What does it take for technology to improve lives daily? How can technology make a difference? This year, at the Rhode Island Assistive Technology Conference, you will be able to find out how technology can make a real difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities or differing abilities. It is exciting to offer a program that includes so many state-of-the-art themes in assistive technology and technology applications.

First, we are pleased to announce that Skip Stahl from the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), a nationally recognized center for technology applications, will present three workshops, each focused upon a different aspect of technology's role in Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Briefly, Universal Design for Learning extends the architectural concept of universal design (to make an environment maximally accessible to all persons, including those with differing needs) to the classroom & learning environments. For many years, CAST has been at the forefront of research and development in UDL, a concept that is critical to the success of students with disabilities in increasingly inclusive settings. CAST's workshops will introduce you to UDL principles and strategies at elementary and secondary levels, as well as how UDL can support access for all to instructional materials. In addition to the CAST sessions, the focus on universal design continues with two additional workshops – Whose Web Is It Anyway?, offered by the New England ADA & Accessible IT Center, which will discuss the ins and outs of making web pages universally accessible; and Design of Universal Interfaces for Assistive Technology, offered by the University of Rhode Island College of Engineering. Don't miss these exciting sessions!

The Conference will offer 5 different sessions that focus upon the use of technology tools to help students and adults to develop and improve literacy. With national and state priorities, both educational and vocational, on improved literacy for all, these sessions will offer the community many important strategies and ideas that incorporate the use of technology for literacy support. Come and broaden your understanding of assistive technology use for access to reading, writing, and more!

In addition to the strands on Universal Design for Learning and Technology and Literacy, there will be sessions that focus upon other assistive technology topics of importance. Assistive technology assessment is an area that is critical to the successful match of device to individual to environment & task. This year's conference will offer two sessions relating to assistive technology assessment – one that focuses on overall assessment, and one that focuses on alternate assessment.

Finally, the RI Assistive Technology Conference has a long-standing commitment to providing information and workshops for the widest range of ages and needs. To this end, a strand will be offered that addresses issues of particular interest to adults and their service providers. Access to employment through technology will be discussed in a session that looks at using technology to provide Multiple Access at RI One-Stop Centers. Technology to support the overall health of persons with disabilities will be addressed through a session on the Assistive Technology for Health Project in Rhode Island. The PARI Independent Living Center will round out the conference by offering a workshop to look at Innovative Ways to Lend and Purchase Assistive Technology.

As always, the conference includes a large exhibitor hall with companies – both profit and non-profit – displaying their products and materials throughout the day. This is your annual opportunity to see, touch, ask questions, and try out first-hand the wide world of assistive technology available today.

So, as you plan your Fall schedule, be sure to mark Thursday, November 20, 2003 on your calendar for Assistive Technology: Improving Lives Daily. You'll be glad you did!

To receive a conference brochure, for further information about the conference, or to inquire about exhibiting, please contact TechACCESS at 401-463-0202 or via email at techaccess@techaccess-ri.org.

TechACCESS of RI
Phone: 401-463-0202 (v/tdd)
FAX: 401-463-3433
In-State: 800-916-(TECH)8324
Contact: TechACCESS of RI | techaccess@techaccess-ri.org|

Last Revised: September 3, 2003