ATACP Project
Initial implementation: Already underway: approximately May 2003
4/30 Meet with Sandy, Michelle, and Kathy
5/22 Meet with Mrs. Chamberlin (blind parent in community ~ former teacher)
5/28 Meet with Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlin (review her current software)
5/29 Nicholas Marini IEP assistive tech evaluation
6/4 Meet with Sandy, Michelle, & Kathy
6/12 Dustin Schrieber meeting w/ FE teachers
6/13 Tyler Chamberlin meeting w/ FE teachers
Four key resources identified:
A blind parent in the community
A sight impaired child (student) with a prognosis of total blindness in the future
Myself: The Assistive Technology evaluator in the local public school district
The school district
Obtain permission from Office of Student Services to interface with the two different families
Present this project to the school district for consideration of adoption: August 1, 2003
Demonstrate the need(s)
That there is currently a student in the school district with a degenerating sight condition whose preparation for life without sight is currently inadequate.
That there is currently a member of the immediate community whose training and experience would provide the best possible support for the above mentioned student.
Demonstrate the planned methodology of meeting the needs with this effort.
The school district providing the services of the technology department for assistive technology evaluations for the purposes of advising the student and his family concerning choices in software and hardware that is available to address his special needs in visual assistance.
In this case the community member, because of her personal experience of having lost her sight and needing to adjust to an unsighted lifestyle, in combination with her training and experience as a public school teacher and a mother; would provide consultation to the student, his family, and the school district as to the best way to meet the student's needs.
Demonstrate the value of this approach
A more and better skills and expertise pool to draw from
A sense of ownership by the community in the local public school system
An enhanced relationship between the public and the local school system
An improved level of support from, commitment to, and participation in the public school system by the community
More needs being better met with proportionately less financing
Demonstrate the expected results of this effort
Preparation of the Schrieber boy for life without sight
Emotional
Functional (Assistive Technology)
The school district: The IEP process
Through the district's assistive technology evaluator: Mr. Colburn
Through a community member: Mrs. Chamberlin
Intellectual
Demonstrate the ability of this project to grow and the additional services that could be provided if it were given the resources to grow.
Increased support from the community when favorable results are perceived
Increased participation due the observed successes and pride of ownership (by the community)
Increased funding due to recognized successful outcomes
Get basic structure organized and functional: Start of the school year September 2003
The project will be under the supervision of the Department of Student Services at the Wayne Central School District
It will be recognized that this project is dependent upon a collaberative effort between the school district and volunteer participation by the members in the community at least until such a time that the school district determines to expand the assigned personnel.
The design of the project's approach to dealing with the needs of students and their parents in the community will center around one community member who has the potential to be a very valuable resource to one of the schoool district's students and the student himself:
Consult with the family of the blind student
Consult with the blind parent concerning her supporting the blind student (and his family)
Begin the blind parent's supporting the blind student within the student's educational program
Examine financial resources that will be required to accomplish the expectations of this effort
Consider possible sources / solicit grant money to fund this effort from:
State education sources
State funding from sources outside of education
Federal sources
Local resources
Community organizations
Town
Rotary
Firemen
Churches
Private funding
Regional organizations
Seek to secure funds and participation from these sources:
Initiate an advertising effort to make the needs and intended effort known to the public
Create a website on the district web that relates to this project
Secure media coverage of the project: Radio, TV, etc.
Conduct a community informational seminar to increase disabilities awareness.
Review the project's progress and consider whether to expand, maintain, or reduce the scope of its original objectives: Target date June 1, 2004