Speech and Language Services

The term alternative means substitute or different. An alternative communication system can include multiple methods of expressing information. An individual who is completely nonverbal might use gestures, pictures, and vocalizations exclusively to demonstrate what he or she knows.

ALLTech AAC services are provided by licensed Speech-Language Pathologists possessing the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Services include:

• Assessments - A comprehensive AAC assessment is conducted for the purpose of determining devices, tools, or systems to help optimize an individual's ability to communicate.
• Consultations - A consultation includes collaboration with clients, caregivers, and professionals for the purpose of reviewing existing plans of care, providing recommendations for assessment, intervention, and/or program development.
• Trainings - We offer a broad selection of trainings for individuals, professionals, family members, and caregivers. Examples include specific intervention strategies, customized PowerPoint programs, Boardmaker and Speaking Dynamically Pro, Activity Schedules, and AAC aids.

Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI)

Funded by UnumProvident, ALLTech is again collaborating with MLTI to provide universal design services to middle schools across the state of Maine. Universal design is an educational framework for integrating curriculum and assessment with accessible, usable, and flexible learning technologies that support the learning needs and preferences of the widest possible number of students. ALLTech staff work with individual schools to assess their needs and develop a plan for achieving universal design across the curriculum. Examples of universal design services include customized staff workshops, needs' assessments, consultations, curriculum and technology integration support, classroom observations, and workgroup facilitation. Universal design resources are available at the Web site of MaineLearns.

If you are interested in becoming a participating middle school, please contact Cynthia Curry at ccurry@alltech-tsi.org or (866) 688-4573/ext 144 (toll free).

News from EAST

EAST (Eastern Alliance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) has recently changed leadership. Lynn Lovewell has been appointed the Director of EAST, and Pauline Mateyko has been appointed to the position of Associate Director.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, EAST's mission remains the same: to promote the participation of individuals with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics academic programs and careers. We have exciting peer tutoring, mentoring, internship, and research fellowship opportunities for secondary and postsecondary students in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island!

Currently under development are our Mentor Team and Internship Programs. We are accepting applications from college students who want to mentor younger students or to be a protégé for a mentor in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics career. We are also accepting applications from undergraduate students with disabilities who wish to be placed in a summer or school year internship. We continue to:

• Provide Higher Education SEED Grants to college faculty who would like to make teaching and learning more accessible to students with disabilities;
• Supply funds for Undergraduate Research Fellowships so that undergraduates with disabilities can obtain research experience before entering the workforce; and
• Coordinate Peer Tutoring Programs within high schools. We are also offering two camps this coming summer:
• Late June: Summer Computing Institute for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities
• July: Environmental Studies Camp for middle school students with disabilities

Professional Development Opportunities

ALLTech offers full-day workshops on how technology can effectively support student literacy achievement. Workshop participants will understand that:

• Specific purposes for using technology to support reading and writing skills must be identified prior to implementation;
• Best literacy practices, such as the Balanced Literacy Approach promoted by the National Reading Panel, must accompany the use of technology;
• Specific features of both basic word processing and specialized software programs can simulate research-based literacy strategies, such as paired reading, echo reading, think alouds, and concept mapping;
• Sources of electronic curriculum materials are available from publishers, Web-based digital libraries, and proper scanning equipment.

Each module is available upon registration and confirmation of payment. That's right - simply register, pay, and enjoy three weeks of self-paced learning!

Each module is facilitated by a skilled and experienced ALLTech trainer who will be available to you via discussion board, e-mail, and telephone. Current offerings include:

• An Introduction to Assistive Technology
• Choosing and Using Text-to-Speech Software
• Success with Speech Recognition Software

Product News: Kurzweil 3000

Catalina is an inner-city school with approximately 1,500 students from 48 countries, speaking 43 languages. Under the leadership of the school's transition specialist, who also teaches English, Kurzweil 3000 was installed on 20 computers in a computer lab, and training was provided for special educators and the school's technology administrator. After learning the program and using it to complete written assignments, students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) were granted permission to use Kurzweil 3000 to complete the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test. Gains in student scores have prompted more Catalina teachers and students to implement Kurzweil 3000.

The full article was featured in a January 2007 issue of eSchool News and is also available at online (in PDF). To learn more about the product, visit Kurzweil Educational Systems.

ALLTech® is a division of The Spurwink Institute, a Maine non-profit corporation having its principal place of business at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, Maine 04260. The Spurwink Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran status. The Spurwink Institute provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon advance request. Questions or complaints about discrimination should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer at (207) 871-1204.

ALLTech     Lewiston Hall, Building 4     60 Pineland Drive     New Gloucester, ME 04260-5113     Phone: 207 688-4573