Welcome to Virtual TechKnowledgy 2015-2016

by Daniel Irwin, Specialist in Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and Assistive Technology
at the Virginia Department of Education

It’s TechKnowledgy time again!  Welcome to the 5th annual Virtual TechKnowledgy Conference!

Assistive technology (AT) changes lives and offers educational solutions that can lead to academic success, increased independence, and greater self-confidence for students with disabilities.   This conference highlights evidence-based practices in AT, current trends, and practical AT strategies. It’s also a great way to learn new AT ideas from national presenters and your AT colleagues around Virginia.

Webinars will be offered in November, February and April, beginning with a keynote on November 10 by Therese Willcomm, Director of New Hampshire’s State Assistive Technology Program with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire.  Dr. Willcomm, often referred to as the “MacGyver of AT,” offers a fast-paced session demonstrating many creative, low-cost AT solutions.  She will leave you feeling confident in your own ability to build free and inexpensive AT. On November 11, you will not want to miss Dr. Joy Zabala’s webinar reminding us of the value of using the SETT Framework to make AT decisions. To close out the week, Chris Bugaj will entertain us and teach us about the many AT resources available through Twitter.  You can see it’s a full week of inspiring AT information!

Visit the conference program to see full descriptions of these sessions.  Come back later to learn about other webinars offered in February and April (2016).  Remember to visit the Virtual Exhibit Halls with links to vendors and AT resources!

REGISTRATION IS FREE and Certificates of Participation for licensure renewal will be available following the completion of each webinar!

This conference is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Centers (T/TACs) in an effort to provide ongoing professional development in the area of assistive technology to practitioners and families supporting students with disabilities.