The Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT) is continuing to build local assistive technology capacity by offering the Statewide Assistive Technology Consortium. This consortium provides the opportunity for Georgia’s local AT Specialists and AT team members to meet at regional Educational Technology Centers (ETCs) and discuss assistive technology devices and services.

The mission of the Assistive Technology Consortium is to support Georgia school systems in building and expanding local capacity to provide assistive technology devices and services to students with disabilities. The morning session of each meeting consists of presentations/trainings provided by GPAT staff and is linked through video conferencing between the thirteen hosting ETC’s. The statewide meeting topics focus on statewide AT issues and highlights. The afternoon session is not linked through video conferencing and focuses on the unique needs of the schools represented within each consortium region. The tentative statewide topics for the 2009-2010 school year are: Accessible Instructional Materials, Funding Assistive Technology, Team Building, and Transition & Assistive Technology.

The statewide AT Consortium is currently held at 13 Educational Technology Centers (ETCs) around the state. Due to limited space in the scheduled meeting rooms at the Educational Technology Centers, participants must have pre-registered for the AT Consortium meetings through GPAT. For information regarding registration and space availability at a desired location, please contact Gina Gelinas at ggelinas@doe.k12.ga.us, DeeDee Bunn at dbunn@doe.k12.ga.us, or Sally Kemph at skemph@doe.k12.ga.us.

Four (4) consortium meetings have been scheduled this year to support local school system AT Specialists and AT Teams in providing the services that are required through IDEA. Each meeting is from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Meeting dates are scheduled for the following dates. Click on the arrow beside the date to download the handouts.

October 27, 2009

Consortium Agenda 10-27-09.pdf GIMC_AIMs_10-09.pdf GIMC_brochure.pdf current GIMC_BVI_student_registration.pdf current GIMC_OI_OD_student_registration.pdf print-Obtaining AIMs basic flowchart.pdf Obtaining_AIMs_basic_flowchart.pdf Suggested_AIM_eligibility_form1.pdf

December 16, 2009

Being Good Stewards – Making Effective AT Decisions.pdf SCD_2006_Core_Classroom_Inventory.pdf ALA_Core_Classroom_Inventory.pdf Boardmaker_Ready_Made_Site_Resources.pdf Consortium_Agenda_12-16-09.pdf Free_AAC_Resources.pdf Free_Reading_Resources.pdf Math_Web_Resources.pdf Preschool_2006_Core_Classroom_Inventory Reading_and_Writing_Web_Resources.pdf

February 11, 2010

Building Local Capacity through Assistive Technology Teams AT Consortium Regional Web Resources & Wikis

March 16, 2010

Making the Move: Assistive Technology in Transition Planning

April 29, 2010

AT Consideration and Documentation Supporting Writing and Spelling through Assistive Technology