicle modifications, computers, and hearing aids. They either pay for them out of personal funds, or simply do without.

Franklin Electronic Publishers Quells Students’ Dictionary Fears
Many students experience difficulty when looking up the meaning and spelling of a word in traditional dictionaries. For some, physically accessing the dictionary may be the problem. For others, it may be a question of "How do I look up a word if I can't spell it?" Technology is now available to make using a dictionary easier.

Are Students with Disabilities Seeing the Changes?
In May, the National Council on Disabilities (NCD) published a report titled Improving Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities.

Accessing AT Through the Special Education System
The range of assistive technology devices and services available today, from augmentative communication devices to FM systems and specialized computer software programs, presents an unprecedented wealth of opportunities for school-aged children with disabilities to learn and participate with peers in integrated educational environments.

Inclusion Conference Scheduled for November
The 11th Annual Inclusion Conference, titled Better Together, will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at the Sheraton Dover Hotel. The conference will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a continental breakfast followed by the keynote address, Strength Focus, by Michael Kneale, a nationally known speaker on the importance of developing and valuing people.

You Are Your Child’s Best Advocate: A Foster Parent’s Story
School's back in session. Many parents look forward to the start of the school year. For some parents, particularly those of us who are parents of children with special education needs, the start of the school year brings a lot of stress. It often means trying to figure out a complicated education system, learning how to work within that system, and, ultimately, helping your child get the best education possible. It's made more daunting by the importance of the work. Your child's future could be hanging in the balance.

Sussex ATRC Settles Into New Home
As many individuals in Sussex County know, the county's Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) has been in the process of relocating for the past several months. In the beginning of August, the Sussex ATRC finally settled into its new home at the Cheer Community Center in Georgetown.

Delaware Schools Take Home Top Honors
The Mid-Atlantic Consortium on Accessible Information Technology in Education has announced its First Annual Web Accessibility Contest winners and several Delaware schools took home top honors.

The AT Bargain Basement
Hello friends, and welcome to the fall edition of the AT Bargain Basement. This is the column where I, your hard working AT Specialist, try to bring you those AT gems that are under $100 in price and, usually, are available at local stores. Since we are getting used to being back in school, I decided to focus this column on education-specific AT.