Date: 11/18/2026 Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Online Type: Webinar Price: Free
Description:
The Assistive & Inclusive Tech Spotlight sessions are designed to showcase practical tools that support access and participation. Each session begins by centering the voice of an individual with lived experience—highlighting the strategies, accommodations, and technologies that shaped their engagement in school and beyond.
Building from these insights, participants will explore targeted tools and accommodation through guided demonstrations by experts and/or vendors, with a focus on key features and real-world application. Sessions are designed to help educators learn about inclusive and assistive technology tools, as well as accommodations and how they can support learning, engagement and independence. Topics include blind and low vision supports, alternative access tools and strategies, literacy and STEM tools to support independence.
While each session highlights one area of access, we recognize that students often need support across multiple areas, and welcome discussion on how tools and strategies can work together to support learners.
Objectives:
- Identify key assistive and inclusive technologies aligned to specific areas of access (e.g., vision, AAC, literacy, executive functioning).
- Understand how lived experiences connect to specific strategies, accommodations, and technology supports.
- Explore practical ways to apply tools to support participation, independence, and inclusive design across learning environments.
Session Focus:
October 21, 2026 – Blind/Low Vision Tech for early learners: Explore how blind and low vision learners access information, with a focus on tools, supports, and design choices that make learning visible and meaningful.
November 18, 2026 – Supporting Students with Alternative Access Needs: Learn how technology can spark access, learning, communication and creativity. Explore tools and setups that support access, engagement, and independence.
December 16, 2026 – STEM Instruction for Learners who are Blind/Low Vision
February 17, 2027 – Engaging Struggling Reader & Writers: Learn how tools can help struggling readers and writers access grade-level text and express their thinking.
March 17, 2027 – Emergent Literacy Tools & Strategies: Explore tools, strategies, and learning experiences that support the development of communication, language, and early literacy skills through meaningful interaction, participation, and access for learners at all stages of literacy development.
Facilitators:
Amy Fleischer Connolly, OTR/L, ATP
Instructor Disclosure: Amy Connolly receives payment from the Special Education Technology Center (SETC), where she provides Technical Assistance. She is also employed as an Assistive Technology Specialist by the Bellingham Public Schools (BPS), a school district which may be featured in this presentation.
Contact:
Email Sue Wright at the SETC office
Zoom Link
Clock hours for this webinar and others in this series are available from ESD105 for a small fee. The following Professional Development Enroller link provides more information about clock hours: Pending