i-CREATe 2008

The postural evaluation and body measurements allow the therapist to develop a systematic plan for identifying a client's needs This workshop will provide immediately applicable concepts for participants involved in the assessment and prescription of seating, positioning and mobility devices. The focus of discussion will be on principles and biomechanics of seating and the assessment process from initial client contact through the final equipment prescription. Included will be analysis of some of the more commonly observed postures and related symptoms in the seated client. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying the symptom and understanding the cause. The process of translating assessment findings into generic product parameters will be reviewed. This course will facilitate critical thinking and assist therapists in confident decision-making, clear documentation and positive objective outcomes.

Upon completion of this workshop:

1. The student will have be able to perform a thorough postural evaluation
2. The attendee will be able to translate these evaluation findings into seating system prescription
3. The attendee will be able to translate these evaluation findings into wheeled mobility device prescription
4. The attendee will gain confidence in configuring wheelchairs for safe and efficient wheeled mobility

Selecting the power wheelchair is just the beginning; the functional needs of each individual user vary greatly. To truly maximize mobility, independence and safety, the power wheelchair electronics must be custom tailored. This instructional course will outline how to select drive controls for involved clients, discuss developing technologies and programming strategies to increase successful outcomes. Integration with auxiliary devices and normal household electronic devices will also be presented. Special emphasis will be placed on maximizing independence for the involved power wheelchair client.

Upon completion of this workshop:

1. The student will have better understanding of power wheelchair electronic components.
2. Understand electronic components necessary to meet a client's power wheelchair driving needs.
3. The attendee will gain confidence in configuring and programming power wheelchairs for safe and efficient power wheelchair control.
4. Have a moderate level of understanding of power wheelchair electronics innovations including integration with daily household electronic devices such as lights, computers and televisions.

This is a presentation on the roles of navigation technology for the blinds to gain mobility independence in a wide open world. The workshop will touch on the various options available for blind persons in terms of GPS facilities, how it works (including how it helps the blind persons getting from place to place, or even touring the destination before arriving); and the various types of GPS products available to the blind in this region and other parts of the world.

This workshop is designed as a basic overview of information highlighting the best current evidence on the models, principles, and practices applied to making clinical decisions about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The workshop will review the goal of AAC, the taxonomy and classification system used to identify and compare AAC strategies and technology including AAC language representation methods, methods of utterance generation, the human interface. Performance and outcomes evidence will be used to compare the various AAC systems used to build language competence and optimize communication.

Learning outcomes for the participants:

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify the current evidence on the models, principles, and practices applied in making clinical decisions about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
2. Identify and discuss the major categories of AAC, their features, and clinical application.
3. Discuss the evidence and performance differences that exist among the various AAC technology options, specifically AAC language representation methods and methods of utterance generation.

The external, internal and personal evidence will be discussed as applied to the AAC assessment and feature-match process. A model and the components of a comprehensive AAC assessment will be presented. The workshop will focus on participants identifying steps to plan a comprehensive AAC evaluation ensuring consideration for language and communication abilities and needs, the three AAC language representation methods, core and extended vocabulary, and the full range of unaided and aided AAC strategies. The session will include an individual who relies on AAC providing feedback to participants.

Learning outcomes for the participants:

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify external, internal, and personal evidence to collect, integrate and implement for the AAC assessment process.
2. Identify and compare AAC assessment models and the principles of a comprehensive AAC assessment.
3. Discuss the performance and outcomes measures valued by individuals who rely on AAC and family members in making AAC choices during an evaluation.

AAC evidence-based clinical practice requires the measurement of communication performance. Automated tools have been developed to support the collection and analysis of language samples of communication generated using any communication board or speech-output AAC system. This session will begin with a review of the basics of AAC evidence-based practice, including the available tools. Then an individual who uses AAC will interact with the audience, during which time a language sample will be collected. Finally, the language sample will be analyzed and the AAC Performance Report for that individual will be generated and reviewed. Participants will understand the power of this simple foundational practice.

Learning outcomes for the participants:

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify evidence-based protocols for collecting language samples from individuals who rely on AAC.
2. List the steps to collect a language sample using language activity monitoring tools.
3. Advocate for measuring communication performance as a component of evidence-based AAC intervention.

This full day workshop is designed as a basic overview of information highlighting the best current evidence on the models, principles and practices applied in making clinical decisions about the major categories of assistive technology. (Note: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) will be covered on an additional day.) The workshop will focus on the guidelines and steps to build a personal study plan based on individual strengths and weaknesses in specific areas of AT service delivery in order to build clinical competence and evidence-based, client-centered decision-making.

Learning outcomes for the participants:

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify the current evidence on the models, principles, and practices applied in making clinical decisions about assistive technology.
2. Identify and discuss the major categories of assistive technologies, their features, and clinical application.
3. Discuss a personal study plan to build clinical competence for delivering evidence-based, client-centered AT services.

Universal design in education makes processes and content accessible for all learners, including those who have diverse cultural and linguistic heritages and individuals who have disabilities. This session will explore the use of technology as it supports increased access to and engagement in teaching and learning for individuals with disabilities. Examples will be shared on how current and emerging technologies can transform the teaching and learning of all individuals.

This workshop will provide a framework for a thorough seating assessment, considering posture, function and mobility, and an understanding of the postural, functional, biomechanical and medical issues to be aware of during a seating assessment. Case studies will be used to assist the participants to apply the information to real life examples. Opportunities will also be given for practicing a postural assessment on other workshop participants.

Information Technology has been used to a great extent in main stream schools but how far has it reached into the special education classroom. This workshop hopes to introduce you to some free software which educators can use to create online learning resources. The presenters will also discuss teaching strategies & methodologies which can be used when incorporating IT into teaching and learning.

To maximize the success of postural interventions with children with disabilities, consideration should be given to their posture in a range of equipment. 24 hour positioning involves assessing and providing postural options for seating, standing, sleeping and alternative positioning.

This workshop will: