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Management and coordination of various aspects related to technology, such as the procurement, distribution, deployment, and maintenance of technology resources within an organization. Managing inventory, coordinating software updates.

Using Structured Work Systems helps to build independence. A structured work system, sometimes called an independent work system, is a set up of work to be done within a visually cued system. Structured work systems begin with work bins or task baskets that are set up with a schedule that tells the worker what to do first, next, and then have a visual at the end indicating what to do when he/she is finished. These systems can be used in a variety of settings (home, school, worksite) and with all ages of students, from preschool through adulthood. NOTE: This training is intended to build the capacity of district/charter school teachers and staff who work with students with complex needs. All participants must have an email address associated with a Region One district or charter school. All participants will be automatically placed on the waitlist pending verification that they meet one of the intended audience criteria.

Have you been using MackinVIA but need a refresher or want to customize your site for students? Join us for this session and learn how you can make your site more user friendly.

Students with Visual Impairments will have an opportunity to greet and gather with other students from around Region One during this Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Event. Students will practice learning and communicating with each other with guidance from TSVIs and O&M Specialists from around the Region. The following ECC Skills will be addressed during this event: Compensatory; Sensory Efficiency; Assistive Technology; Orientation & Mobility; Social Interaction; Self-Determination; Independent Living; Recreation & Leisure; and Career Education. Our Theme will be "Experience the Magic of Winter". Students will participate in various group activities to work on their ECC Skills. They will then have an opportunity to socialize during a luncheon, afterwards, all students will be invited to dance with the group. This event is a "Dress to Impress" ECC Event. This event will be taking place at the "Greet and Gather" Venue in Weslaco, Texas. Address is: 331 S Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX 78596.

All children have the capacity to engage in activities that teach them about science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). This session will present special education teachers with an overview of STEAM activities and how these activities can easily be incorporated into daily lessons to engage all students with disabilities. We will review a continuum of activities that can be used in the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Classroom through Transition-Aged Students. A make-and-take session in the afternoon will allow participants to create materials that can be implemented in the classroom quickly and easily. NOTE: This training is intended to build the capacity of district/charter school teachers and staff who work with students with complex needs. All participants must have an email address associated with a Region One district or charter school. All participants will be automatically placed on the waitlist pending verification that they meet one of the intended audience criteria.

Building upon the first webinar, this in-person event discusses curricular impacts upon the use of AT. There will be an emphasis on implementing reading and writing AT strategies and tools across the school day, including the support for AEM (Accessible Education Materials). In addition to literacy supports, examples will be shared in social studies, science and the arts. Throughout this event the presenter will share examples from a wide range of students in various grade levels and across functioning levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their student’s daily schedule as a jumping off point for planning implementation of their AT and will be given time to tryout an AT planning model.

Join us as we explore a variety of make and take possibilities to support alternative access for students with complex needs in the area of Math. Most of the tools that we will explore are low cost and readily made by teachers and parents. NOTE: This training is intended to build the capacity of district/charter school teachers and staff who work with students with complex needs. All participants must have an email address associated with a Region One district or charter school. All participants will be automatically placed on the waitlist pending verification that they meet one of the intended audience criteria.

Students with Visual Impairments often have difficulty crossing streets independently. This training will help provide answers for Orientation & Mobility Specialists and Teachers for Students with Visual Impairments guidance on when a student might be ready for this training, where to start (from the classroom to the street), and how to do these activities safely and effectively.

In this session, district and charter school participants will learn the basics of hearing loss and the potential impact that hearing loss has on language development and academic success, and develop a basic understanding of types and degrees of hearing loss as well as become familiar with Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT). Participants will gain a better understanding of the relationship between classroom teacher, deaf education teacher, interpreter, and the student, and be able to identify and implement accommodations appropriate for students who are deaf or hard of hearing in their classrooms.

Self-regulation is a critical skill for people of all ages. It is the ability that helps us to control our behaviors to make good decisions for the long term, rather than just doing what we want in the moment. It’s also the skill that allows us to manage our emotions when we’re feeling angry, disappointed, or worried. These can be difficult for adults but are significantly more challenging for children and young adults, whose brains are still growing and developing. The key to learning self-regulation skills is not to avoid situations that are difficult for kids to handle but to coach kids through them and provide a supportive framework or scaffold the behavior you want to encourage — until they can handle these challenges on their own. In this workshop, we will review research-based strategies that support students with disabilities in developing social/emotional skills to regulate their behavior. NOTE: This training is intended to build the capacity of district/charter school teachers and staff who work with students with complex needs. All participants must have an email address associated with a Region One district or charter school. All participants will be automatically placed on the waitlist pending verification that they meet one of the intended audience criteria.

Students who are blind or visually impaired from around Region One ESC will participate in a variety of Braille academic contests. Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year for students who are blind or visually impaired. The Braille Institute developed Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success. Students with Low Vision will have an opportunity to show off their ECC Skills during a contest that will allow students to utilize their O&M skills, AT skills, Independent Living Skills, Social Skills, Self-Determination, and Sensory Efficiency skills to meet their end goals.

Students with sensory processing issues or disabilities related to sensory processing are constantly bombarded with sensory stimuli throughout the day, during school hours, and at home. Sensory processing plays a critical role in self-regulation and in how children function, interact, and learn at school, so it can be difficult to separate emotional regulation issues from sensory processing concerns, as they often connect. Children who have functional sensory processing skills are able to take in sensory information, filter out what’s irrelevant, and stay relatively calm and self-regulated. Learn how sensory processing difficulties can lead to unwanted behavior in children. Participants will discuss and explore examples of these behaviors and learn possible solutions for them. Note: This training is intended to build the capacity of district/charter school teachers and staff who work with students with complex needs. All participants must have an email address associated with a Region One district or charter school. All participants will be automatically placed on the waitlist pending verification that they meet one of the intended audience criteria.

During this 3rd session presented via webinar, content will expands upon the information that was delivered in prior sessions. Assistive Technology supports that impact the entire day, such as those for Organization and Communication will be highlighted. The “bookends” of the AT process will be addressed including priorities for when a student first begins to use an AT tool, and how to follow up as they continue to use the system and as changes are required. Data collection strategies will be shared and how to evaluate the effectiveness of AT.

Teachers for Students with Visual Impairments and Orientation Mobility Specialists will receive the latest updates from the Texas Education Agency, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Texas Sensory Network. Teachers and Specialists will also work cooperatively to complete a Needs Assessment for Upcoming Trainings as well as Expanded Core Curriculum Events.

During this final webinar, the presenter will discuss ways to share the work of AT throughout the school team and following along with the technology integration process into the next school year. Team will conclude the formal presentation in this series planning for their next steps to implementation.

Students with Visual Impairments from around Region One ESC will participate in a Talent Show contest to show off their talent and skills all while practicing their Expanded Core Curriculum Skills of Compensatory Skills, Recreation and Leisure, Self-Advocacy, Social Skills, Independent Living, Assistive Technology, Orientation & Mobility, and Sensory Efficiency Skills with their fellow students with visual impairments.