Videos

Assistive technology removes barriers and increases access for students with disabilities. Assistive technology includes a wide range of devices, as well as services to support the selection, acquisition, and use of AT devices. AT consultants play a crucial role in these services.

Educational interpreters are called upon to interpret physical education classes, team sports and classroom content that may include sporting events. The setting for these events is extremely varied, including the classroom, gymnasium, athletic fields, swimming pools and stadiums. To provide quality interpretations that meet the needs of the student athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing, knowing the sign vocabulary associated with that sport is not enough. Setting up the plays, defense, offense and strategies is vital to provide access to the information and to enable the student to participate and perform to the best of her ability and potential. Participants will discuss and practice not only the vocabulary associated with sports, but also the discourse structures that may be used by the PE teacher or coach.

Ben Hartranft joins PaTTANpod at the 2024 Pennsylvania Department of Education annual conference, where he was a featured speaker. As the president of Benergy1 Presentations, Ben advocates for autism awareness and acceptance by sharing his personal experiences. The episode also features Ben’s brother, Dan, and his parents, Sandy and Glenn, who share perspectives on navigating the complexities of autism as a family. Click here for more episodes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCkBP2csbOssi3rUsfM-yQT1DVGUihxg2 Also available in podcast format on iTunes and Google Play Music iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pattanpod/id1436873041?mt=2 Google Play Music https://play.google.com/music/m/Iwyth5xyq26f67f4qrzktutbxke?t=PaTTANpod Ben Hartranft is a 25-year-old young man who was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2. At that time, he knew only 20 words and everything was a safety issue. Ben has exceeded all expectations and is strengthened by his faith in God and the people He has placed in Ben’s life. He received his diploma, works part-time for Philadelphia Eagles Game Day Staff, earned his driver’s license and treats everyone he meets like a rock star. Ben has had the extraordinary opportunity to carry the Lombardi trophy to start the ring ceremony for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Ben’s dream came true in October 2018 when he was invited to be a guest on the Ellen show and promote Autism Awareness and funding for research. His latest adventure was traveling solo to Los Angeles and being a contestant on The Price Is Right. Ben loves being an advocate for Autism Awareness and wants to take awareness to action. Dan Hartranft is the middle child in a sibling sandwich of 3 boys. He has a passion for creation, both the Lord's nature and man-made technology. Dan chooses to build something a little different. “We are made in the Lord’s likeness; this systemic creation leaves us with our own passion to create.” Some people build computers, some people build homes, Dan likes to build dreams, meeting people where they are, finding out what their dreams are and how he can help them accomplish those dreams. His college education lends to his ability to help lead and develop others. He has spent years working with neurotypicals and the neurodivergent adults helping them reach their own goals and dreams. Culminating in Benergy1 Presentations, the most ambitious dream to help build, Dan provided his brother with all the equipment and material for his road to success. “Benergy1 Presentations is the first of many roads I will help to build for others. Accomplishing your dreams is amazing, doing it with someone by your side cheering you on is way more fun.” Sandy Hartranft has been an RN for over 40 years and a CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) for the past 28 years. She now works at the very hospital that diagnosed Ben with autism at the age of 2. She is the proud mom of 3 wonderful grown sons, an avid reader, an loves to travel with her family. Sandy is always willing to talk to other families about their experiences and hopes to encourage others the same way she was encouraged on her journey. Sandy’s first book “Swinging From the Chandelier: Finding Joy in the Journey through Autism” is a memoir taken from the many journals she kept over the years raising her 3 boys and the wild ride it has been. Glenn Hartranft is the father of 3 sons and has been married to Sandy for over 33 years. Glenn graduated from Temple University with a BA in business and LaSalle University with an MBA. He works at SAP National Security Services in Newtown Square, PA in software development support. He enjoys doing projects around the house, taking walks with Sandy and is actively involved in several men’s groups including one for families with special needs children. He is the one who thinks outside the box and provides creative problem solving to the many issues that have touched their family. Glenn’s passion is to be able to share with other families that are on the journey of raising a special needs child. Host Sara Frey Producer John Ragsdale Animation Media Solutions Special thank you to Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), Pennsylvania Department of Education, And Bureau of Special Education Visit our website at http://www.pattan.net

This session covers general findings from the Behavioral Health survey LEAs completed in early 2024 and current options for supporting behavioral health needs through SBAP. Additionally, OMHSAS staff share current initiatives outside of SBAP that can also support LEA needs for behavioral health, including suicide prevention and awareness, crisis initiatives, and the use of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts to support students with autism spectrum disorder. This session additionally covers some of Pennsylvania’s plans for expansion of behavioral health services within SBAP. This session is recommended for Directors of Student Services and other administrators of behavioral health services.

Join us as we discuss evidence and ethics for SLPs.

This session will focus on nesting multilingual students (MLs) ecologies within the testing, assessment, and evaluation continuum to support teams in developing more equitable decision-making processes. Current assessment practices continue to privilege white and middle-class students while focusing on MLs perceived deficits. First, laying the foundation for reliable and valid practices for all learners will guide the discussion as we clarify the differences between evaluation, assessment, and testing. Then, we will examine the types of assessments used within an MTSS framework to make instructional decisions for MLs. Instructional questions will be posed to model aligning them to the types of assessments to answer the questions across the MTSS tiers. Finally, collaboration across various stakeholders in data-based decisions making will be highlighted.

While educators often speak about multilingual learners (MLs) as a group, the reality is MLs vary on many factors. Knowledge of student level factors help to align instructional practices to meet ML students' unique needs. To answer the question of whether academic challenges are rooted in second language acquisition differences or a true disability, all students must have access to high-quality core instruction matched to their specific backgrounds. We will examine the typologies of this heterogeneous group and discuss specific instructional factors to consider. Then we will review the MTSS tiers and how data collected across the tiers by a collaborative team guide appropriate referral decisions. Finally, special education programming for MLs will be highlighted.

This session will focus on best practices and strategies for emergent literacy activities for young children and students with visual impairments, who are primarily tactile learners. This half-day session will focus on Braille for young children in the emergent literacy stage.

This session will focus on best practices and strategies for emergent literacy activities for young children and students with visual impairments, who are primarily tactile learners. This half-day session will focus on Braille for young children in the emergent literacy stage.

This two-part webinar provides participants with information on specific Bookshare features and widely used assistive reading tools including: NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard) and NIMAC (National Instructional Materials Access Center), the legal requirements to provide Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), how to manage Bookshare member accounts, how to provide access to the Bookshare Web Reader through an organizational membership, and how to create and share Reading Lists with students. The second webinar will include: Reading Bookshare books using assistive reading tools, such as Kurzweil 3000, Read & Write Gold, and Bookshare Web Reader, and using the accessibility features of the programs, including text-to-speech synthesis, navigation options, and study skills tools, to support students’ reading.